talk-buddy

Frequently Asked Questions

Get quick answers to common Talk Buddy questions.

Getting Started

Q: What is Talk Buddy?

A: Talk Buddy is an AI-powered conversation practice application that helps you improve your speaking skills through realistic dialogue scenarios. It’s perfect for interview preparation, language learning, professional communication development, and building confidence in various conversation contexts.

Q: Do I need an internet connection to use Talk Buddy?

A: Talk Buddy can work both online and offline:

• Online mode: Full functionality with AI conversations and speech processing
• Offline mode: Limited functionality - you can view scenarios and transcripts, but conversation practice requires internet for AI services

Q: What are the system requirements?

A:

• OS: Windows 10+, macOS 10.14+, or Ubuntu 18.04+ (Linux)
• RAM: 4GB minimum (8GB recommended)
• Storage: 500MB free space minimum
• Network: Internet connection for AI services
• Audio: Working microphone and speakers/headphones

Q: Is Talk Buddy free to use?

A: Yes! Talk Buddy is open source software released under the MIT license. It’s completely free to download, use, and modify.

Using Talk Buddy

Q: How do I start my first conversation?

A:

1. Open Talk Buddy and click “Scenarios” in the sidebar
2. Choose a beginner-friendly scenario like “Customer Service - Product Return”
3. Click the scenario to start a session
4. Follow the Your First Scenario guide for detailed steps

Q: Why isn’t my microphone working?

A: Check these common issues:

• Permissions: Ensure Talk Buddy has microphone access in system settings
• Hardware: Test your microphone in other applications
• Connection: Verify speech services are connected (check status footer)
• Settings: Go to Settings and test STT (Speech-to-Text) service

Q: The AI doesn’t respond to my speech. What’s wrong?

A: This usually indicates a service connection issue:

1. Check the status footer - AI service should show green dot
2. Verify internet connection
3. Test AI service in Settings page
4. See Connection Issues guide for detailed troubleshooting

Q: Can I practice without speaking out loud?

A: Currently, Talk Buddy is designed for voice-based conversation practice. While you can view scenarios and read transcripts, the core learning experience involves speaking with the AI. Future versions may include text-only modes.

Content and Scenarios

Q: How do I get more scenarios?

A: Several ways to expand your content:

• Import from teachers: If you’re a student, your instructor can provide practice packs
• Create your own: Use the scenario creation tools to design custom practice
• Community sharing: Import scenarios shared by other users
• Default content: Talk Buddy includes built-in scenarios to start with

Q: Can I edit the default scenarios?

A: You can’t edit the built-in default scenarios directly, but you can:

• Create new scenarios based on defaults
• Copy and modify scenario elements
• Create your own versions with different difficulty levels
• Archive default scenarios you don’t use

Q: What’s the difference between scenarios and practice packs?

A:

• Scenarios: Individual conversation practice sessions (like “Job Interview”)
• Practice Packs: Collections of related scenarios organized for progressive learning (like “Interview Skills Bundle”)

Q: How do I share my scenarios with others?

A:

1. Go to the Scenarios or Practice Packs page
2. Find the content you want to share
3. Click “Export” to save as a JSON file
4. Share the file via email, file sharing, or learning management systems
5. Recipients can import using the “Import” feature

Technical Issues

Q: Talk Buddy won’t install on my computer. What should I do?

A: Try these solutions:

• Windows: Run installer as Administrator, disable antivirus temporarily
• macOS: Check Security & Privacy settings, allow app from unidentified developer
• Linux: Ensure AppImage is executable (chmod +x Talk Buddy.AppImage)
• See Installation Guide for detailed instructions

Q: The app is running slowly. How can I improve performance?

A:

• Close other applications to free up RAM
• Check internet connection for online AI services
• Use local services instead of online ones if possible
• Restart Talk Buddy to clear any memory issues
• See Performance Tips for more solutions

Q: I’m getting connection errors. How do I fix them?

A: Follow this troubleshooting sequence:

1. Check internet connection in a web browser
2. Look at status footer indicators (red = problem, green = working)
3. Test services individually in Settings page
4. Check firewall and antivirus settings
5. Follow the complete Connection Issues guide

Q: Can I use Talk Buddy on a corporate/school network?

