Repolode
Submit
refactoringhq

refactoringhq/tolaria

Desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux that manages a markdown knowledge base as plain files backed by git.

Open-source alternative to:ObsidianNotion

View on GitHubWebsite
Stars
20,110
Forks
1,383
Open issues
41
Last commit
20 hours ago

What is it?

Tolaria is a desktop app for managing markdown knowledge bases, often called vaults. Notes are stored as plain markdown files with YAML frontmatter, and every vault is a git repository, so version history and any git remote work out of the box. The app runs offline with no accounts or cloud dependencies.

The project is aimed at personal knowledge management, such as second-brain note systems, and at organizing company documents so they can serve as context for AI agents. It includes a keyboard-driven editor and command palette, and the vault can be edited with any text editor or AI tool. Types act as navigation categories rather than enforced schemas.

Tolaria is built with Tauri, React, and TypeScript, and it is distributed through Homebrew and direct downloads. Development requires Node.js, pnpm, and Rust, and Linux builds need WebKit2GTK 4.1 and GTK 3.

Key features

  • 01Stores notes as plain markdown files with YAML frontmatter.
  • 02Treats each vault as a git repository with full version history.
  • 03Works offline with no accounts or cloud dependencies.
  • 04Provides a keyboard-first editor and command palette.
  • 05Includes setup paths for Claude Code, Codex CLI, and Gemini CLI.

Use cases

  • Running a personal second-brain or journaling system with thousands of notes.
  • Organizing company documentation so AI agents can use it as context.
  • Storing memory and procedures for personal AI assistants as markdown files.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install via Homebrew on macOS

    brew install --cask tolaria
  2. 2

    Or download the latest release for macOS, Windows, or Linux

  3. 3

    To run from source, install dependencies

    pnpm install
  4. 4

    Start the native desktop app in development mode

    pnpm tauri dev

Things to know

  • Running from source needs Node.js 20+, pnpm 8+, and Rust stable, and development is listed for macOS or Linux only.
  • On Linux, the AI tooling flow needs a system Node binary and distro-specific WebKit2GTK 4.1 and GTK 3 packages.
  • Windows installers may need IT approval on company-managed devices before first install.
  • Licensed under AGPL-3.0-or-later, a copyleft license that requires sharing modified source when distributed or served over a network.

Topics

#markdown#knowledge-management#note-taking#desktop-app#tauri#git#offline-first

FAQ

What is tolaria?
Desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux that manages a markdown knowledge base as plain files backed by git. Tolaria is a desktop app for managing markdown knowledge bases, often called vaults. Notes are stored as plain markdown files with YAML frontmatter, and every vault is a git repository, so version history and any git remote work out of the box. The app runs offline with no accounts or cloud dependencies.
Is tolaria free to use? What license does it have?
tolaria is open source under the AGPL-3.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is tolaria still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to tolaria was on Oct 19, 2026.
What can I use tolaria for?
Running a personal second-brain or journaling system with thousands of notes. Organizing company documentation so AI agents can use it as context. Storing memory and procedures for personal AI assistants as markdown files.
How do I install tolaria?
Install via Homebrew on macOS: brew install --cask tolaria Or download the latest release for macOS, Windows, or Linux To run from source, install dependencies: pnpm install Start the native desktop app in development mode: pnpm tauri dev
Where can I get tolaria?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/refactoringhq/tolaria

Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.

Related projects