feat(backends): add moonshine backend for faster transcription

.github/workflows/backend.yml

@@ -78,6 +78,19 @@ jobs:
             dockerfile: "./backend/Dockerfile.python"
             context: "./"
             ubuntu-version: '2404'
+          - build-type: ''
+            cuda-major-version: ""
+            cuda-minor-version: ""
+            platforms: 'linux/amd64'
+            tag-latest: 'auto'
+            tag-suffix: '-cpu-moonshine'
+            runs-on: 'ubuntu-latest'
+            base-image: "ubuntu:24.04"
+            skip-drivers: 'true'
+            backend: "moonshine"
+            dockerfile: "./backend/Dockerfile.python"
+            context: "./"
+            ubuntu-version: '2404'
           # CUDA 12 builds
           - build-type: 'cublas'
             cuda-major-version: "12"
@@ -222,6 +235,19 @@ jobs:
             dockerfile: "./backend/Dockerfile.python"
             context: "./"
             ubuntu-version: '2404'
+          - build-type: 'cublas'
+            cuda-major-version: "12"
+            cuda-minor-version: "9"
+            platforms: 'linux/amd64'
+            tag-latest: 'auto'
+            tag-suffix: '-gpu-nvidia-cuda-12-moonshine'
+            runs-on: 'ubuntu-latest'
+            base-image: "ubuntu:24.04"
+            skip-drivers: 'false'
+            backend: "moonshine"
+            dockerfile: "./backend/Dockerfile.python"
+            context: "./"
+            ubuntu-version: '2404'
           - build-type: 'cublas'
             cuda-major-version: "12"
             cuda-minor-version: "9"
@@ -444,6 +470,19 @@ jobs:
             dockerfile: "./backend/Dockerfile.python"
             context: "./"
             ubuntu-version: '2404'
+          - build-type: 'cublas'
+            cuda-major-version: "13"
+            cuda-minor-version: "0"
+            platforms: 'linux/amd64'
+            tag-latest: 'auto'
+            tag-suffix: '-gpu-nvidia-cuda-13-moonshine'
+            runs-on: 'ubuntu-latest'
+            base-image: "ubuntu:24.04"
+            skip-drivers: 'false'
+            backend: "moonshine"
+            dockerfile: "./backend/Dockerfile.python"
+            context: "./"
+            ubuntu-version: '2404'
           - build-type: 'cublas'
             cuda-major-version: "13"
             cuda-minor-version: "0"

.github/workflows/test-extra.yml

@@ -247,3 +247,22 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           make --jobs=5 --output-sync=target -C backend/python/coqui
           make --jobs=5 --output-sync=target -C backend/python/coqui test
+  tests-moonshine:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Clone
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        with:
+          submodules: true
+      - name: Dependencies
+        run: |
+          sudo apt-get update
+          sudo apt-get install build-essential ffmpeg
+          sudo apt-get install -y ca-certificates cmake curl patch python3-pip
+          # Install UV
+          curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
+          pip install --user --no-cache-dir grpcio-tools==1.64.1
+      - name: Test moonshine
+        run: |
+          make --jobs=5 --output-sync=target -C backend/python/moonshine
+          make --jobs=5 --output-sync=target -C backend/python/moonshine test

AGENTS.md

@@ -15,6 +15,150 @@ Let's say the user wants to build a particular backend for a given platform. For
 - The user may say they want to build AMD or ROCM instead of hipblas, or Intel instead of SYCL or NVIDIA insted of l4t or cublas. Ask for confirmation if there is ambiguity.
 - Sometimes the user may need extra parameters to be added to `docker build` (e.g. `--platform` for cross-platform builds or `--progress` to view the full logs), in which case you can generate the `docker build` command directly.
 
