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Show HN: Riffn. An instant voice link with your AI agents and local models

Riffn, a new iOS app, provides a hands-free voice link to AI coding agents and locally-installed LLMs, allowing users to develop ideas while away from their desk. The app pairs with a small open-source bridge that connects to agents on the user's own machine over Tailscale, with setup via a single npx command and QR pairing. Riffn supports switching between named agents using 3-word commands and uses Apple speech recognition.

read1 min views1 publishedAug 15, 2026

I get my best ideas when I'm out walking or driving. I built Riffn to make sure I can capitalize on those ideas when and where they happen - while I'm away from my desk, usually outside. I used to use voice recording a lot. So I built Riffn to replace that with a direct voice link to any model or agent I wanted to talk to when my hands and eyes were busy. This lets me develop ideas and keep pushing forward on my apps and other projects when I'm out and about.

Riffn is an iOS app that gives you a voice link to your coding agents or locally-installed LLMs. I built a small, open-source bridge that links Riffn to agents and models running on your own machine over Tailscale. Installing the bridge is just one npx command and QR pairing. Give each agent a name, then switch freely between agents with a 3-word command. Click 'Start Riffn', pop in an earbud, lock the phone, put it in your pocket, and start talking. I like to use it for slow thinking - you can leave it active in the background, ready for your next idea, spoken turn or a recognized command while you drive, walk the dog, or hang out the washing. The bridge is available on GitHub. For now this is iOS only. It uses Apple speech recognition.

Comments URL: [https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49308095](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49308095)

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