How do I encrypt a note in Notable?

You can encrypt individual notes by using the per-note encryption feature shown in the UI; each encrypted note requires a password for access, ensuring privacy without affecting other notes.

Can Notable sync with my phone or tablet?

No, Notable is desktop-only and lacks mobile app support; sync is experimental via Keybase or Syncthing, which may not work seamlessly across mobile devices without manual configuration.

Does Notable support markdown formatting?

Notable uses the Ace editor for plain text editing but does not natively render markdown; it focuses on simple text entry without built-in preview or styling features.

How to backup my Notable notes safely?

Backup by copying the local data directory (e.g., ~/.notable) manually, as Notable has no automatic cloud backup; the on-demand re-indexing feature helps restore from backups.

Notable vs Joplin for private note-taking?

Notable is simpler with local-only focus and static binaries, while Joplin offers more features like markdown support, end-to-end encrypted sync, and mobile apps, but with more dependencies.

Is Notable open source and free to use?

Yes, Notable is fully open source under a permissive license, with source code on GitHub, allowing free use, modification, and contribution without cost restrictions.

notable

MITGov0.4.0

A simple, secure, and private note-taking application that runs locally as a static binary with no dependencies.

GitHub

What is notable?

Notable is a simple, secure, and private note-taking application that runs entirely locally on your computer as a static binary with no external dependencies. It solves the problem of data privacy and offline accessibility by keeping all notes stored on your device, with optional per-note encryption and experimental sync capabilities via Keybase or Syncthing.

Target Audience

Developers, privacy-conscious users, and anyone needing a lightweight, offline-first note-taking solution without cloud dependencies or complex setups.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Notable for its extreme simplicity, strong privacy guarantees, and the ability to run anywhere as a single binary—making it ideal for secure, offline note-taking without sacrificing search or editing features.

Overview

Notable - a simple note taking application

Use Cases

Best For

Taking private notes with local encryption
Offline note-taking on airplanes or remote locations

Related Projects

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189 stars14 forks0 contributors

Keyboard-heavy workflows requiring extensive shortcuts

Cross-platform note synchronization via Keybase or Syncthing

Minimalist, dependency-free desktop applications

Secure note storage without cloud services

Not Ideal For

Teams needing real-time collaborative editing on shared notes
Users requiring advanced formatting like rich text, tables, or embedded media
Projects dependent on cloud services with automatic backup and mobile app access
Organizations seeking enterprise-grade support or extensive plugin ecosystems

Pros & Cons

Pros

Local-First Security

Notes are stored entirely locally with optional per-note encryption, ensuring data never leaves your device unless you manually enable experimental sync via Keybase or Syncthing.

Cross-Platform Simplicity

Runs as a standalone static binary on Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, and Windows, with no dependencies, making deployment trivial and offline use seamless.

Powerful Search Functionality

Features search-as-you-type with tag, tag prefix, and full-text indexing via Bleve, allowing quick retrieval of notes without cloud reliance.

Keyboard-Centric Efficiency

Designed fully keyboard-friendly with extensive shortcuts, as shown in the help menu triggered by '?', streamlining navigation and editing for power users.

Cons

Experimental Sync Limitations

Distributed write options through Keybase and Syncthing are labeled experimental, meaning sync is unreliable, lacks polish, and requires third-party tool setup.

Outdated Tech Stack

Relies on older frameworks like Backbone.js and Bootstrap for the UI, which may result in a less modern interface and limited future maintainability compared to newer alternatives.

Minimal Feature Set

As a minimalist app, it lacks advanced features such as folder hierarchies, rich text editing, or markdown previews, limiting organization and formatting options.

Open Source Alternative To

notable is an open-source alternative to the following products:

Evernote

Evernote is a note-taking and organization application that allows users to capture ideas, create to-do lists, and store documents across multiple devices. It features synchronization, search capabilities, and integration with various productivity tools.

Notion

A productivity and note-taking web application that offers databases, kanban boards, wikis, calendars, and reminders. It integrates many workspace tools into one platform.

OneNote

A note-taking application from Microsoft that allows users to create digital notebooks for organizing notes, drawings, and multimedia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Home

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