For the Hitchhikers Project we aim to create an open-source, modular, and federated agent-based architecture centered on CrewAI.
The system should run locally on HomeLab hardware, support API access to Claude and OpenAI, and use n8n for flow automation and inter-node coordination. Individual HomeLabs can specialize using tools like Claude Code, LangGraph, and AutoGen, while Yam + Git provides a shared knowledge ledger.
# Core Stack - CrewAI — Multi-agent orchestration framework (Apache 2.0, local-first) - Claude Code — Specialized dev agent using Anthropic subagents & Model Context Protocol (MCP) - LangGraph / AutoGen — Role-based agent flow builders with persistent memory - n8n — Open-source workflow automation and event dispatching - Git + Yam — Shared storage of tasks, logs, and outputs across federated homelabs
# Optional - Haystack for vector memory, TiddlyWiki for visual storytelling, Ollama for local LLMs.
# Agent Roles Each Homelab Node can specialize in one or more Agent Roles: - 🧠 **Deep Thought** — Long-term planner and strategist - 🧪 **Zarniwoop** — Explorer of alternate scenarios and design space - 🧱 **Slartibartfast** — Creative builder of UI/code/doc structure - 🧽 **Marvin** — Code reviewer, critic, and emotional support agent - 📚 **Librarian** — Memory and retrieval node (RAG, doc QA) - 🛰️ **Ford Prefect** — Web search and external event summarizer - ✍️ **Scribe** — Documentation and story-generation agent Each of these roles can be implemented as a CrewAI crew, Claude Code subagent, or hybrid.
# Interoperability - Use n8n to route tasks, triggers, and completions between nodes - Use Model Context Protocol (MCP) to link Claude Code agents and other tools - Communicate via local endpoints (e.g. `marvin-node.local/crewai/run`) - Store outputs in Markdown + Yam for paragraph-level federation and replay
# Reasons for Recommendation 1. **Open & Local-First** — All tools are open source or API-based, respecting self-hosted constraints. 2. **Modular & Composable** — Specialized agents can be upgraded or replaced independently. 3. **Federated by Design** — Homelabs can work offline or async and still collaborate via Git/Yam. 4. **Tool Diversity** — Combines strengths of Claude’s dev stack with the flexibility of CrewAI. 5. **Accessible for Contributors** — Visual workflows (n8n), shared wiki logs, and agent roles make it easy to contribute. 6. **Fun & Thematic** — Agent names and roles reflect the quirky spirit of *The Hitchhiker’s Guide*.
# Next Steps - Scaffold a minimal CrewAI node with Planner, Coder, and Reviewer - Wrap Claude Code subagents into a callable service from n8n or CrewAI - Define Yam schema for storing agent tasks and logs - Publish the first shared Git repo to bootstrap federation
# See
- crewai.com 
- Sub-agents - docs.anthropic.com
- n8n.io
- agent-protocol/agent-protocol