Flashnotes
A lightweight, free macOS app for capturing notes without saving files
Flashnotes
A lightweight, free macOS app for capturing notes without saving files.
Why Flashnotes?
Ever need to jot something down quickly without the hassle of naming files, choosing folders, or clicking save? Flashnotes is your always-ready scratchpad. Just write—everything persists automatically.
Features
- Zero friction — No files, no folders, no save buttons. Just open and type.
- Instant search — Find any note in milliseconds with full-text search
- Markdown preview — Toggle rendered markdown with
Cmd+E(supports tables, GFM) - Vim mode — Optional vim keybindings for power users (toggle in Settings)
- Stay on top — Pin the window above all others with
Cmd+Shift+T - Quick copy — Copy entire note to clipboard with
Cmd+Shift+C - Collapsible sidebar — Toggle with
Cmd+Bfor distraction-free writing - Command palette —
Cmd+Pfor quick note switching - Drag & drop reorder — Organize notes by dragging, or use
Cmd+Shift+↑/↓ - Pin important notes — Right-click to pin notes to the top
- Resizable sidebar — Drag the edge to adjust width (persisted)
- Customizable fonts — Choose your preferred monospace font and size
- Single instance — Only one window, always ready
- Dark theme — Easy on the eyes, inspired by modern editors
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Cmd+P |
Open command palette |
Cmd+N |
Create new note |
Cmd+W |
Delete current note |
Cmd+B |
Toggle sidebar |
Cmd+E |
Toggle markdown preview |
Cmd+Shift+T |
Toggle stay on top |
Cmd+Shift+C |
Copy note to clipboard |
Cmd+Shift+↑/↓ |
Move note up/down |
Cmd+, |
Open settings |
Escape |
Clear search |
Installation
Download the latest .dmg from Releases, or build from source:
# Clone the repo
git clone https://github.com/garyblankenship/flashnotes.git
cd flashnotes
# Install dependencies
npm install
# Build for production
npm run tauri build
# Find your app in src-tauri/target/release/bundle/
Development
# Install dependencies
npm install
# Run in development mode
npm run tauri dev
# Type check
npm run check
# Build for production
npm run tauri build
Tech Stack
- Frontend: SvelteKit + Svelte 5 runes + Tailwind CSS
- Editor: CodeMirror 6 with GFM markdown support
- Backend: Rust + Tauri v2
- Storage: SQLite with FTS5 full-text search
- Fonts: System monospace fonts (configurable)
Requirements
- macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later
- Apple Silicon or Intel Mac
License
MIT
Made with ☕ for people who think faster than they can organize.
