Notable — Markdown Note-Taking App That Gets Out of Your Way

Introduction

Notable takes a file-first approach to note-taking: every note is a plain Markdown file stored on your filesystem. There is no proprietary database or lock-in. You can sync notes with Git, Dropbox, or any file-sync tool, and open them in any text editor when Notable is not available.

What Notable Does

• Stores all notes as standard Markdown files with YAML front matter for metadata
• Supports tagging with nested tag hierarchies for flexible organization
• Provides a split-pane editor with live Markdown preview
• Renders KaTeX math, Mermaid diagrams, and syntax-highlighted code blocks
• Imports from Evernote, Boostnote, and other note apps via built-in importers

Architecture Overview

Notable is built on Electron with a React-based UI. Notes are read from and written to a user-configured data directory as individual .md files. Metadata such as tags, pinned status, and favorites are stored in YAML front matter within each file. The app watches the filesystem for external changes and reloads automatically.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Download the installer for macOS, Windows, or Linux from GitHub releases
• Point Notable to any local directory to use as the notes folder
• Sync notes via Git, Syncthing, Dropbox, or any file-based sync tool
• Customize the editor theme, font size, and default Markdown extensions
• Data directory can be changed at any time without migration

Key Features

• No proprietary database: every note is a portable .md file you own
• Nested tags with unlimited depth for hierarchical organization
• Multi-note editor with split-pane preview and distraction-free mode
• Full-text search across all notes with instant results
• Attachments stored alongside notes in a dedicated subfolder

Comparison with Similar Tools

• Obsidian — Richer plugin ecosystem but closed source; Notable is fully open
• Joplin — Uses a SQLite database; Notable uses plain files on disk
• Typora — Single-document editor; Notable manages an entire note library
• VS Code + Foam — More setup required; Notable works out of the box
• Standard Notes — Encryption-focused with server sync; Notable is local-first and file-based

FAQ

Q: Are notes encrypted? A: Notes are plain Markdown files. You can encrypt the notes directory with OS-level encryption (FileVault, LUKS, BitLocker) or use an encrypted sync service.

Q: Can I use Notable with Git for version history? A: Yes. Since notes are plain files, you can initialize a Git repo in the notes directory and commit changes for full version history.

Q: Does Notable support mobile? A: Notable is a desktop application. On mobile, you can edit the same Markdown files with any mobile Markdown editor that accesses your sync folder.

Q: Is it still maintained? A: Notable is open source and available on GitHub. Check the repository for the latest release information.

Sources

• https://github.com/notable/notable
• https://notable.app