OpenDraft is an open source research project exploring multi-agent AI systems for academic paper generation. It creates thesis drafts for research and educational purposes.

How does the multi-agent system work?

OpenDraft uses 19 specialized AI agents that work in sequence: research, structure, compose, validate, refine, and export phases to create thesis drafts.

Are the citations verified?

Yes, citations are verified against CrossRef and arXiv databases. Each source includes DOI links for verification.

Frequently Asked Questions

General

What is OpenDraft?

OpenDraft is an open-source tool that uses 19 specialized AI agents to generate academic research paper drafts. It searches real academic databases, finds verified citations, and produces properly formatted papers in PDF and Word formats.

Is it free?

Yes! OpenDraft is 100% free and open source (MIT license). You only need a Google AI API key, which has a generous free tier.

How long does it take to generate a paper?

Typically 10-15 minutes depending on the academic level and topic complexity:

Research paper: ~10 minutes
Bachelor's thesis: ~12 minutes
Master's thesis: ~15 minutes
PhD dissertation: ~20 minutes

Are the citations real?

Yes! OpenDraft searches real academic databases (CrossRef, Semantic Scholar, arXiv) and verifies each citation. Every reference includes a DOI or URL that you can check.

Academic Integrity

Can I submit OpenDraft papers as my own work?

OpenDraft generates drafts to help you start your research. The output should be:

Reviewed and fact-checked
Edited in your own voice
Enhanced with your original analysis
Used according to your institution's AI policy

Always check your university's guidelines on AI-assisted writing.

Will my paper be flagged as AI-generated?

AI detection tools vary in accuracy. We recommend using OpenDraft as a starting point and then substantially editing the content in your own voice.

Technical

Why do I need a Google AI API key?

OpenDraft uses Google's Gemini AI models for text generation. The API key authenticates your requests. Google offers a free tier with enough requests for personal use.

Does OpenDraft store my data?

No. OpenDraft runs entirely on your computer. Your topics, papers, and API keys are never sent to our servers.

Why is Pandoc/LaTeX required?

OpenDraft uses Pandoc and LaTeX to convert Markdown to beautifully formatted PDFs. Our installer handles this automatically.

Can I use a different AI model?

Currently, OpenDraft uses Google's Gemini models. Support for other providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, local models) is on our roadmap.

Troubleshooting

"API key invalid" error

Your Google AI API key may be incorrect or expired. Run opendraft setupto enter a new key.

"Rate limit exceeded" error

You've hit Google's free tier limits. Wait a few minutes or upgrade your Google AI account.

PDF generation fails

This usually means Pandoc or LaTeX isn't installed correctly. Try:

brew install pandoc basictex  # macOS
sudo apt install pandoc texlive-latex-base  # Ubuntu

Generation hangs or times out

This can happen with very broad topics. Try being more specific with your topic, or check your internet connection.

Citations are missing or incorrect

OpenDraft searches real databases, but niche topics may have fewer available citations. Always verify citations before submitting.

Still need help?

Open an issue on GitHub and we'll help you out.