# Iva

> Iva is a self-hosted Telegram AI assistant with layered memory that turns your messages into an Obsidian-compatible vault.

One command installs it on your own server, it runs on open models for about $9/mo, and the code is MIT-licensed.

```bash
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/smixs/iva-agent/main/install.sh | bash
```

## Docs

- [Use cases](https://iva-agent.com/use-cases.md): Who runs Iva and for what — scenarios for business owners, specialists, executives and everyday life
- [Install](https://iva-agent.com/install.md): One command on a fresh Ubuntu VPS — requirements, what install.sh does, flags, and the bot's first message
- [Configuration](https://iva-agent.com/configuration.md): Every .env variable and the setup wizard (`iva config`)
- [Memory](https://iva-agent.com/memory.md): The layered vault — daily transcripts, nightly rollups, typed cards, CORE.md, BM25 + graph search
- [Security & privacy](https://iva-agent.com/security.md): Inbound injection screening, outbound secret redaction, fail-closed user allowlist
- [Providers & cost](https://iva-agent.com/providers.md): Every external service Iva talks to, with real prices — models, transcription, vision, search
- [Deploy](https://iva-agent.com/deploy.md): Two systemd user services, two watchdog timers, and five in-process Eve schedules, plus long polling, updates, and backups
- [Command reference](https://iva-agent.com/cli.md): Telegram slash commands and the `iva` CLI
- [Settings menu](https://iva-agent.com/menu.md): The `/menu` hub — screen map, what applies instantly vs on restart, key intake, character test, memory interview
- [Extending](https://iva-agent.com/extending.md): Add skills, MCP connections, and custom tools
- [Plugins](https://iva-agent.com/plugins.md): Agent Plugins folders - install from a Marketplace, git or a folder, enabled vs trusted, writing skills, an eve Extension, MCP servers and services, and the accepted risk
- [Trace](https://iva-agent.com/trace.md): The turn journal - the event schema, the catalogue, how to stitch one turn, retention and the content toggle
- [FAQ](https://iva-agent.com/faq.md): Short answers on cost, models, privacy, and Obsidian
- [Troubleshooting](https://iva-agent.com/troubleshooting.md): Diagnosing a silent bot, failed timers, and provider errors

## Optional

- [README (Russian)](https://github.com/smixs/iva-agent/blob/main/README.ru.md): Full project README in Russian
- [Design philosophy](https://iva-agent.com/philosophy.md): Why most new behaviour becomes a skill instead of code
- [Tech debt](https://iva-agent.com/tech-debt.md): Known gaps and deliberately deferred decisions
- [Changelog](https://github.com/smixs/iva-agent/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md): Release history
