Zen
A clean, distraction-free space for writing and organizing notes in Markdown format with local SQLite storage. Built for focus and long-term knowledge retention.
Zen is an open-source alternative to:
Zen is a minimalist note-taking application designed for clarity and ownership. Your notes are stored as standard Markdown files in a local SQLite database, ensuring no vendor lock-in and complete control over your data.
Key Features
- Local-First Storage: Notes stored as Markdown files in a local SQLite database with no cloud dependency
- Instant Search: Full-text search with BM25 ranking across all notes, including archived content
- Flexible Organization: Tag-based system with custom "Focus Modes" for dynamic organization
- Rich Markdown Support: Complete Markdown formatting including tables, code blocks, task lists, and highlights
- Multiple Views: List, card, and gallery layouts optimized for different content types
- Offline Access: Full functionality without internet connection
- Import/Export: Seamless migration via Markdown, JSON, and image exports
- Keyboard Shortcuts: Efficient navigation and formatting without mouse dependency
- Dark Mode: Comfortable reading in low-light environments
- PWA Support: Installable on mobile devices for quick access
- Templates: Reusable note templates with customizable placeholders
- Canvas (Experimental): Spatial organization for visual thinkers
- MCP Server (Experimental): Connect AI applications to interact with your notes
Tech / Self-Hosting
Zen is available as a single Go binary or Docker Compose deployment. The application requires minimal resources (~20MB memory) and runs on any system with Go 1.20+ or Docker. All data remains local, making it ideal for privacy-conscious users who want complete control over their information.