A: Yes, but you may need to:

• Contact IT department for firewall exceptions
• Use local services instead of online ones
• Configure proxy settings if required
• Use mobile hotspot as a temporary workaround

Educational Use

Q: I’m a teacher. How can I use Talk Buddy in my classroom?

A: Talk Buddy is excellent for education:

• Create curriculum-specific scenarios for your subject area
• Build progressive practice packs for skill development
• Export and share content with students easily
• Guide practice sessions and review transcripts for assessment
• See the Teacher Guide for comprehensive instructions

Q: I’m a student. How do I import content from my teacher?

A:

1. Save the JSON file your teacher provides
2. Open Talk Buddy and go to Practice Packs (or Scenarios)
3. Click “Import” and select the file
4. The content will appear in your app
5. See Student Guide for detailed steps

Q: Can I track my progress over time?

A: Yes! Talk Buddy provides several ways to monitor improvement:

• Session History: Review all your practice conversations
• Transcript Analysis: Compare early vs. recent sessions
• Practice Frequency: Track how often you practice
• Skill Development: Notice improvements in fluency and confidence

Q: How often should I practice?

A: For best results:

• Daily practice: 15-20 minutes is more effective than longer weekly sessions
• Consistency: Regular practice builds habits and confidence
• Variety: Try different scenarios and difficulty levels
• Progressive challenge: Start easy, gradually increase difficulty

Privacy and Data

Q: What data does Talk Buddy collect?

A: Talk Buddy prioritizes privacy:

• Local storage: All your scenarios, sessions, and settings are stored locally
• No tracking: No analytics or usage data sent to external servers
• Service interaction only: Data is only sent to AI/speech services during active conversations
• User control: You choose which services to use (local vs. online)

Q: Where is my data stored?

A: Your Talk Buddy data is stored locally on your computer:

• Windows: %APPDATA%/Talk Buddy/
• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Talk Buddy/
• Linux: ~/.config/Talk Buddy/

Q: Can I backup my data?

A: Yes! You can backup your content by:

• Exporting scenarios: Save individual scenarios as JSON files
• Exporting practice packs: Save complete practice packs
• File system backup: Copy the entire Talk Buddy data folder
• Import on new device: Use exported files to restore content

Advanced Usage

Q: Can I use different AI models?

A: Yes! Talk Buddy supports various AI services:

• Local models: Ollama with different language models
• Online services: Various AI providers (check Settings)
• Custom endpoints: Configure your own AI service URLs
• See AI Model Integration guide

Q: How do I set up local services for privacy?

A: For maximum privacy, use local services:

1. Install Ollama for AI conversations
2. Set up Speaches for speech processing
3. Configure Talk Buddy to use localhost URLs
4. Test connections to ensure everything works
5. Follow Service Setup guides for detailed instructions

Q: Can I contribute to Talk Buddy development?

A: Absolutely! Talk Buddy is open source:

• Report bugs: Use GitHub Issues for problems
• Suggest features: Share ideas for improvements
• Contribute code: Submit pull requests for enhancements
• Create content: Share well-designed scenarios with the community
• See Contributing Guide for details

Getting Help

Q: I can’t find the answer to my question. Where can I get help?

A: Try these resources in order:

1. Search this documentation using your browser’s find function
2. Check troubleshooting guides for technical issues
3. Visit GitHub Issues to see if others have asked the same question
4. Create a new issue on GitHub with detailed information about your problem

Q: How do I report a bug?

A: To report bugs effectively:

1. Check existing issues on GitHub first
2. Gather information: OS version, Talk Buddy version, error messages
3. Describe steps to reproduce the problem
4. Include screenshots if helpful
5. Submit via GitHub Issues with all relevant details

Q: Is there a community forum or chat?

A: Currently, the main community hub is:

• GitHub Discussions: For general questions and sharing
• GitHub Issues: For bugs and feature requests
• Documentation: This comprehensive guide

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Quick Troubleshooting

Most Common Issues and Quick Fixes

Problem: Microphone not working Quick Fix: Check system microphone permissions for Talk Buddy

Problem: AI not responding Quick Fix: Check internet connection and AI service status (footer)

Problem: No sound from AI Quick Fix: Check system volume and speaker settings

Problem: Import not working Quick Fix: Ensure file is a .json export from Talk Buddy

Problem: App won’t start Quick Fix: Restart computer, run as administrator (Windows)

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Still need help? Check out our comprehensive Troubleshooting Section or visit the GitHub Repository for community support! 🤝