Ubuntu

Run Open Manus on Ubuntu: Step by Step Installation

Anas Mohammad

Mar 11, 2025 • 5 min read

OpenManus is an open-source alternative to Manus AI, designed to provide similar capabilities through local deployment. This guide walks you through the installation, configuration, and usage of OpenManus on Ubuntu systems.

What is OpenManus?

OpenManus is an open-source AI agent inspired by the capabilities of Manus AI, developed by the MetaGPT community. It aims to provide a free and accessible alternative to Manus AI, allowing users to run AI agents locally with simple configuration to realize various creative ideas. OpenManus was created in just three hours and released on GitHub, making it freely available to anyone with basic technical skills.

Key Features of OpenManus

Open-Source Flexibility: Users have full control over the code, allowing for customization to fit specific needs.
API-First Design: OpenManus is designed for seamless integration with other tools and services.
Cost-Effective: It is free to use, with no hidden fees or subscriptions.
Community Support: OpenManus benefits from an active community of contributors and plugins.

How OpenManus Works

OpenManus uses large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4o to create AI agents capable of executing tasks based on user instructions. Its modular design allows it to adapt to various purposes without being limited to predefined functions. The system is built with components that process user requests, plan execution, use the right tools and APIs for each step, and deliver results in a coherent manner.

Installation and Setup

To get started with OpenManus, you need Python 3.12 and a conda environment. The process involves cloning the GitHub repository, installing dependencies, setting up a configuration file with API keys, and running the agent with a simple command.

Use Cases

OpenManus can be used for a variety of tasks, including:

Rapid Prototyping: Quickly test ideas that require automating web interactions.
Data Extraction: Collect specific information from multiple websites.
Custom Workflow Automation: Automate repetitive multi-step processes.

Comparison with Manus AI

Feature	OpenManus	Manus AI
Cost	Free, open-source	Paid subscriptions
Customization	Fully customizable codebase	Limited to vendor-provided features
APIs	Built for seamless integration	API access often requires premium plans
Community	Active open-source contributors	Vendor-controlled updates
Use Cases	Ideal for developers and tinkerers	Geared toward enterprise users

System Requirements

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or newer
Python 3.12+
8GB RAM (16GB recommended)
20GB free disk space
Stable internet connection

Installation Methods

Method 1: Using UV (Recommended)

Install Dependencies

uv pip install -r requirements.txt

Create Virtual Environment

uv venv
source .venv/bin/activate

Clone Repository

git clone https://github.com/mannaandpoem/OpenManus.git
cd OpenManus

Install UV Package Manager
UV is a Rust-based package manager known for faster dependency resolution.

curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
source ~/.cargo/env

Method 2: Using Conda

If you prefer Conda, follow these steps:

conda create -n open_manus python=3.12
conda activate open_manus
git clone https://github.com/mannaandpoem/OpenManus.git
cd OpenManus
pip install -r requirements.txt

Configuration

Edit Configuration
Modify config/config.toml with your API details:

[llm]
model = "gpt-4o"
base_url = "https://api.openai.com/v1"
api_key = "sk-your-key-here"
max_tokens = 4096
temperature = 0.0

Create Configuration File

cp config/config.example.toml config/config.toml

Basic Usage

Start OpenManus

python main.py

Example Commands

Web Browsing:

Get current weather in Mumbai

File Operations:

List files in current directory and save to a.txt

Advanced Features

Vision Model Integration
To integrate vision capabilities, add the following to config.toml:

[llm.vision]
model = "gpt-4o"
base_url = "https://api.openai.com/v1"
api_key = "sk-your-vision-key"

Run Experimental Features

python run_flow.py

Troubleshooting

Browser Integration Issues
If browser functionality fails:

Ensure chromium-browser is installed.
Verify proxy settings.

Update Playwright dependencies:

playwright install

Dependency Conflicts
Recreate the virtual environment using UV's conflict resolution:

uv pip install --resolution=lowest-direct -r requirements.txt

Performance Optimization

Enable GPU Acceleration:
Add this to your configuration:

[hardware]
cuda = true

Allocate Swap Space:
For memory-intensive tasks:

sudo fallocate -l 4G /swapfile
sudo chmod 600 /swapfile
sudo mkswap /swapfile
sudo swapon /swapfile

Advanced Features of OpenManus

OpenManus is an open-source AI agent that replicates many of the capabilities of Manus AI, offering a flexible and powerful tool for developers and researchers. Here are some of its advanced features:

Multi-Agent System: OpenManus supports collaborative AI agents that work together to solve complex tasks. This modular design allows for seamless integration and coordination of multiple agents.
Dockerized Environment: The system is containerized using Docker, making it easy to set up and deploy. This ensures a consistent environment across different machines.
Task Execution: OpenManus can handle a wide range of tasks, including travel planning, data analysis, content generation, and more. It can break down complex tasks into sub-tasks and execute them sequentially.
Tool Integration: It integrates with various tools and APIs, enabling web browsing, code execution, and data retrieval capabilities.
Modular Design: The modular architecture of OpenManus makes it highly extensible. Developers can easily add new agents, tools, or features.
Community-Driven: OpenManus is community-driven, welcoming contributions from developers worldwide.
Instant LLM Switching: OpenManus allows users to switch between different large language models (LLMs) instantly by updating the configuration file.
Experimentation with New Features: Developers can experiment with cutting-edge functionalities using the python run_flow.py command.

Use Cases of OpenManus

OpenManus can be applied in various scenarios to automate and streamline tasks. Here are some real-world use cases:

Rapid Prototyping: Developers can quickly test ideas that require automating web interactions. OpenManus can handle the execution, saving time and effort.
Data Extraction: OpenManus can automate the process of collecting specific information from multiple websites. Users can describe the data points and target sites.
Custom Workflow Automation: For repetitive multi-step processes, such as processing files, updating spreadsheets, or sending notifications, OpenManus can automate the entire workflow.
Research Assistance: OpenManus can be used to build specialized research assistants that analyze data, generate reports, and provide insights.
Content Creation: OpenManus can assist in creating educational materials, marketing plans, and other content by leveraging its natural language processing capabilities.
Financial Analysis: It can analyze stock trends, generate financial reports, and even create visual dashboards.
Travel Planning: OpenManus can plan detailed trips, including itinerary creation, hotel bookings, and activity suggestions, all based on user preferences.
SEO and Marketing: OpenManus can run thorough SEO audits of websites and provide detailed optimization reports, helping businesses improve their online presence.

Future Development

The OpenManus team plans to introduce live demos, better task planning for advanced automation, improved integrations with AI models, and a web-based version that removes the need for technical setup.

Getting Involved

OpenManus is community-driven, and contributions from users are welcome. You can report issues, suggest new features, or submit improvements directly through the GitHub repository.

OpenManus represents a significant step forward in making AI technology accessible to a broader audience, offering flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and community support.

Conclusion

This guide covers the essential aspects of OpenManus deployment on Ubuntu systems. The UV installation method offers better dependency management compared to traditional package managers. Users can extend functionality through the modular configuration system while maintaining control over privacy and data processing.