At a Glance:
Zen is a single-binary note-taking application that uses standard Markdown files and a local SQLite database with BM25 full-text search, tag-based organization, and optional Docker Compose deployment.
Overview:
Zen is an open-source note-taking tool built for users who need a lightweight system for writing and organizing text. It stores notes as standard Markdown files alongside a local SQLite database, supporting features like tables, code blocks, task lists, and full-text search with BM25 ranking. Organization works through flexible tags rather than fixed folder hierarchies. Notes can be pinned, archived, or soft-deleted, and data import and export options allow full portability. Experimental capabilities extend to spatial arrangement through a canvas mode and semantic search for notes and images, while automated backups are available via a companion utility called Zen Backup. The project is released as a personal tool, with source code publicly available for forking and modification.
Key Decision Points:
Single binary or Docker: Runs as a single Go binary for direct execution, with an alternative Docker Compose setup available.
Local-first storage: Notes are saved as standard Markdown files with a local SQLite database, giving users direct filesystem access to their data.
Tag-based organization: Content is organized through a flexible tagging system rather than a rigid folder structure or notebook hierarchy.
Contribution model: The project is maintained as a personal tool, and the author notes that pull requests and issue responses may not be actively reviewed.
Core Features:
Markdown editor: Supports tables, code blocks, task lists, highlights, and other standard Markdown syntax.
Full-text search: Implements BM25 ranking across all notes for relevance-based text retrieval.
Tag organization: Uses user-defined tags instead of folder-based systems to organize content.
Import and export: Data can be imported or exported with full portability between instances.
Pinned notes: Specific notes can be pinned for quick access.
Archive and soft delete: Notes can be archived or soft-deleted rather than immediately removed.
Use Cases:
Developers or technical users who want a self-contained note system running as a single binary with local storage.
Users who prefer organizing notes through tags and search rather than navigating nested folder structures.
Individuals who need a Markdown-first writing environment with search, templates, and backup capabilities.
Open-Source Alternative Value:
Zen offers a self-contained approach to note-taking by combining an executable Go binary, standard Markdown files, and a local SQLite database into one package. Users maintain direct access to their data through the filesystem, and the import and export functions support full portability without depending on proprietary formats. The experimental features, including canvas-based spatial organization and semantic search, are available as optional additions, while the core experience stays intentionally minimal with low resource usage and few external dependencies.
