NoteDiscovery/README.md

4.4 KiB

📝 NoteDiscovery

Your Self-Hosted Knowledge Base

What is NoteDiscovery?

NoteDiscovery is a lightweight, self-hosted note-taking application that puts you in complete control of your knowledge base. Write, organize, and discover your notes with a beautiful, modern interface—all running on your own server.

🎯 Who is it for?

  • Privacy-conscious users who want complete control over their data
  • Developers who prefer markdown and local file storage
  • Knowledge workers building a personal wiki or second brain
  • Teams looking for a self-hosted alternative to commercial apps
  • Anyone who values simplicity, speed, and ownership

Why NoteDiscovery?

vs. Commercial Apps (Notion, Evernote, Obsidian Sync)

Feature NoteDiscovery Commercial Apps
Cost 100% Free $xxx/month/year
Privacy Your server, your data Their servers, their terms
Speed Lightning fast Depends on internet
Offline Always works Limited or requires sync
Customization Full control Limited options
No Lock-in Plain markdown files Proprietary formats

Key Benefits

  • 🔒 Total Privacy - Your notes never leave your server
  • 💰 Zero Cost - No subscriptions, no hidden fees
  • 🚀 Fast & Lightweight - Instant search and navigation
  • 🎨 Beautiful Themes - Multiple themes, easy to customize
  • 🔌 Extensible - Plugin system for custom features
  • 📱 Responsive - Works on desktop, tablet, and mobile
  • 📂 Simple Storage - Plain markdown files in folders

🚀 Quick Start

Docker ensures consistent environment and easy deployment:

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/gamosoft/notediscovery.git
cd notediscovery

# Start with Docker Compose
docker-compose up -d

# Access at http://localhost:8000

# View logs
docker-compose logs -f

# Stop the application
docker-compose down

Requirements:

  • Docker
  • Docker Compose

Running Locally (Without Docker)

For development or if you prefer running directly:

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/gamosoft/notediscovery.git
cd notediscovery

# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

# Run the application
python run.py

# Access at http://localhost:8000

Requirements:

  • Python 3.8 or higher
  • pip (Python package manager)

Dependencies installed:

  • FastAPI - Web framework
  • Uvicorn - ASGI server
  • PyYAML - Configuration handling
  • aiofiles - Async file operations

🔒 Security Considerations

NoteDiscovery is designed for self-hosted, private use. Please keep these security considerations in mind:

Network Security

  • ⚠️ Do NOT expose directly to the internet without additional security measures
  • Run behind a reverse proxy (nginx, Caddy) with HTTPS and authentication if needed
  • Keep it on your local network or use a VPN for remote access
  • By default, the app listens on 0.0.0.0:8000 (all network interfaces)

No Built-in Authentication

  • The app has no authentication by design (single-user, self-hosted)
  • Anyone with network access can read and modify your notes
  • Use network-level security (firewall, VPN) for access control
  • Consider adding authentication via reverse proxy if needed

Data Privacy

  • Your notes are stored as plain text markdown files in data/notes/
  • No data is sent to external services
  • Regular backups are recommended

Best Practices

  • Run on localhost or a private network only
  • Use Docker for isolation and easier security management
  • Keep your system and dependencies updated
  • Review and audit any plugins you install
  • Set appropriate file permissions on the data/ directory

TL;DR: Perfect for personal use on your local machine or home network. Add a reverse proxy with authentication if exposing to wider networks.

💖 Support Development

If NoteDiscovery makes your life easier, consider buying me a coffee! Your support helps keep this project alive and growing.

Buy Me a Coffee

Every contribution, no matter how small, is deeply appreciated and helps fund:

  • 🛠️ New features and improvements
  • 🐛 Bug fixes and maintenance
  • 📚 Documentation and tutorials
  • 🎨 Design enhancements

📄 License

MIT License - Free to use, modify, and distribute.


Made with ❤️ for the self-hosting community