Hi dev.to! I'm working on something a bit different: an IDE not just with AI, but with a voice.
Nocturne IDE is a minimalist coding environment with a built-in AI assistant — designed specifically for blind and visually impaired developers.
It’s open-source, works offline, and is powered by a local LLM (Falcon via llama-cpp-python) — all packed inside a Docker container. The idea is to make programming possible entirely by voice, including reading code, asking questions, and navigating through files without ever looking at the screen.
Why build this?
As a developer myself, I love tools that help me think better — not just type faster. But most modern IDEs rely heavily on visual feedback. I realized: what if you're blind? What if you simply want to code without staring at the screen for hours?
That’s how Nocturne started — with a question: "What would a non-visual IDE feel like?"
Tech Stack
Base: Eric7 IDE (PyQt-based, Python)
Assistant: Falcon LLM via llama-cpp-python
Containerization: Docker with GUI support (via VcXsrv on Windows or X11 on Linux)
Future plans: Rewrite in C++, better plugin system, custom UI framework
What it looks like (so far)
[insert screenshot or gif of assistant panel inside Eric7]
Features
Embedded AI assistant (currently text-based)
Chat-style panel inside the IDE
Offline-first setup
No cloud dependencies
Fully open-source
What’s next?
Add voice input/output
Build custom plugin architecture
Improve accessibility layer for screen readers
Onboard contributors with good first issues
Want to contribute?
Check out the repo: Nocturne IDE on GitHub
We just added our first good first issue!
If this project resonates with you — whether for accessibility, AI, or developer tools — feel free to star, follow, or jump into an issue.
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