+## Adding a New Backend
+
+When adding a new backend to LocalAI, you need to update several files to ensure the backend is properly built, tested, and registered. Here's a step-by-step guide based on the pattern used for adding backends like `moonshine`:
+
+### 1. Create Backend Directory Structure
+
+Create the backend directory under the appropriate location:
+- **Python backends**: `backend/python/<backend-name>/`
+- **Go backends**: `backend/go/<backend-name>/`
+- **C++ backends**: `backend/cpp/<backend-name>/`
+
+For Python backends, you'll typically need:
+- `backend.py` - Main gRPC server implementation
+- `Makefile` - Build configuration
+- `install.sh` - Installation script for dependencies
+- `protogen.sh` - Protocol buffer generation script
+- `requirements.txt` - Python dependencies
+- `run.sh` - Runtime script
+- `test.py` / `test.sh` - Test files
+
+### 2. Add Build Configurations to `.github/workflows/backend.yml`
+
+Add build matrix entries for each platform/GPU type you want to support. Look at similar backends (e.g., `chatterbox`, `faster-whisper`) for reference.
+
+**Placement in file:**
+- CPU builds: Add after other CPU builds (e.g., after `cpu-chatterbox`)
+- CUDA 12 builds: Add after other CUDA 12 builds (e.g., after `gpu-nvidia-cuda-12-chatterbox`)
+- CUDA 13 builds: Add after other CUDA 13 builds (e.g., after `gpu-nvidia-cuda-13-chatterbox`)
+
+**Additional build types you may need:**
+- ROCm/HIP: Use `build-type: 'hipblas'` with `base-image: "rocm/dev-ubuntu-24.04:6.4.4"`
+- Intel/SYCL: Use `build-type: 'intel'` or `build-type: 'sycl_f16'`/`sycl_f32` with `base-image: "intel/oneapi-basekit:2025.3.0-0-devel-ubuntu24.04"`
+- L4T (ARM): Use `build-type: 'l4t'` with `platforms: 'linux/arm64'` and `runs-on: 'ubuntu-24.04-arm'`
+
+### 3. Add Backend Metadata to `backend/index.yaml`
+
+**Step 3a: Add Meta Definition**
+
+Add a YAML anchor definition in the `## metas` section (around line 2-300). Look for similar backends to use as a template such as `diffusers` or `chatterbox`
+
+**Step 3b: Add Image Entries**
+
+Add image entries at the end of the file, following the pattern of similar backends such as `diffusers` or `chatterbox`. Include both `latest` (production) and `master` (development) tags.
+
+### 4. Update the Makefile
+
+The Makefile needs to be updated in several places to support building and testing the new backend:
+
+**Step 4a: Add to `.NOTPARALLEL`**
+
+Add `backends/<backend-name>` to the `.NOTPARALLEL` line (around line 2) to prevent parallel execution conflicts:
+
+```makefile
+.NOTPARALLEL: ... backends/<backend-name>
+```
+
+**Step 4b: Add to `prepare-test-extra`**
+
+Add the backend to the `prepare-test-extra` target (around line 312) to prepare it for testing:
+
+```makefile
+prepare-test-extra: protogen-python
+	...
+	$(MAKE) -C backend/python/<backend-name>
+```
+
+**Step 4c: Add to `test-extra`**
+
+Add the backend to the `test-extra` target (around line 319) to run its tests:
+
+```makefile
+test-extra: prepare-test-extra
+	...
