HelixNotes is a local-first markdown note-taking app built with Tauri, SvelteKit, and Rust.
Your notes are stored as standard Markdown files on your local filesystem. No cloud, no lock-in.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Markdown editor with rich formatting toolbar, slash commands, and source mode.
- Wiki-links — link notes with [[Note Title]] syntax.
- Graph view — visualize connections between your notes.
- Full-text search powered by Tantivy.
- AI writing tools — improve, summarize, translate, and more (Anthropic / OpenAI).
- Version history — per-note snapshots with diff view.
- Backups — automatic zip-based vault backups.
- PDF preview — inline rendering of embedded PDFs.
- Obsidian import — convert Obsidian wiki-links to standard markdown.
- Themes — light/dark mode with customizable accent colors and fonts.
- Focus mode — distraction-free writing.
- Local-first — everything stays on your machine.
Website: codeberg.org/ArkHost/HelixNotes
Support:
Developer: ArkHost
License: GNU Affero General Public License v3.0

HelixNotes is written in Rust. Learn Rust with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
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Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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