Notesnook is a new privacy-focused note-taking app that decided to go open source.
Streetwriters announced via Twitter that it has moved its Notesnook note-taking platform to an open-source project , as previously promised.
For those unfamiliar with Notesnook, it's worth noting that this application promotes itself as a completely open and privacy-focused alternative to Evernote, with end-to-end encryption to prevent server-side data analysis.
I'm so excited to launch Notesnook this month! This blog will give you a clear idea of why we're doing this, what we aim to achieve, and how you can help. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out on Twitter.
Streetwriters recently announced that it has released the Notesnook code for the web interface, desktop applications, mobile applications, shared libraries, note editor, and extensions.
In addition, the developer mentions that the server-side code for syncing notes across different devices will be released in a separate repository this September. The web interface is built using the React framework, and the mobile apps are built with React Native.
When I look at the private note-taking app space, there is only one name: “Standard Notes”. Its reliability is undeniable because it is open source, regardless of how good or bad it is. On top of that, all respectable privacy-oriented software is also open source. A clear indication that we are the rare ones.
As mentioned at the beginning, Notesnook features end-to-end encryption of notes and attachments or images on the client side, using the XChaCha20-Poly1305 and Argon2 algorithms ; all data is transmitted to the synchronization server in encrypted form with the user's key.
Once the server is open, the entire cross-device note-taking infrastructure can run on user-controlled hardware.
Open source is nothing without its community of contributors, developers, and everyone else working together to make something great. We'd be crazy not to let Notesnook benefit from that.
The app login can be password-protected to prevent unauthorized access to notes if the device falls into the wrong hands. You can create general notes, including those encrypted with a separate password, as well as additionally protected special notes for storing sensitive data such as passwords and access keys.
You can place tables, to-do lists, and code blocks in notes, embed multimedia and arbitrary files, and use Markdown markup. For more convenient information structuring, you can link notes to tags, assign color markers, group by project, and collapse parts of the content within a note using headings. It also supports pinning important notes, linking notifications, and creating reminders.
To allow the community to contribute to its improvement and ensure the project's longevity, Notesnook released the code under the GPLv3 license . The developers plan to focus first on improving the GitHub repository before adding additional features and engaging in other development tasks.
It's worth mentioning that although the source code has been released and can be used for free, a premium plan is also offered to gain access to additional features, similar to standard Notes. Among the most notable are:
- Mobile app lock.
- A secure repository for notes.
- Share notes with password protection.
- Cross-platform support.
In addition, Notesnook is offering up to 75% off its annual premium plan, which comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, to commemorate its open source.
Finally, if you are interested in learning more, you can find the details at the following link.
Download and get Notesnook
For those interested in trying the application, it works with Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. For Linux, you can download a .deb/.rpm file or an AppImage file from the following link.