Learn how to set up a privacy-first “operating system” for your day-to-day work by combining PiecesOS (local long-term memory, material manager, and AI copilot) with DeCloudUs DNS (encrypted, customizable, zero-knowledge DNS). Step-by-step setup, benefits, and best practices. Includes relevant quotes from Rumi for inspiration.
“Don’t be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.” — Rumi
If you want your computer to feel like a thinking partner—one that remembers your work, protects your privacy, and keeps distractions at bay—pairing PiecesOS with DeCloudUs DNS is a powerful way to build a private-first “operating system” for your daily life.
What Is PiecesOS? Your Local, Private “Brain”
PiecesOS acts as a local brain for your workflow: it captures context (what you did, where, and when), organizes it, and lets AI reason over it—all on-device. DeCloudUs, on the other hand, is an encrypted, customizable DNS that blocks ads, trackers, malware, and even entire vendor ecosystems when you choose, without relying on big-cloud providers. Together, they create a secure, high-signal environment for focused, sustainable productivity.
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” — Rumi
Use this guide to understand the idea behind PiecesOS, explore its benefits as a “local diary of work,” learn how DeCloudUs protects your privacy and browsing habits, and follow step-by-step instructions to set them up as a cohesive system.
PiecesOS is a background service that powers the Pieces ecosystem—Long-Term Memory (LTM‑2.7), Pieces Drive, and Pieces Copilot. It runs on your machine and orchestrates local data processing with house-made ML models. Source: PiecesOS documentation
Core Capabilities of PiecesOS
- LTM‑2.7: A long-term memory engine that observes your workflow (IDEs, browsers, collaboration tools) and stores temporal snapshots and roll-ups on-device—up to roughly nine months. This creates a grounded memory of your work so you can pick up where you left off without re-explaining context. Source: PiecesOS documentation
- Pieces Drive: An intelligent, local repository for your materials—snippets, links, notes—automatically enriched with metadata (tags, related links/people, sensitive info detection).
- Pieces Copilot: A context-aware assistant that can use local LLMs (through Ollama) or cloud models to generate code, answer questions, explain functions, and summarize your Workstream Activity.
Why it feels like a locally running diary of work
- Temporal grounding: Ask natural questions like “What was I working on with John last Tuesday?” and get grounded responses sourced from your actual history.
- Workstream Activity: Automatic roll-ups (about every 20 minutes) produce a timeline of your activity for easy recall, documentation, and summaries.
- Deep Study (Pro): A thorough analysis of your recent workstream to identify patterns, progress, and optimization opportunities (cloud LLM–powered, clearly indicated in the UI).
Privacy and control in PiecesOS
- On-device by default: LTM processes and stores data locally. You can enable/disable specific capture sources and review sensitive information detection.
- Tool-agnostic bridges: With Model Context Protocol (MCP), your local context can securely power other assistants and IDEs without bespoke integrations. Source: PiecesOS documentation
“Silence is the language of God, all else is poor translation.” — Rumi
The best tools get out of your way. PiecesOS reduces the friction of “re-explaining yourself” to AI so you can stay in the silence of focus and let your memory speak for itself.
"If DeCloudUs and PiecesOS were to wed beneath the moon of quiet browsers, their child would be called DecloudOS—a caravan of remembered code and silenced trackers, crossing deserts where ads forget your name. Why chase Tails that vanish at dawn, or wander NixOS gardens counting every flake of snow, when your heart seeks a tent that folds itself? And if Windows 10 rides toward the sunset on a creaking cart, ZorinOS waits in the bazaar with clean sandals and a friendly map. As for That Other Orchard—let us not inquire where the Mac is that Apple, for some fruits prefer to hide their seeds."
