The Story Behind BoomNodes

BoomNodes did not start as a startup idea. It started because I lost a tool that had been part of how I think for years.

I have been working with mind maps for more than 35 years. First on paper, later on PC, and then on iPad where it finally felt direct and fast. The tool that fit me best was iThoughts.

"It was not just another app. It had become part of how I work. Then it was gone."

I used it to structure ideas, build projects, write and outline texts, and work with clients in real time. When I could no longer reinstall it because of platform restrictions, I realized how fragile that workflow had become.

The Core Idea

I tried many alternatives. Most felt like tools for presentation, not for thinking: too rigid, too slow, or locked into subscriptions. So I started building BoomNodes as the tool I actually wanted to use myself.

Privacy, Compliance, and Control

Privacy and compliance are not optional add-ons for me. Many people think through sensitive material: client work, internal planning, early product ideas. BoomNodes is built so you can keep control and decide what leaves your machine and what does not.

AI Modes

AI should support thinking, not replace it. It can help expand an idea, challenge it, or fill a gap, but the map itself should still come from the person using it.

BoomNodes supports local AI through LM Studio, and it also includes an embedded AI mode where popular models can be downloaded directly inside the app, similar to the LM Studio workflow. Ollama support is planned next.

Where It's Going

BoomNodes is still evolving, but the direction is stable: better support for real thinking, more freedom to structure and restructure ideas, optional AI where it truly helps, and less dependence on platforms that can disappear beneath you.

If you have ever had an idea that felt bigger than what your tools could handle, this is for you.