+	$(MAKE) -C backend/python/<backend-name> test
+```
+
+**Step 4d: Add Backend Definition**
+
+Add a backend definition variable in the backend definitions section (around line 428-457). The format depends on the backend type:
+
+**For Python backends with root context** (like `faster-whisper`, `bark`):
+```makefile
+BACKEND_<BACKEND_NAME> = <backend-name>|python|.|false|true
+```
+
+**For Python backends with `./backend` context** (like `chatterbox`, `moonshine`):
+```makefile
+BACKEND_<BACKEND_NAME> = <backend-name>|python|./backend|false|true
+```
+
+**For Go backends**:
+```makefile
+BACKEND_<BACKEND_NAME> = <backend-name>|golang|.|false|true
+```
+
+**Step 4e: Generate Docker Build Target**
+
+Add an eval call to generate the docker-build target (around line 480-501):
+
+```makefile
+$(eval $(call generate-docker-build-target,$(BACKEND_<BACKEND_NAME>)))
+```
+
+**Step 4f: Add to `docker-build-backends`**
+
+Add `docker-build-<backend-name>` to the `docker-build-backends` target (around line 507):
+
+```makefile
+docker-build-backends: ... docker-build-<backend-name>
+```
+
+**Determining the Context:**
+
+- If the backend is in `backend/python/<backend-name>/` and uses `./backend` as context in the workflow file, use `./backend` context
+- If the backend is in `backend/python/<backend-name>/` but uses `.` as context in the workflow file, use `.` context
+- Check similar backends to determine the correct context
+
+### 5. Verification Checklist
+
+After adding a new backend, verify:
+
+- [ ] Backend directory structure is complete with all necessary files
+- [ ] Build configurations added to `.github/workflows/backend.yml` for all desired platforms
+- [ ] Meta definition added to `backend/index.yaml` in the `## metas` section
+- [ ] Image entries added to `backend/index.yaml` for all build variants (latest + development)
+- [ ] Tag suffixes match between workflow file and index.yaml
+- [ ] Makefile updated with all 6 required changes (`.NOTPARALLEL`, `prepare-test-extra`, `test-extra`, backend definition, docker-build target eval, `docker-build-backends`)
+- [ ] No YAML syntax errors (check with linter)
+- [ ] No Makefile syntax errors (check with linter)
+- [ ] Follows the same pattern as similar backends (e.g., if it's a transcription backend, follow `faster-whisper` pattern)
+
+### 6. Example: Adding a Python Backend
+
+For reference, when `moonshine` was added:
+- **Files created**: `backend/python/moonshine/{backend.py, Makefile, install.sh, protogen.sh, requirements.txt, run.sh, test.py, test.sh}`
+- **Workflow entries**: 3 build configurations (CPU, CUDA 12, CUDA 13)
+- **Index entries**: 1 meta definition + 6 image entries (cpu, cuda12, cuda13 × latest/development)
+- **Makefile updates**: 
+  - Added to `.NOTPARALLEL` line
+  - Added to `prepare-test-extra` and `test-extra` targets
+  - Added `BACKEND_MOONSHINE = moonshine|python|./backend|false|true`
+  - Added eval for docker-build target generation
+  - Added `docker-build-moonshine` to `docker-build-backends`
+
 # Coding style
 