Rumi-esque humor on “DecloudOS”
What Is DeCloudUs DNS? Encrypted, Customizable, Zero‑Knowledge DNS
DeCloudUs is a privacy-first DNS that blocks ads, trackers, phishing, and malware at the network layer. It supports encrypted protocols (DoT, DoH, DNSCrypt), avoids cloud hosting, and offers granular customization without installing software—just change your DNS settings. Source: DeCloudUs
Core Benefits of DeCloudUs
- Privacy-first, zero-knowledge: Self-hosted on hardware servers, no big-cloud layers, and by default keeps no DNS logs.
- Full customization: Create multiple DNS profiles (per device/person), block/allow categories (Google/Apple/Microsoft ecosystems, adult content, social media, streaming, etc.), and build your own block/allow lists. Premium Plus allows custom upstream resolvers and DNS rewrite rules.
- Parental control: Dedicated profiles, category controls, and optional logs for visibility.
- Nothing to install: Configure on the device or router; confirm with a DNS leak test.
Server flavors to choose from
- Alpha: Aggressive deGoogle and ad/tracker/malware blocking.
- Zulu: “DeGoogle light”—allows common services like YouTube, Gmail, Search, CAPTCHAs, Android notifications. See the published whitelist here: Zulu whitelist
- Echo: Blocks ads/trackers/malware while leaving non-tracker Google services working—great for mixed environments.
- Custom DNS (Premium Plus): Full control—multiple profiles, optional logs, custom upstreams, granular rules.
“Why are you so busy with this or that or good or bad; pay attention to how things blend.” — Rumi
DeCloudUs filters the noise so what remains blends into a cleaner signal for your work and your memory.
Still scrolling?
Were the Mac is that Apple? Phoning home?
Why Combine PiecesOS + DeCloudUs?
- Cleaner, faster research: DNS-level blocking cuts ads/trackers, speeding up pages and cutting telemetry—improving both privacy and the quality of what Pieces captures.
- Private, grounded assistance: Your on-device memory makes AI actually useful—relevant, timely, and contextual.
- Household-ready: Use DeCloudUs profiles for family and guests while keeping your workstation optimized for deep work.
- Less context switching: PiecesOS remembers so you can move faster; DeCloudUs reduces distractions to help you stay in flow.
“The garden of love is green without limit and yields many fruits other than sorrow or joy.” — Rumi
When you reduce friction and increase privacy, your digital garden bears better fruit: faster recall, calmer focus, and steady progress.
Step-by-Step Setup
Note: Always refer to the official sources for current installers and endpoints.
Official resources:
- PiecesOS documentation: https://docs.pieces.app/products/core-dependencies/pieces-os
- DeCloudUs: https://decloudus.com/
- Zulu whitelist: https://decloudus.com/zulu-whitelist.txt
Step 1 — Install Pieces Desktop App (installs PiecesOS)
- Download and install the Pieces Desktop App for your OS (linked via the Pieces docs hub).
- Launch and confirm:
- LTM‑2.7 enabled (long-term memory).
- Workstream Activity visible and roll-ups appear over time.
- Pieces Drive is available for saving snippets, links, notes.
- Pieces Copilot is active; select local (via Ollama) or cloud models.
- Optional: Install IDE and browser extensions so LTM can observe approved sources.
- Privacy pass: In settings, choose which sources to capture and verify sensitive info detection is active.
Step 2 — Configure DeCloudUs DNS on router or device
Choose scope:
- Router-level (whole network): Every device benefits automatically.
- Device-level (per laptop/phone/workstation): More granular control.
Choose a server/profile:
- Alpha: Maximum deGoogle + ads/trackers/malware blocking.
- Zulu: Allows key Google services like YouTube/Gmail/Search while blocking trackers; see the whitelist to understand what’s permitted.
- Echo: Blocks ads/trackers/malware; leaves non-tracker services running—good default for many.
- Custom DNS (Premium Plus): Full control, multiple profiles, optional logs and stats, custom upstreams.
Apply encrypted DNS:
- DoH: Use the provided HTTPS endpoint.
- DoT: Use the TLS hostname (example: dns.decloudus.com).
