Build a local voice-to-text app with Claude Code
Matt Hartman used Claude Code to research local speech-to-text models on Hugging Face and build Ghost Pepper, an open-source dictation app that runs on your own computer so you do not pay per transcription.
Source
@every on X · 2026-10-19
Written in our own words. Credit to the original author. Link checked 2026-10-21.
What they did
Matt Hartman used Claude Code to research local speech-to-text models on Hugging Face and build Ghost Pepper, an open-source dictation app that runs on your own computer so you do not pay per transcription.
Result (as claimed)
His first Hacker News post reached No. 1.
Tools they used
Cost: Claude Code: from $17/mo.
Set it up
Pick a contained repo or task
Start on a branch or side project where mistakes are cheap.
Install and configure
Set up Claude Code, Hugging Face. Read what it can run on your machine and limit permissions where possible.
Run it on a real task
Give it a well-scoped issue and let it work. Review the diff like any pull request.
Add guardrails
Keep tests and CI in the loop, and never let an agent push to main or touch production secrets unattended.
Copy the full setup prompt
Paste into your agent and it will walk you through the setup, asking before anything that sends, posts or spends.
You are helping me set up this AI use case end to end in Claude Code. Goal: Build a local voice-to-text app with Claude Code What the original author did: Matt Hartman used Claude Code to research local speech-to-text models on Hugging Face and build Ghost Pepper, an open-source dictation app that runs on your own computer so you do not pay per transcription. Reported result (as claimed by the author): His first Hacker News post reached No. 1. Source: https://x.com/every/status/2112286800840642942 Tools they used: Claude Code, Hugging Face Category: Dev & ops Please: 1. Ask me 3 short questions about my situation (accounts I have, budget, what I want the output to look like). 2. Propose a step-by-step plan using these tools or cheaper alternatives, with the time and cost of each step. Use official pricing pages; say "check pricing" if unsure. 3. Then do the setup with me one step at a time, waiting for my OK before anything that sends messages, posts publicly, spends money or deletes data. 4. Finish with a checklist to run it again next time.
You are helping me set up this AI use case end to end in Codex. Goal: Build a local voice-to-text app with Claude Code What the original author did: Matt Hartman used Claude Code to research local speech-to-text models on Hugging Face and build Ghost Pepper, an open-source dictation app that runs on your own computer so you do not pay per transcription. Reported result (as claimed by the author): His first Hacker News post reached No. 1. Source: https://x.com/every/status/2112286800840642942 Tools they used: Claude Code, Hugging Face Category: Dev & ops Please: 1. Ask me 3 short questions about my situation (accounts I have, budget, what I want the output to look like). 2. Propose a step-by-step plan using these tools or cheaper alternatives, with the time and cost of each step. Use official pricing pages; say "check pricing" if unsure. 3. Then do the setup with me one step at a time, waiting for my OK before anything that sends messages, posts publicly, spends money or deletes data. 4. Finish with a checklist to run it again next time.
You are helping me set up this AI use case end to end in Grok Bot. Goal: Build a local voice-to-text app with Claude Code What the original author did: Matt Hartman used Claude Code to research local speech-to-text models on Hugging Face and build Ghost Pepper, an open-source dictation app that runs on your own computer so you do not pay per transcription. Reported result (as claimed by the author): His first Hacker News post reached No. 1. Source: https://x.com/every/status/2112286800840642942 Tools they used: Claude Code, Hugging Face Category: Dev & ops Please: 1. Ask me 3 short questions about my situation (accounts I have, budget, what I want the output to look like). 2. Propose a step-by-step plan using these tools or cheaper alternatives, with the time and cost of each step. Use official pricing pages; say "check pricing" if unsure. 3. Then do the setup with me one step at a time, waiting for my OK before anything that sends messages, posts publicly, spends money or deletes data. 4. Finish with a checklist to run it again next time.
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Guides for this use case
How to control Claude Code and Codex by voice ยท How to vibe code an app with Claude Code
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