Strata

Local-first Markdown notes app with optional AI, keyboard-first workflows, and a scriptable local API.

Why Strata

• Local by default. Your notes stay on your machine.
• Fast writing and navigation with command palette and hotkeys.
• Optional AI assistance with explicit edit controls and revert history.
• Local HTTP API + CLI for automation and agent workflows.
• Security-hardened desktop architecture (sandbox + context isolation).

What is new in 0.6.0

• Multi-pinned split panes (pin multiple notes at once).
• Grid layout mode for pinned notes (2/3/4-column workflows).
• Memory/performance improvements across renderer and main process.
• Cleaner split-pane behavior and tab-level pin controls.

Install

Download a release

Get platform builds from GitHub Releases:

• macOS: DMG
• Windows: NSIS EXE
• Linux: AppImage

Run from source

Requirements:

• Node.js 20+
• npm

npm install
npm run dev

Quick start

# typecheck + production build
npm run build

# create release artifacts
npm run dist

# run tests
npm run test

Core features

Notes and editing

• Markdown editor with autosave + save state.
• Rich-text paste to Markdown.
• Split preview and editable note panes.
• Tags, starring, archiving, undo delete.

Navigation and organization

• Search and filtering by query, tags, and note state.
• Quick Open and command palette.
• Related notes + backlinks.
• Pinned tags and customizable shortcuts.

AI workflows

• In-app chat panel for drafting and analysis.
• Provider/model routing controls.
• Edit safety modes: read-only, confirm, auto-apply.
• AI edit history and revert endpoint.

CLI and API

• CLI docs: CLI.md
• HTTP API docs: API.md

Base URL (local API):

• http://127.0.0.1:3939

Examples:

npm run strata -- health
npm run strata -- notes list --json
npm run strata -- notes create --content "# Note\n\nCreated from CLI"

curl http://127.0.0.1:3939/health

Security and data model

• Notes/settings stored in local SQLite.
• WAL mode + scheduled backups.
• No mandatory cloud sync.
• Electron hardening:
  • contextIsolation enabled
  • sandbox enabled
  • no renderer Node.js access

See SECURITY.md and docs/enterprise-readiness-checklist.md.

Project structure

app/
  main/      Electron main process, IPC handlers, DB, API server
  preload/   Secure bridge exposed as window.strata
  renderer/  React UI + Zustand state
  shared/    Cross-process types and contracts
docs/        Deep-dive docs (AI, CLI, publishing, enterprise)
scripts/     Dev and automation helpers
release/     Built installers/artifacts

Scripts

npm run dev
npm run build
npm run dist
npm run test
npm run lint
npm run format
npm run backup:notes

Documentation index

• API.md
• CLI.md
• SECURITY.md
• CONTRIBUTING.md
• docs/AI_PROVIDERS.md
• docs/AI_ROUTING.md
• docs/ai-edit-permissions.md
• docs/enterprise-readiness-checklist.md
• docs/publish-providers.md

Troubleshooting

If Electron cannot load better-sqlite3:

npm rebuild better-sqlite3 --runtime=electron --target=40.8.5 --disturl=https://electronjs.org/headers

If TypeScript diagnostics in editor are stale while build passes, run:

• TypeScript: Restart TS Server
• Developer: Reload Window