flatnotes
Flatnotes is a minimalist self-hosted note-taking web app that stores notes as plain markdown files in a folder. No database, no lock-in.
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Self-hosted, database-less notes app using plain markdown files.
Core Features
- Distraction-free UI, content first
- Notes stored as plain markdown files, no database
- Full-text search, tagging, wikilinks
- Lightweight, easy Docker deployment
- Raw/WYSIWYG editor, mobile responsive
What It Can't Do
- •Search index is stored inside data folder by default; you can override with a custom volume.,First startup builds index; may be slow for many notes.,All notes are in a single flat folder; not for users needing hierarchical categories.
Use Cases
- Personal knowledge base with full data ownership
- Small team documentation with quick search
- Simple alternative to Notion/Evernote
Flatnotes is a minimalist, self-hosted note-taking web application designed for distraction-free writing. Unlike most note apps, it stores notes as plain markdown files in a single folder with no database, proprietary format, or complex folder structure. This makes your notes fully portable and easy to manage with any other markdown tool. Features include a clean mobile-responsive interface, raw/WYSIWYG markdown editor, powerful full-text search, tagging, wikilinks, light/dark themes, and multiple authentication options (including read-only and 2FA). It uses Docker for easy deployment and caches only the search index, which syncs incrementally. Ideal for users who want a simple, fast, and self-hosted note solution without vendor lock-in.
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Getting Started
Download installer
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Install the software
Double-click the downloaded installer and follow the prompts
Ensure Docker is installed.
Run: docker run -d -p 8080:8080 -v $(pwd)/data:/data dullage/flatnotes:latest
Open http://localhost:8080 and start writing.
- Ensure Docker is installed.
- Run: docker run -d -p 8080:8080 -v $(pwd)/data:/data dullage/flatnotes:latest
- Open http://localhost:8080 and start writing.
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Open Source Transparency
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Stop and remove container: docker stop flatnotes && docker rm flatnotes. Delete the data directory to fully remove.
No Extra Dependencies
Ready to use after download. No additional runtime required.
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