UNote 0.2.0 - Git-First Desktop Notes App

Overview

UNote 0.2.0 is a Git-first desktop notes application that treats a local Git repository as the primary workspace rather than wrapping a proprietary note-taking store. The app provides real-file-based storage while handling synchronization through Git, ensuring that your notes remain under your control without relying on cloud services. Files stay in your private Git repository, and the app edits, navigates, and syncs-without owning the data itself.

Key Features

• Markdown - Rich editing directly on top of native .md files using MDXEditor
• Canvas - Freeform drawing powered by Excalidraw
• Mind Maps - Node-based outlines created with Mind Elixir
• Diagrams - Diagram creation via Draw.io through diagrams.net
• Folders - Nested directories with no additional metadata layer
• Trash - Deleted notes are moved to .trash within the same repository, keeping Git aware of the deletion
• Git Sync - Edit locally first, then commit and push when the network is available
• Share - Read-only snapshots via Cloudflare Quick Tunnel (key embedded in the URL fragment #…)
• i18n - Bilingual interface supporting both Chinese and English
• Assets - Images reside in the .assets/ directory and can be referenced from notes
• Themes - Light, dark, or system-following color schemes
• Updates - In-app checks against the latest GitHub Release before installing

Platform Support & Limitations

• Operating System - Currently Windows x64 only. macOS and Linux builds are on the roadmap but not included in this release.
• Sign-In - Today the app uses Gitee for authentication (a Git-hosted service similar to GitHub).
• Repository Scope - The entire workspace is the Git repository itself. Opening the folder opens the notebook. There is no separate ledger file; v0.2.0 removed the old notebooks.json layer entirely.
• Data Persistence - Since UNote could disappear tomorrow, you would still have a complete Git repository filled with ordinary files. The design prioritizes "local first, then Git": edits hit the filesystem immediately, and when connectivity returns, UNote commits and pushes.
• Credential Management - Authentication credentials are stored in the operating system keyring, not inside the app.

Installation

• Windows - Available as an NSIS installer from Releases. The build is Windows x64 only.
• Source - MIT license.
• Installation Process - Download the Windows NSIS installer from the Releases page, then install following standard procedure. macOS and Linux versions are currently unavailable.