Dnote

What Dnote is

Dnote is a free, open-source terminal notebook for saving commands, snippets, and insights, then retrieving them with full-text search. It focuses on a command-line interface; the maker says the web note-taking interface has been removed. Notes are grouped into books, which Dnote creates when the first note is added. The CLI uses the text editor configured by the user, whether terminal-based or graphical. Notebook data is stored locally in SQLite, and configuration and data paths follow the XDG Base Directory convention. Users can optionally run a self-hosted server to sync notes across devices. That server provides a REST API for accessing and syncing notes and books, and can be deployed with Docker Compose, Docker, or as a standalone binary. The API works with any HTTP client, while the CLI can accept piped input from standard input. Dnote is licensed under Apache License 2.0 and is listed for Linux, macOS, Windows, API use, and self-hosting. The maker says end-to-end encryption was removed to restore web full-text search, email-embedded notes, and password recovery.

Who it suits

Dnote suits people who prefer managing notes from a terminal and want searchable storage for commands and snippets. It can also fit users willing to operate a self-hosted server for syncing across devices.

Limits

The free plan is free and open source, with the self-hosted server optional. The web note-taking interface and end-to-end encryption are not part of the current product.

Getting started

1. Visit https://www.getdnote.com/ for Dnote.
2. Use the command-line interface on Linux, macOS, or Windows.
3. Add a note to create its book automatically.
4. Use your configured terminal or graphical text editor to write notes.
5. Optionally deploy the self-hosted server with Docker Compose, Docker, or as a standalone binary to sync across devices.

Verdict

Dnote is centered on command-line capture and search, with local SQLite storage and optional self-hosted syncing. Its removed web interface and encryption are important considerations for users choosing a notebook.