Beaver Notes

Beaver Notes is an open-source, local-first note-taking and personal knowledge management tool designed to keep data on the user's device rather than in a default cloud environment. The application focuses on capturing ideas and organizing knowledge without requiring a constant internet connection or mandatory account creation.

The software is available as a desktop application for macOS, Windows, and GNU/Linux. Users can install it via various package managers including Flatpak, AUR, Scoop, and Homebrew. For those needing mobile access, a companion application called Beaver Pocket is available in beta for iOS via TestFlight and for Android through the Play Store. This multi-platform approach allows users to maintain a consistent knowledge base across different hardware environments.

Key features

• Local data storage to ensure privacy
• Markdown support for writing
• Note linking to connect ideas
• Tagging and folder systems for organization
• Locked notes for sensitive information
• Flexible sync options using preferred providers
• Cross-platform compatibility across major desktop OS

Beaver Notes targets users who require a balance of simplicity and privacy in their documentation workflow. The architecture emphasizes a local-first approach, meaning the primary data store resides on the local hardware, while synchronization is optional and managed by the user through their own chosen provider. This design prevents the software from sending data to the cloud by default, giving the user full control over their information. The project is community-driven, accepting contributions for coding, translation, and design to expand its utility.

It serves as a privacy-centric tool for individuals seeking a decentralized alternative to proprietary cloud-based note apps that often require subscription fees or data harvesting.