Frequently asked questions
A few honest answers about reading, AI, privacy, installation, and the versions currently available.
What is WeiBei for?
WeiBei is a Mac app for reading and taking notes. You can keep a document, a conversation about it, and your notes in the same window. It is mainly for times when you want to read carefully, ask about a particular passage, and still find the original source later.
What kinds of files can it read?
It currently supports PDF, HTML, Markdown, and plain text. Scanned PDF pages can be recognized on the Mac, although recognition may take longer and may contain mistakes. Very large files may only be partly indexed, and WeiBei will say so instead of presenting an incomplete search as complete.
Do I have to use AI?
No. Importing materials, reading, searching, and writing notes work without a model. AI is only needed when you want to ask questions, summarize a passage, or prepare a note from a conversation.
Which AI services can I use?
You choose the service yourself. WeiBei can connect to several common online providers, an OpenAI-compatible service, or a local llama.cpp model. Online services may require an API key or a supported subscription and may charge separately. WeiBei does not require a separate WeiBei account.
Will my materials be uploaded?
Your courses, notes, and search index are stored on your Mac. When you ask an online model a question, the text needed for that question is sent to the provider you selected. If you use a local model, that step can stay on the Mac as well. WeiBei cannot replace the privacy policy of an outside model provider, so it is still worth checking the provider you choose.
Can AI change my notes by itself?
No. It can prepare a suggested note, but you decide whether to accept it. Ordinary reading and note editing remain available even when no model is connected.
Can answers take me back to the source?
When a question is based on imported material, WeiBei tries to show references with the answer. Clicking a reference returns to the corresponding page or section. A model can still make mistakes, so important conclusions should be checked against the quoted source.
Which computers are supported now?
WeiBei supports macOS 14 or later on both Apple silicon and Intel Macs. The release pipeline requires both native packages to pass build, launch, signature, and architecture checks before publication. When downloads are available, choose the DMG matching your Mac.
How do I install it on a Mac?
When a DMG is available on GitHub Releases, download it, open it, and drag WeiBei into Applications. Builds are currently not Apple-notarized and may require one confirmation in System Settings under Privacy & Security on first launch. Do not disable macOS security checks globally.
Is WeiBei finished and stable?
WeiBei is still being developed. The main reading, search, conversation, and note flows are already in place, but bugs and changes should still be expected. Please keep a normal backup of important materials and notes, and report anything that does not behave as expected.
Is WeiBei open source?
The application code is available on GitHub under the MIT License. The WeiBei name, logo, screenshots, and other brand materials are not included in that license. If you want to modify or redistribute the app, please read the licensing notes in the repository first.
Where should I report a problem or suggestion?
Use the Feedback page on this site. It will prepare the title and details, then take you to the matching GitHub form. You can review everything before submitting, and nothing is posted automatically.