Show HN: Tolaria – Open-source macOS app to manage Markdown knowledge bases
Manage 10,000+ notes offline with Git versioning and AI agent support.
Tolaria is a new open-source macOS app designed for managing Markdown knowledge bases. Created by Luca, it stores notes as plain Markdown files with YAML frontmatter in Git repositories. This ensures full portability, version history, and offline access with no cloud dependencies or subscriptions. The app supports vaults of up to 10,000+ notes and is built for power users with a keyboard-first interface and a command palette.
Tolaria integrates with AI agents like Claude Code and Codex CLI via an AGENTS file, but remains AI-optional. It uses 'types as lenses' for navigation rather than rigid schemas. Built with Tauri, React, and TypeScript, it is licensed under AGPL-3.0. A getting-started vault is available for new users to explore the app's features.
- Notes are plain Markdown files with YAML frontmatter, stored in Git repositories for version history and portability.
- Supports offline-first use with no accounts, subscriptions, or cloud dependencies, ensuring zero lock-in.
- Keyboard-first design with a command palette, built for power users managing vaults of over 10,000 notes.
Why It Matters
Tolaria offers a free, portable, and AI-friendly alternative for personal knowledge management without vendor lock-in.