noteswithout

noteswithout is an open-source note-taking and knowledge-management tool designed to store user notes as plain text files. It emphasizes portability, data ownership, and offline-first operation, with optional synchronization and a lightweight, distraction-free interface.

The project originated as a community-driven initiative in the late 2010s, aiming to provide a minimal, text-centric alternative to platform-locked note apps. Development is community-led, with contributors working through public repositories and discussion forums.

Notes are stored locally by default, in a dedicated notes directory under the user’s home folder. The tool offers a command-line interface and desktop clients for Windows, macOS, and Linux, supporting simple formatting, tagging, backlinks, and full-text search. Optional encryption and cloud sync are available through compatible services.

Data model centers on plain-text notes with lightweight metadata and an index for fast search. Interoperability is facilitated by export to Markdown, HTML, or plain text, and by a plugin API that enables extensions. The project uses an open-source license (MIT-compatible) and favors portability.

Reception among users and reviewers highlights privacy, simplicity, and control over data. Critics note limited collaboration features, fewer formatting options than some competitors, and a smaller ecosystem of plugins. Development activity continues with periodic releases and community discussions.