Lokus: The Local-First Knowledge Base That Outpaces Notion and Obsidian

Most note-taking apps force a trade-off: you either get the database power of Notion with the frustration of cloud lag, or the privacy of Obsidian with a fragmented plugin experience. You shouldn't have to choose between features and speed.

Lokus is a local-first knowledge base built with React and Rust that feels like an extension of your brain. It replaces loading spinners with instant search and database views that work offline. Because it's powered by Tauri and a "Quantum" search architecture, it opens in less than a second and handles massive vaults without breaking a sweat.

Why Choose Lokus?

• Zero Vendor Lock-in – Your notes are stored as standard Markdown files on your own device. If Lokus disappeared tomorrow, your data would still be yours.
• Blazing Performance – The Rust-powered core is 100x faster than traditional Electron-based editors, using only ~30MB of RAM compared to the usual 300MB+.
• Built-in Databases – Unlike other markdown editors that require complex community plugins, Lokus has native "Bases" to manage structured data like a pro.
• Privacy by Default – No cloud required. Your data never leaves your machine unless you choose to sync it using your preferred provider.
• AI-Ready – Includes a native Model Context Protocol (MCP) server with over 68 tools, allowing you to integrate AI into your workflow without giving up your privacy.

Spotlight on Key Features

Quantum Search & Performance

Lokus uses a custom "Quantum" architecture that makes searching through thousands of notes instantaneous. While other apps index data on the fly, Lokus leverages Rust's memory safety and speed to ensure that even complex queries return results in milliseconds.

Interactive Knowledge Graphs

Visualizing your thoughts shouldn't be a gimmick. Lokus provides both 2D and 3D interactive knowledge graphs natively. These aren't just pretty pictures; they are functional tools to help you identify gaps in your research and find hidden connections between disparate ideas.

Native Database Views

The "Bases" feature allows you to transform standard markdown notes into powerful databases. You can track projects, manage tasks, or organize research papers with the same flexibility as Notion, but with the speed of a local app.

Plugin Pioneer System

With the v1.3.3 release, Lokus introduced a VS Code-level plugin system. This gives developers a comprehensive API to build custom extensions, from OCR and PDF processing to unique editor themes, all accessible through a central marketplace.

Getting Started

Lokus is cross-platform and provides signed binaries for a smooth installation experience.

macOS

Download the .dmg from the official releases page and drag Lokus to your Applications folder.

Windows

Download the .exe installer. Note that as a new open-source project, you may see a SmartScreen warning; the app is fully signed and safe to run.

Linux

You can run Lokus as an AppImage:

wget https://github.com/lokus-ai/lokus/releases/latest/download/lokus.AppImage
chmod +x lokus.AppImage
./lokus.AppImage

How Lokus Compares

Lokus sits in the "Personal Knowledge Management" (PKM) and "Local-first Productivity" category. Here is how it stacks up against the major players in the space.

Take Control of Your Knowledge

The tools we use to think shouldn't be controlled by a corporation's subscription model or limited by cloud latency. Lokus offers the power of a modern database with the longevity of local files.

• Download the Latest Release
• Read the Documentation
• Star Lokus on GitHub