whatisgithub

What is fsnotes?

clayreimann/fsnotes — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-07-16 · repo last pushed 2018-07-24

SwiftAudience · developerComplexity · 3/5DormantLicenseSetup · easy

In one sentence

A fast, keyboard-driven notes app for Mac and iPhone that stores notes as plain files on your computer. Supports Markdown, works with any text editor, and syncs via iCloud or Dropbox.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Notes as plain files
      Markdown support
      Live preview
      Keyboard driven
    Tech stack
      Swift
      macOS
      iOS
    Use cases
      Note taking
      Sync via iCloud
      Edit in any app
    Audience
      Developers
      Writers
      Plain text thinkers

Code map

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What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Take and organize plain text notes that live as files on your computer.

USE CASE 2

Sync notes across Mac and iPhone using iCloud Drive or Dropbox.

USE CASE 3

Browse and edit notes in any text editor outside the app.

USE CASE 4

Quickly save content from other iOS apps using the sharing extension.

What is it built with?

SwiftmacOSiOS

How does it compare?

clayreimann/fsnotesaiduckman/claudeusage_latest_may2026arnabau/thermalpulse
Stars—00
LanguageSwiftSwiftSwift
Last pushed2018-07-24——
MaintenanceDormant——
Setup difficultyeasyeasymoderate
Complexity3/52/53/5
Audiencedevelopervibe coderdeveloper

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

Download from the App Store on Mac or iPhone, then pick or create a folder for your notes.

Use freely for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as you keep the copyright notice.

So what is it?

FSNotes is a notes app for Mac and iPhone that stores your notes as regular files on your computer, not in a locked-down database. That means you can open and edit your notes in any text editor you like, and the app updates to reflect those changes automatically. It's designed for people who type a lot and want something fast and keyboard-driven. The app supports plain text, Markdown, and rich text formats, with live Markdown previews and syntax highlighting for over 170 programming languages. You can organize notes across multiple folders, pin important ones to the top, drag and drop images, and switch between vertical and horizontal layouts. The developer claims it stays fast even with 10,000+ notes. A standout feature is that it doesn't lock you in. Since notes live in your file system, you can sync them through iCloud Drive or Dropbox, browse them in Finder, or hand them off to another editor entirely. The iOS app mirrors the Mac experience with Markdown support, search, pin syncing, and a sharing extension for quickly saving content from other apps. This is built for people who think in plain text, developers, writers, and anyone who wants their notes to outlive the app itself. If you've used nvALT or similar tools, this is pitched as a modern, more powerful take on that concept. The project is open source under the MIT license and written in Swift, with both apps available on the App Store.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
How do I configure FSNotes to store my notes in a specific folder so I can sync it with Dropbox?
Prompt 2
I want to switch from nvALT to FSNotes. What are the steps to migrate my existing plain text notes?
Prompt 3
How can I use keyboard shortcuts to create, search, and pin notes in FSNotes without touching the mouse?
Prompt 4
Help me set up FSNotes on both my Mac and iPhone so my notes and pinned items stay in sync via iCloud.

Frequently asked questions

What is fsnotes?

A fast, keyboard-driven notes app for Mac and iPhone that stores notes as plain files on your computer. Supports Markdown, works with any text editor, and syncs via iCloud or Dropbox.

What language is fsnotes written in?

Mainly Swift. The stack also includes Swift, macOS, iOS.

Is fsnotes actively maintained?

Dormant — no commits in 2+ years (last push 2018-07-24).

What license does fsnotes use?

Use freely for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as you keep the copyright notice.

How hard is fsnotes to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 5min to a first successful run.

Who is fsnotes for?

Mainly developer.

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