Productivity & writing · note-taking app
Tolaria
Open-source Markdown notes app with a clean interface and built-in git, liked as an Obsidian alternative. Critics cite sorting bugs and that it is a web wrapper.
Summarized from 48 comments.
Open-source Markdown notes app with a clean interface and built-in git, liked as an Obsidian alternative. Critics cite sorting bugs and that it is a web wrapper.
- recommend
- 34
- criticize
- 7
- months recommended
- 2 of 13
Why people love it
Open source, local Markdown files · 4
Open source, works locally, uses markdown, no-databases. Git client built-in. Even has Notion-style input.
May 2026 · commentMarkdown first just makes more sense for knowledge bases. Love the clean ui.
Apr 2026 · commentI love how you have used markdown here
Apr 2026 · commentClean, attractive interface · 4
Markdown first just makes more sense for knowledge bases. Love the clean ui.
Apr 2026 · commentThis is clean and love the git-backed approach.
Apr 2026 · commentThe UI is gorgeous, congratulations!
Apr 2026 · commentGit-backed, git-first approach · 4
The magic starts when Sig contributes to another, remote repo - a central knowledge base that all teammates' local Sig can pull from
Apr 2026 · commentOpen source, works locally, uses markdown, no-databases. Git client built-in. Even has Notion-style input.
May 2026 · commentThe git-first approach for AI context is a smart differentiator from Obsidian
Apr 2026 · commentObsidian alternative with linked notes · 3
Beautiful project! I am using Obsidian for some time but not very happy with it lately.
Apr 2026 · commentThe git-first approach for AI context is a smart differentiator from Obsidian
Apr 2026 · commentI love this! It is like you have taken all the things I want from Obsidian
Apr 2026 · comment
What people warn about
Sorting and freezing bugs · 3
I'm running into a pretty annoying sorting bug that's preventing me from using it for real
Apr 2026 · commentI've run into three bugs in about 5 minutes, including a blank, frozen app.
Apr 2026 · commentAfter this point, the sorting doesn't work and will continue failing.
Apr 2026 · commentWeb app, not native · 4
A freaking web app? Boo. Boooooooooo. Thanks but no thanks.
Apr 2026 · commentthis is a webwrapper—absolutely disgusting
Apr 2026 · commentA web app is not an actual application.
Apr 2026 · commentSmall editing quirks · 3
immediately places the cursor below the block where I'm more used to the cursor moving into the block after creation
Apr 2026 · commentit looks really nice but like most of these it has too many small editing thorns for me to use
Apr 2026 · commentThe editor doesn't seem to support code fence literals
Apr 2026 · comment
What hackers pick instead
- ObsidianA note app built on a local folder of plain Markdown files, with backlinks and a rich plugin ecosystem that works well with AI agents; critics flag risky community plugins and weak collaboration.447recommend
- Org modeA plain-text Emacs system for notes, TODOs, agendas, tables and literate programming that people find more capable than Markdown, though it's tightly bound to Emacs and poorly supported elsewhere.175recommend
- NotionRecommended for flexible live documents, wikis and collaboration despite bugs and slowness; the most common caveat is weak handling of security and privacy issues.91recommend
- LogseqRecommended as a free, open-source, local outliner with block structure and powerful queries. Critics say development is slow and sync is paid and closed source.52recommend
- Apple NotesRecommended for quick startup and reliable sync across Apple devices. Common caveat: it slows with very long notes and is weak on Windows, Linux and the web.39recommend
Every quote
The 39 most detailed of 48 comments. Each links to the original.
The magic starts when Sig contributes to another, remote repo - a central knowledge base that all teammates' local Sig can pull from
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
immediately places the cursor below the block where I'm more used to the cursor moving into the block after creation
Mixed · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
Open source, works locally, uses markdown, no-databases. Git client built-in. Even has Notion-style input.
Recommends · May 2026 · in “Show HN: Files.md – open-source alternative to Obsidian”
it looks really nice but like most of these it has too many small editing thorns for me to use
Mixed · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
I'm running into a pretty annoying sorting bug that's preventing me from using it for real
Mixed · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
Beautiful project! I am using Obsidian for some time but not very happy with it lately.
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
The git-first approach for AI context is a smart differentiator from Obsidian
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
Markdown first just makes more sense for knowledge bases. Love the clean ui.
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
I've run into three bugs in about 5 minutes, including a blank, frozen app.
Mixed · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
I love this! It is like you have taken all the things I want from Obsidian
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
The editor doesn't seem to support code fence literals
Mixed · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
This is clean and love the git-backed approach.
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
I love how you have used markdown here
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
The UI is gorgeous, congratulations!
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
and most of all... open source!
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
The app looks very slick!
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
After this point, the sorting doesn't work and will continue failing.
Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
A freaking web app? Boo. Boooooooooo. Thanks but no thanks.
Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
this is a webwrapper—absolutely disgusting
Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
A web app is not an actual application.
Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
if it was a native macOS app
Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
it creates good notes in Tolaria, already linked to what exists and what's relevant
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
I like that this seems focused on organizing relationships between ideas
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
That’s awesome! I’m a huge fan of projects like that.
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
The tool looks excellent and I'm trying it out now.
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
Excellent concept, and the 10k notes is promising.
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
But give it a try because Tauri is very fast
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
This is a beautiful project. Well done.
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
Very nice. Reminds me Emacs org-mode.
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
Super impressive for a solo project!
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
This looks helpful for my CTF notes.
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
i really like your "inbox" concept
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
This looks REALLY good, thanks.
Recommends · May 2026 · in “Show HN: Files.md – open-source alternative to Obsidian”
my requests were instantly met
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
Great docs in the source repo.
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
looks very good! love this
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
Tolaria fits like a glove.
Recommends · May 2026 · in “Show HN: Files.md – open-source alternative to Obsidian”
does 80% of what other apps do but worse
Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
I hAvE a FeW qUaLmS wItH tHiS aPp
Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “Show HN: Tolaria – open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases”
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