roadbean: say it in the car, get it in the ledger

Description and use

Automating trip and receipt logging from car voice memos into Beancount entries with validation and review flags, all processed locally for privacy.

Problem

Automating the capture of mileage logs and receipts from voice memos in a car and converting them into Beancount ledger entries while ensuring data integrity and privacy.

Outcome

The system automatically turns car voice memos into Beancount entries, flags inconsistencies for review, and produces CRA-compatible mileage logs, all while keeping data on local hardware.

Workflow

• Record voice memo or photo on phone via Termux shortcuts
• Sync inbox to private git repo
• Run roadbean process on laptop: convert audio to WAV, transcribe with Gemma, extract JSON, pair trips, validate, split GST, apply CRA allowance
• Write pending entries to staging.bean with review flags
• Review and promote entries to main ledger
• Generate CRA-style CSV with roadbean logbook

Evidence

roadbean turns voice memos recorded on my phone, while I'm in the car, into entries in my Beancount ledger.

Source

The model reads, the code checks. The model is the only non-deterministic step.

Source

Gemma's native audio input through Ollama (gemma4:e4b), after ffmpeg converts the phone's .m4a to 16 kHz mono WAV.

Source