FastGPT (29,266 Stars) 2026: Build an AI Knowledge Base Q&A System with Workflow in Minutes

FastGPT (29,266 stars) is the popular knowledge-base Q&A platform that combines RAG, workflow orchestration and multi-model support. Here is how to deploy and build a Q&A bot.

💡 What You Will Learn

FastGPT (29,266 stars) is the popular knowledge-base Q&A platform that combines RAG, workflow orchestration and multi-model support. Here is how to deploy and build a Q&A bot.

## The short answer **labring/FastGPT** (29,266 stars, TypeScript) is an open-source AI knowledge-base platform. You upload documents, FastGPT chunks and embeds them, and you get a RAG-powered Q&A system with a visual workflow editor - supporting OpenAI, Claude, and domestic models like Qwen and DeepSeek. ## What it gives you - **Knowledge base**: upload PDF/Word/Markdown, auto chunking and embedding - **RAG Q&A**: accurate answers grounded in your documents - **Visual workflow**: drag-and-drop to build complex AI apps - **Multi-model**: OpenAI, Azure, Qwen, DeepSeek, and local endpoints - **Team sharing**: manage users and apps in one console ## Deploy with Docker ```bash git clone https://github.com/labring/FastGPT.git cd FastGPT/projects/app/data cp config.json config.local.json # edit models cd ../../.. docker compose up -d # Open http://localhost:3000 (default admin: root / 1234) ``` ## Build your first knowledge base 1. Create a **Knowledge Base**, upload your documents. 2. Wait for embedding - check the status per file. 3. Create an **App** (Simple mode): select the knowledge base. 4. Test: ask a question and verify answers cite your docs. 5. Publish: embed the chat widget or API into your site. ## Practical tips - Configure chunk size per document type - code and contracts need different settings. - Use the workflow mode when simple Q&A is not enough (multi-step, tool use). - Set a strong admin password immediately after first login. ## FAQ **Is it free?** The community edition is open source (Apache-2.0); the commercial edition adds advanced features. **Does it support Chinese documents well?** Yes - it is built by a Chinese team and handles CJK content natively. **Can I use local models?** Yes - configure OpenAI-compatible endpoints (Ollama, vLLM) in the config.