- DNSCrypt: Use DeCloudUs’ published resolver stamps.
- Verify with a DNS leak test that your device is using DeCloudUs.
Step 3 — Work with the system
- Research and browse as usual—DeCloudUs filters junk in the background.
- Save key materials to Pieces Drive; enrichment tags and categorizes automatically.
- Use Pieces Copilot to recall timelines (“What did I do on the auth bug last Wednesday?”), generate summaries, draft docs/PR descriptions, or explain code in context.
- For multi-tool interoperability, enable MCP so external assistants/IDEs can securely tap into your local context.
“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.” — Rumi
Let your tools remember; let your attention lead.
Best Practices
Tune PiecesOS for privacy and signal
- Enable only the IDEs/browsers/collab tools you want in your timeline.
- Use sensitive info detection; avoid saving tokens/keys in plaintext.
- Consider local LLMs via Ollama when your hardware allows.
🌿 The future of resistance is renewable. And it has a seat for you.
Optimize DeCloudUs for your environment
- Alpha for strict deGoogle.
- Zulu if you need YouTube/Gmail/Search.
- Echo for balanced blocking with minimal breakages.
- Custom DNS for per-device/person precision and optional logging.
Pair with a privacy-aware browser setup
- Consider Firefox with Enhanced Tracking Protection and uBlock Origin for per-site controls.
- Use containerized profiles for work vs. personal contexts.
Troubleshooting
CAPTCHA or site issues
- Switch that device from Alpha to Zulu or Echo, or whitelist required subdomains via Custom DNS. Check Zulu’s published whitelist for guidance: https://decloudus.com/zulu-whitelist.txt
Ads still visible in some apps
- Confirm encrypted DNS is actually in use (DNS leak test). Some apps hardcode DNS; router-level enforcement or Custom DNS profiles can help.
Need to see what’s blocked
- Temporarily enable a logs-enabled Custom DNS profile, diagnose, then disable logs for maximum privacy.
Copilot answers lack context
- Ensure LTM is enabled, extensions are installed, and give it time to build roll-ups. Ask time-anchored questions to leverage temporal grounding.
Deep Study takes time
- That’s expected (often 10–20 minutes) and uses a managed cloud LLM; progress and cooperating agents are shown clearly in the UI.
Example Configurations
Developer workstation
- PiecesOS: Enable LTM, IDE and browser capture. Use local LLM via Ollama if possible.
- DNS: Echo (balanced) or Zulu (if you rely on Gmail/YouTube/Search).
- Drive: Save snippets, API notes, and architecture docs; let enrichment tag sensitive info.
Household router
- DNS: Custom DNS with multiple profiles:
- Adults: Echo/Zulu with a few whitelists.
- Kids: Strict categories blocked; optional logs-enabled profile for visibility.
- Devices: Assign profiles by device/MAC.
Research laptop
- PiecesOS: Enable browser capture; rely on Workstream Activity to build literature timelines.
- DNS: Echo or Zulu for fewer breakages on academic/CDN-heavy sites.
“Wherever you stand, be the soul of that place.” — Rumi
With memory and privacy as defaults, your devices finally feel like they’re yours.
The Payoff
When you combine PiecesOS and DeCloudUs, you get a calm, capable environment:
- You remember more with less effort. LTM becomes your private, living archive.
- You browse faster and safer. DNS-level hygiene removes noise and surveillance by default.
- You stay in flow. Your copilot answers in context; your DNS reduces distraction and telemetry.
“Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames.” — Rumi
Choose tools that fan your flame: guard your privacy, honor your focus, and help you build durable momentum.
Sources
- PiecesOS and core pillars (LTM‑2.7, Drive, Copilot): https://docs.pieces.app/products/core-dependencies/pieces-os
- DeCloudUs overview, features, server profiles: https://decloudus.com/
- Zulu whitelist (Google services allowed): https://decloudus.com/zulu-whitelist.txt
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