Writing & notes
open-knowledge
Edit Markdown as comfortably as a Notion page, with files staying local
★ 3.8k
August 2026
GPL-3.0
Writing & notes
What we checked ourselves
Not copied from the project's own blurb. These are things we opened and verified, with the date.
- 23 Aug 2026We checked that the link to the project still resolves.
- 14 Aug 2026We read the licence text itself (LICENSE). No unusual restrictions were stated.
- 2 Sept 2026We read the project's own documentation and found signs that it may no longer be maintained.
Where this sits among the 51 tools we list in Writing & notes
- Works without using a terminal37 of 51
- No API key required26 of 51
- Commercial use confirmed as allowed39 of 51
- Sends your input to the provider11 that do not →
Only 13 of the 51 meet all of the conditions above.
Counted from our own checks: every tool we list is examined against the same criteria.
What it does
A true WYSIWYG editor for Markdown files - you get the Notion or Google Docs writing experience without seeing the syntax, while the output remains ordinary Markdown on your own disk. It integrates with Claude, Codex and similar harnesses so an assistant can read and edit the same files. There is a macOS app plus a web UI; Windows users get the browser version. Integrations send note content to whichever provider you connect.
Summary based on the project's own description. The Japanese page has a fuller beginner guide: setup difficulty, what to prepare, and a step-by-step start.
Screenshots & visuals
Before you start
- Setup difficultySome setup needed
- Command lineNot required
- API keyNot required
- Sends data onlineYes
Judged automatically from the project's own metadata. Always confirm on the official page.
open-knowledge FAQ
- Is open-knowledge free?
- Yes. It runs on your own machine, so there is no usage-based cost either.
- Do I need to install anything or write code to use open-knowledge?
- You install it like a normal desktop app. No command line involved.
- Does open-knowledge work on a phone?
- No. It needs a computer.
- Can I use open-knowledge commercially?
- The licence is GPL-3.0. Using it commercially is fine, but if you distribute something built on it you may be required to release that under the same licence. Keep it internal, or check before distributing.
How it compares
The conditions that decide whether you can actually use it, side by side.
| Tool | Command line | API key | Sends data out | Phone | Commercial use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| open-knowledge (this page) | Not needed | Not needed | Yes | No | Yes |
| joplin | Not needed | Not needed | Yes | No | Not verified |
| markmap | Not needed | Not needed | No | No | Yes |
| reflect-open | Not needed | Required | Yes | Yes | Yes |
"Sends data out" means your input is uploaded to someone's server. Pick "No" when the material cannot leave your organisation.