Bonfire Terminal vs @cycle-robot-drivers/speech
@cycle-robot-drivers/speech is a free, open-source, on-device speech library built on the browser Web Speech API for robotics and Cycle.js apps, with partial offline support and a 67 sovereign score. Bonfire Terminal provides local Whisper speech within a finished on-device agent, with messaging bridges and BYO-key models, under one perpetual license.
Bonfire Terminal vs @cycle-robot-drivers/speech: the 16-factor comparison
| Rating factor | @cycle-robot-drivers/speech | Bonfire Terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Voice AI / Speech | AI Terminal / Local Agent |
| Popularity | Not disclosed | Growing · indie |
| Hosting architecture | On-Device Local | On-Device Local |
| Licensing model | Open Source | One-Time Perpetual |
| Data / training policy | Browser-based | Fully local — nothing leaves device |
| Offline capability | Partial | Yes |
| Pricing tier range | Free (OSS) | One-time license |
| Execution unit cost | Unlimited Local Compute | Unlimited Local Compute |
| API-key markup | N/A | No — BYO key at cost |
| Supported LLM providers | Not disclosed | OpenAI; Anthropic; Google; Local; Any |
| Auth / permission types | Local/None | API Key; Local/None |
| Phone / messaging bridges | None | Telegram; WhatsApp |
| Speech recognition engine | Web Speech API | Whisper (local) |
| Local media processing | No | Yes |
| Sovereign score | 67 / 100 | 93 / 100 |
The sovereignty gap
Where @cycle-robot-drivers/speech lands on each weighted pillar (its bar) — the red marker is Bonfire's score. Auto-derived from the 16 factors above.
Which should you choose?
Choose @cycle-robot-drivers/speech if…
Choose @cycle-robot-drivers/speech if you build Cycle.js or robotics projects and want a free open-source speech driver using the Web Speech API.
Choose Bonfire Terminal if…
Choose Bonfire Terminal if you want local Whisper speech in a complete on-device agent with bridges and BYO-key models, no build required.
Bonfire Terminal vs @cycle-robot-drivers/speech: FAQ
Is @cycle-robot-drivers/speech private?
It is browser-based, so no dedicated server stores your data, but the Web Speech API can route audio through the browser vendor's engine depending on the platform. Bonfire Terminal runs Whisper fully on-device, so audio stays on your machine with no external processing.
Is Bonfire Terminal cheaper than @cycle-robot-drivers/speech?
@cycle-robot-drivers/speech is free and open source, so it is unbeatable on price for developers. Bonfire Terminal charges once but delivers a complete on-device agent with local Whisper, rather than a speech driver you must wire into a Cycle.js app.
Can Bonfire Terminal replace @cycle-robot-drivers/speech?
For general transcription, yes; for robotics developers, no. This library is a speech driver for Cycle.js and robot projects, while Bonfire Terminal is a finished on-device agent. They serve different builders around a shared on-device speech idea.
What can Bonfire Terminal do that @cycle-robot-drivers/speech can't?
Bonfire Terminal is a full on-device agent with local Whisper, local media processing, Telegram and WhatsApp bridges, and BYO-key LLM access. @cycle-robot-drivers/speech only offers browser speech for Cycle.js, with no agent, bridges, or model access.
How do I switch from @cycle-robot-drivers/speech to Bonfire Terminal?
If you needed speech-to-text for practical tasks rather than a robotics app, install Bonfire Terminal and use its local Whisper engine directly, skipping any Cycle.js integration and driver maintenance.
Does Bonfire Terminal work offline vs @cycle-robot-drivers/speech?
@cycle-robot-drivers/speech has only partial offline support via the Web Speech API. Bonfire Terminal runs Whisper on-device, so transcription and media processing work fully offline, a more dependable option without a connection.