What is Ollama?
Ollama lets you run powerful open-source AI models directly on your own computer — completely offline, with zero data sent to any server. It's the most private option available, and it's free to use with no API costs. The trade-off is that it requires a capable machine and some initial setup.
System Requirements
macOS 11+, Windows 10+, or Linux. Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2/M3) work especially well.
Minimum 8GB. 16GB recommended for larger models. The model must fit in memory.
3–8GB per model. Models are downloaded once and stored locally.
Setup Guide
Download and install Ollama
Go to ollama.ai/download and download for your OS. Run the installer.
Download a model
Open a terminal and run:
ollama pull llama3.2This downloads the Llama 3.2 model (~2GB). Other good options: mistral, gemma2, qwen2.5.
Start the Ollama server
Ollama runs as a background service. On macOS/Windows it starts automatically. On Linux, run:
ollama serveConfigure NewsLyfe
Open NewsLyfe → Settings → AI → Select Ollama. Enter your local server URL (default: http://localhost:11434) and the model name (e.g. llama3.2).
llama3.2 (fast, 2GB) — mistral (balanced, 4GB) — gemma2:9b (high quality, 5GB)Cost
No API costs, no subscriptions, no usage limits. You only pay for electricity.
Runs on hardware you already own. No cloud required.
Troubleshooting
Connection Refused
Ollama isn't running. On Linux, run ollama serve in a terminal. On macOS/Windows, check that the Ollama app is open in your system tray.
Model Not Found
The model name in NewsLyfe doesn't match what's installed. Run ollama list in your terminal to see installed models, and update the name in Settings.
Slow Responses
The model is too large for your hardware. Try a smaller model: ollama pull llama3.2 (2GB) runs well on most machines. Apple Silicon Macs are significantly faster than Intel.