Otterly
Otterly
Otterly is a local-first Markdown editor and privacy-focused note-taking app for people who want plain files, fast search, wiki-links, and desktop performance without accounts or cloud lock-in.
Your notes stay as normal Markdown files in a folder you control. Otterly adds the workflow you actually want on top: tabs, backlinks, search, git-aware status, themes, hotkeys, and a command-first omnibar.
Download
| Platform | Direct download | Install |
|---|---|---|
| macOS Apple Silicon | .dmg |
Open the DMG and drag Otterly into Applications. |
| macOS Intel | .dmg |
Open the DMG and drag Otterly into Applications. |
| Windows x64 | setup.exe |
Run the installer. |
| Linux x64 | .AppImage |
Make it executable, then run it. |
| Debian/Ubuntu | .deb |
Install with your package manager or double-click it. |
See the latest release if you want checksums, signatures, or every packaged asset.
Local-First Markdown Editor
- Plain Markdown files in a normal folder
- No accounts, no sync subscription, no proprietary database
- Tauri desktop app with native-feeling performance
- Wiki-links, backlinks, and outlinks built in
- Search files, content, commands, and settings from one omnibar
- Git-aware status and version history support
- Rebindable hotkeys and built-in dark/light themes
Features
Writing and Formatting
Otterly keeps the editor close to Markdown while still feeling like a real writing tool. The goal is to make common structure, media, and formatting tasks feel native instead of plugin-dependent.
Supported capabilities
- Headings, lists, checklists, tables, quotes, and fenced code blocks
- Slash-driven insertion flow for common block types
- Resizable code blocks with per-tab restore
- Inline and block images with paste/import support
- Resizable images and image captions in the editor
- Plain Markdown files on disk instead of a proprietary note format
Navigation and Connected Notes
Search, commands, wiki-links, backlinks, and outlinks are part of the core workflow. You can move through a vault from the keyboard, then inspect note relationships without losing context.
Supported capabilities
- One omnibar for files, note content, commands, and settings
[[wiki-links]]with backlink and outlink views- Full-text search across your vault
- File tree and folder navigation
- Starred notes for quick access
- Command-first flow for opening dialogs and actions without hunting through menus
Tabs, Workflow, and Daily Use
Otterly is designed for working across multiple notes at once, not just opening one file at a time. Tabs, keyboard shortcuts, recent state, and quick vault actions are treated as first-class features.
Supported capabilities
- Multiple tabs open at the same time
- Drag-reorder tabs within pinned and unpinned groups
- Pin important tabs so they stay anchored
- Restore tab sessions, cursor position, scroll state, and code block sizes
- Close other tabs, close tabs to the right, and reopen recently closed tabs
- Rebindable hotkeys for navigation and actions
- Vault dashboard with recent notes and quick actions
Themes and Personalization
Themes are not just a dark-mode toggle. Otterly supports built-in themes and editable user themes so you can tune typography, spacing, colors, and code presentation without changing your files.
Supported capabilities
- Built-in dark and light themes
- Duplicate, rename, and delete custom themes
- Adjustable accent color, typography, spacing, and editor padding
- Theme controls for headings, blockquotes, inline code, code blocks, and tables
- Persistent active theme and user theme library
- Keyboard shortcut customization stored in app settings
Versioning, Safety, and File Ownership
Otterly stays close to the filesystem while still giving you guardrails for day-to-day work. The app surfaces git-aware state and preserves enough workspace context that you do not lose your place when you come back.
Supported capabilities
- Plain Markdown notes in folders you control
- Git-aware file status in the workspace
- Version history and checkpoints from the app
- Dirty-tab tracking and save-aware close flows
- Session restore for open work
- Recent notes and starred paths persisted per vault
Why Otterly
Most note apps ask you to choose between polished UX and file ownership.
Otterly is for people who want both:
- a privacy-focused note-taking app
- a local-first Markdown editor
- an Obsidian alternative that stays close to plain files
- a desktop notes app that does not require plugin hunting to feel usable
If you stop using Otterly, your notes are still just Markdown files in a folder you already own.
Build From Source
Prerequisites
- Node.js 20+
- pnpm
- Rust toolchain
- Platform-specific build tools from Tauri prerequisites
Run
pnpm install
pnpm tauri dev
Build
pnpm tauri build
Contributing
Otterly uses a ports-and-adapters architecture so the business logic stays testable and the UI remains replaceable.
- Architecture: docs/architecture.md
- Coding guidelines: devlog/coding_guidelines.md
- Validation:
pnpm check
pnpm lint
pnpm test
cd src-tauri && cargo check
pnpm format
Star History
License
MIT. See LICENSE.
