In a digital world overflowing with feature-bloated note-taking apps that harvest your data and demand monthly subscriptions, Haptic emerges as a breath of fresh air. This open-source, local-first markdown editor strips away the unnecessary to deliver what truly matters: a lightning-fast, privacy-respecting home for your thoughts and ideas. With its minimalist design philosophy of "all you need and nothing you don't," Haptic puts you back in control of your notes and your data.
Website: https://www.haptic.md/
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Why Choose Haptic?
In a landscape dominated by closed, cloud-first note-taking apps, Haptic stands out with a fundamentally different approach:
- Truly Local-First
Your notes live on your device by default, ensuring your thoughts remain private and accessible even offline. - Blazing Fast Performance
Built with Tauri, Svelte, and PGlite, Haptic delivers a native-like experience with minimal resource usage—no more laggy interfaces or battery drain. - Distraction-Free Writing
Clean, minimalist interface that lets you focus on your thoughts, not the tool itself. - Markdown-Powered
Write in plain text with powerful formatting capabilities, ensuring your notes remain portable and future-proof. - Privacy by Design
No tracking, no analytics, no data harvesting—your notes are yours alone. - Open Source & Transparent
AGPL-3.0 licensed, with a transparent development process and community contributions welcomed. - Cross-Platform
Available as a desktop app and web application, with mobile support on the roadmap.
Spotlight on Key Features
1. Minimalist, Focused Writing Experience
• Clean, distraction-free interface
• Dark and light themes
• Customizable editor preferences
• Fast startup and note creation
2. Full Markdown Support
• Complete markdown syntax support
• Live preview as you type
• Code blocks with syntax highlighting
• Tables, lists, and other formatting options
3. Local-First Architecture
• Notes stored locally on your device
• PGlite database for efficient storage
• No account required to start writing
• Optional sync coming soon
4. Organization Made Simple
• Collections for grouping related notes
• Tags for cross-referencing
• Powerful search capabilities
• Customizable sorting and filtering
5. Privacy & Security
• No data sent to third parties
• Self-hostable web version
• Open-source codebase for transparency
• Your notes remain yours, always
Haptic vs. Closed-Source Alternatives
How does Haptic compare to popular note-taking apps? Here's a side-by-side look:
| Feature | Haptic | Notion | Evernote | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free, open-source | Free (limited), $8-$15/mo | $8-$15/mo | Free (local), $8/mo (sync) |
| Data Control | 100% local-first | Cloud-first | Cloud-first | Local-first |
| Source Code | ✅ AGPL-3.0 | ❌ Closed | ❌ Closed | ❌ Closed |
| Speed | ✅ Lightning-fast | ⚠️ Can be slow | ⚠️ Resource-heavy | ✅ Fast |
| Markdown | ✅ Native | ⚠️ Partial | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Native |
| Offline Use | ✅ Full | ⚠️ Limited | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Full |
| Privacy | ✅ No tracking | ❌ Analytics | ❌ Analytics | ⚠️ Some analytics |
| Simplicity | ✅ Minimalist | ❌ Complex | ❌ Feature-heavy | ⚠️ Moderate |
| GitHub Stars | 1.2k+ | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Beyond the Feature Matrix
- No Subscription Fatigue: Haptic is free forever, with no premium tiers or hidden costs.
- No Vendor Lock-In: Your notes are stored in standard markdown, easily exportable and portable.
- No Feature Bloat: Focused on writing and organizing notes without unnecessary complexity.
- No Privacy Compromises: Your thoughts and ideas remain completely private.
Getting Started in Minutes
Haptic is designed for effortless setup and use:
💻 Desktop App
- Download the latest release for macOS (Windows and Linux coming soon)
- Install and start writing immediately—no account creation required
🌐 Web Version
- Visit haptic.md and click "Open App"
- Or self-host your own instance with Docker:
# Pull the image
docker pull chroxify/haptic-web:latest
# Run the container
docker run -d -p 3000:80 chroxify/haptic-web:latest
# Visit http://localhost:3000 in your browser
☁️ One-Click Deployment
- Deploy your own instance on Vercel with one click from the GitHub repository
Real-World Applications
Writers & Content Creators
Enjoy a distraction-free environment for drafting articles, blog posts, and creative writing—with markdown for easy formatting and export.
Developers & Technical Writers
Store code snippets, documentation, and technical notes with proper syntax highlighting and markdown support.
Students & Researchers
Take lecture notes, organize research findings, and compile study materials in a fast, reliable system that works offline.
Privacy Advocates
Keep personal journals, ideas, and sensitive information in a tool that respects your privacy and data ownership.
The Future of Haptic
With an active development roadmap, Haptic is continuously evolving:
- Haptic Sync: Coming soon for secure cross-device synchronization
- Note Sharing: Share individual notes or collections via links
- Mobile Support: Web app optimization for mobile devices
- Native Mobile Apps: iOS and Android versions planned
- Windows & Linux: Desktop app support for additional platforms
Join the Haptic Community
With over 1,200 GitHub stars and a growing contributor base, Haptic is rapidly evolving:
- Contribute Code: Help enhance features or fix bugs via GitHub
- Report Bugs: Share issues you encounter while using Haptic
- Request Features: Suggest improvements that would enhance your workflow
- Spread the Word: Star the repository and share with fellow note-takers
Final Thoughts
Note-taking should be simple, fast, and private. Haptic represents a return to the fundamentals—a tool that gets out of your way and lets your thoughts flow freely. In a world where digital notes are increasingly trapped in proprietary formats, monitored by algorithms, and locked behind subscription paywalls, Haptic offers a refreshing alternative that puts you back in control.
Ready to experience notes at the speed of touch? Explore haptic.md or dive into the code on GitHub.
