noteswhere

Noteswhere is a lightweight, open‑source command‑line utility designed to help users locate, manage, and archive textual notes across a filesystem. It supports plain‑text files, Markdown, and other lightweight formats, and uses a simple, tag‑based indexing system to fasten search and retrieval. Users can annotate notes with tags, dates, and categories, and noteswhere will build a searchable index that can be updated dynamically through a single command. The tool was first released in 2021 by a Python developer community that sought a minimal yet powerful alternative to heavier note‑taking applications. It has since evolved with contributions from contributors worldwide, adding features such as fuzzy search, key‑binding shortcuts, and integration with Git for version control.

The core functionality revolves around a database stored in a local SQLite file adjacent to the notes directory. Upon indexing, noteswhere parses metadata embedded in the file headers and indexes the full text. Users may query the index with simple syntax such as "!projectX" or "!2023-04" to filter notes by tag or date, respectively. Once a query is performed, noteswhere presents a list of matched files or excerpts, allowing quick navigation. The tool can also generate summary reports, export search results to CSV or plain text, and remove or archive obsolete notes.

Noteswhere is maintained under the MIT license and is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows through PyPI. It can be installed with pip and configured using a small YAML file, providing flexibility for both casual users and developers who prefer a customizable workflow. Its lightweight footprint and straightforward command syntax make it popular for writers, researchers, and software engineers who require a reliable, portable note‑management system that can be scripted into larger productivity pipelines.