 - The project has the following .editorconfig

Makefile

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Disable parallel execution for backend builds
-.NOTPARALLEL: backends/diffusers backends/llama-cpp backends/piper backends/stablediffusion-ggml backends/whisper backends/faster-whisper backends/silero-vad backends/local-store backends/huggingface backends/rfdetr backends/kitten-tts backends/kokoro backends/chatterbox backends/llama-cpp-darwin backends/neutts build-darwin-python-backend build-darwin-go-backend backends/mlx backends/diffuser-darwin backends/mlx-vlm backends/mlx-audio backends/stablediffusion-ggml-darwin backends/vllm
+.NOTPARALLEL: backends/diffusers backends/llama-cpp backends/piper backends/stablediffusion-ggml backends/whisper backends/faster-whisper backends/silero-vad backends/local-store backends/huggingface backends/rfdetr backends/kitten-tts backends/kokoro backends/chatterbox backends/llama-cpp-darwin backends/neutts build-darwin-python-backend build-darwin-go-backend backends/mlx backends/diffuser-darwin backends/mlx-vlm backends/mlx-audio backends/stablediffusion-ggml-darwin backends/vllm backends/moonshine
 
 GOCMD=go
 GOTEST=$(GOCMD) test
@@ -315,13 +315,15 @@ prepare-test-extra: protogen-python
 	$(MAKE) -C backend/python/chatterbox
 	$(MAKE) -C backend/python/vllm
 	$(MAKE) -C backend/python/vibevoice
+	$(MAKE) -C backend/python/moonshine
 
 test-extra: prepare-test-extra
 	$(MAKE) -C backend/python/transformers test
 	$(MAKE) -C backend/python/diffusers test
 	$(MAKE) -C backend/python/chatterbox test
 	$(MAKE) -C backend/python/vllm test
 	$(MAKE) -C backend/python/vibevoice test
+	$(MAKE) -C backend/python/moonshine test
 
 DOCKER_IMAGE?=local-ai
 DOCKER_AIO_IMAGE?=local-ai-aio
@@ -455,6 +457,7 @@ BACKEND_VLLM = vllm|python|./backend|false|true
 BACKEND_DIFFUSERS = diffusers|python|./backend|--progress=plain|true
 BACKEND_CHATTERBOX = chatterbox|python|./backend|false|true
 BACKEND_VIBEVOICE = vibevoice|python|./backend|--progress=plain|true
+BACKEND_MOONSHINE = moonshine|python|./backend|false|true
 
 # Helper function to build docker image for a backend
 # Usage: $(call docker-build-backend,BACKEND_NAME,DOCKERFILE_TYPE,BUILD_CONTEXT,PROGRESS_FLAG,NEEDS_BACKEND_ARG)
@@ -499,12 +502,13 @@ $(eval $(call generate-docker-build-target,$(BACKEND_VLLM)))
 $(eval $(call generate-docker-build-target,$(BACKEND_DIFFUSERS)))
 $(eval $(call generate-docker-build-target,$(BACKEND_CHATTERBOX)))
 $(eval $(call generate-docker-build-target,$(BACKEND_VIBEVOICE)))
+$(eval $(call generate-docker-build-target,$(BACKEND_MOONSHINE)))
 
 # Pattern rule for docker-save targets
 docker-save-%: backend-images
 	docker save local-ai-backend:$* -o backend-images/$*.tar
 
-docker-build-backends: docker-build-llama-cpp docker-build-rerankers docker-build-vllm docker-build-transformers docker-build-diffusers docker-build-kokoro docker-build-faster-whisper docker-build-coqui docker-build-bark docker-build-chatterbox docker-build-vibevoice docker-build-exllama2
+docker-build-backends: docker-build-llama-cpp docker-build-rerankers docker-build-vllm docker-build-transformers docker-build-diffusers docker-build-kokoro docker-build-faster-whisper docker-build-coqui docker-build-bark docker-build-chatterbox docker-build-vibevoice docker-build-exllama2 docker-build-moonshine
 
