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.

See the latest release if you want checksums, signatures, or every packaged asset.

• 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

• Node.js 20+
• pnpm
• Rust toolchain
• Platform-specific build tools from Tauri prerequisites

pnpm install
pnpm tauri dev

pnpm tauri build

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

MIT. See LICENSE.