 ########################################################
 ### END Backends

backend/index.yaml

@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@
   capabilities:
     nvidia: "cuda12-rfdetr"
     intel: "intel-rfdetr"
     #amd: "rocm-rfdetr"
     nvidia-l4t: "nvidia-l4t-arm64-rfdetr"
     default: "cpu-rfdetr"
     nvidia-cuda-13: "cuda13-rfdetr"
@@ -275,6 +275,24 @@
     amd: "rocm-faster-whisper"
     nvidia-cuda-13: "cuda13-faster-whisper"
     nvidia-cuda-12: "cuda12-faster-whisper"
+- &moonshine
+  description: |
+    Moonshine is a fast, accurate, and efficient speech-to-text transcription model using ONNX Runtime.
+    It provides real-time transcription capabilities with support for multiple model sizes and GPU acceleration.
+  urls:
+    - https://github.com/moonshine-ai/moonshine
+  tags:
+    - speech-to-text
+    - transcription
+    - ONNX
+  license: MIT
+  name: "moonshine"
+  alias: "moonshine"
+  capabilities:
+    nvidia: "cuda12-moonshine"
+    default: "cpu-moonshine"
+    nvidia-cuda-13: "cuda13-moonshine"
+    nvidia-cuda-12: "cuda12-moonshine"
 - &kokoro
   icon: https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/166769057?v=4
   description: |
@@ -947,7 +965,7 @@
   capabilities:
     nvidia: "cuda12-rfdetr-development"
     intel: "intel-rfdetr-development"
     #amd: "rocm-rfdetr-development"
     nvidia-l4t: "nvidia-l4t-arm64-rfdetr-development"
     default: "cpu-rfdetr-development"
     nvidia-cuda-13: "cuda13-rfdetr-development"
@@ -1203,7 +1221,7 @@
   uri: "quay.io/go-skynet/local-ai-backends:master-metal-darwin-arm64-diffusers"
   mirrors:
     - localai/localai-backends:master-metal-darwin-arm64-diffusers
   ## exllama2
 - !!merge <<: *exllama2
   name: "exllama2-development"
   capabilities:
@@ -1315,6 +1333,44 @@
   uri: "quay.io/go-skynet/local-ai-backends:master-gpu-nvidia-cuda-13-faster-whisper"
   mirrors:
     - localai/localai-backends:master-gpu-nvidia-cuda-13-faster-whisper
+## moonshine
+- !!merge <<: *moonshine
+  name: "moonshine-development"
+  capabilities:
+    nvidia: "cuda12-moonshine-development"
+    default: "cpu-moonshine-development"
+    nvidia-cuda-13: "cuda13-moonshine-development"
+    nvidia-cuda-12: "cuda12-moonshine-development"
+- !!merge <<: *moonshine
+  name: "cpu-moonshine"
+  uri: "quay.io/go-skynet/local-ai-backends:latest-cpu-moonshine"
+  mirrors:
+    - localai/localai-backends:latest-cpu-moonshine
+- !!merge <<: *moonshine
+  name: "cpu-moonshine-development"
+  uri: "quay.io/go-skynet/local-ai-backends:master-cpu-moonshine"
+  mirrors:
+    - localai/localai-backends:master-cpu-moonshine
+- !!merge <<: *moonshine
+  name: "cuda12-moonshine"
+  uri: "quay.io/go-skynet/local-ai-backends:latest-gpu-nvidia-cuda-12-moonshine"
+  mirrors:
+    - localai/localai-backends:latest-gpu-nvidia-cuda-12-moonshine
+- !!merge <<: *moonshine
+  name: "cuda12-moonshine-development"
+  uri: "quay.io/go-skynet/local-ai-backends:master-gpu-nvidia-cuda-12-moonshine"
+  mirrors:
+    - localai/localai-backends:master-gpu-nvidia-cuda-12-moonshine
+- !!merge <<: *moonshine
+  name: "cuda13-moonshine"
+  uri: "quay.io/go-skynet/local-ai-backends:latest-gpu-nvidia-cuda-13-moonshine"
+  mirrors:
+    - localai/localai-backends:latest-gpu-nvidia-cuda-13-moonshine
+- !!merge <<: *moonshine
+  name: "cuda13-moonshine-development"
+  uri: "quay.io/go-skynet/local-ai-backends:master-gpu-nvidia-cuda-13-moonshine"
+  mirrors:
+    - localai/localai-backends:master-gpu-nvidia-cuda-13-moonshine
 ## coqui
 
 - !!merge <<: *coqui

backend/python/moonshine/Makefile

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+.DEFAULT_GOAL := install
+
+.PHONY: install
+install:
+	bash install.sh
+
+.PHONY: protogen-clean
+protogen-clean:
+	$(RM) backend_pb2_grpc.py backend_pb2.py
+
+.PHONY: clean
+clean: protogen-clean
+	rm -rf venv __pycache__
+
+test: install
+	bash test.sh