bytepad

bytepad is a keyboard-first, privacy-first productivity app built for people who think better in plain text.

It brings together notes, tasks, habits, and lightweight planning in a single, calm workspace—without forcing you into rigid systems or complex knowledge graphs. The goal isn’t to manage your life, but to reduce friction between thinking and doing.

Inspired by the clean, distraction-free aesthetics of code editors, bytepad favors:

• fast startup and instant interaction
• minimal UI, maximal focus

Your data stays local and under your control. No accounts, no tracking, no dark patterns. Sync and structure exist to support you, not to lock you in.

Bytepad is designed around a simple belief:

Productivity tools should feel more like a text editor than a dashboard.

Open it, type, think, close it.

Why bytepad exists

bytepad exists because I think modern productivity tools often confuse structure with clarity.

Over time, notes turn into databases, simple tasks become workflows, and thinking gets replaced by organizing. I found myself spending more time maintaining the system than actually using it.

The principles behind bytepad are intentionally simple:

• Plain text over abstraction – if I can type it, I can use it
• Keyboard-first by default – thinking is faster than clicking
• Local-first, privacy-first – my data should stay mine
• Low cognitive load – the tool should disappear while I work

bytepad is built for people who enjoy the calm of a code editor, the flexibility of markdown, and the feeling of opening an app that never asks, “How would you like to organize this?”

Generate your knowledge graph

bytepad doesn’t ask you to build a knowledge graph. It lets one emerge naturally.

Notes, tasks, habits, journal entries, and bookmarks are all treated as first-class entities. Anything can link to anything else using simple, readable connections. Over time, these links form a personal knowledge graph that reflects how you actually think—not how a tool expects you to organize information.

Features

Core Modules

• Notes - Markdown editor with wikilinks ([[Note]]), backlinks, and tag organization
• Daily Notes - Quick daily entries with templates
• Tasks - Priority-based task management with subtasks and due dates
• Habits - Daily habit tracking with streaks and statistics
• Journal - Daily journaling with mood and energy tracking
• Bookmarks - Save and organize web links with tags
• Calendar - Visual calendar view for tasks and journal entries
• Knowledge Graph - Interactive visualization of connections between all your content
• Analysis - Weekly productivity statistics and AI-generated insights

Additional Features

• Focus Mode - Pomodoro timer with customizable work/break intervals
• Gamification - XP, levels, and achievements to stay motivated
• Localization - English and Turkish language support
• GitHub Gist Sync - Cross-device sync out of the box, backed by a private Gist
• Cloud Sync (bring your own Firebase) - Google sign-in and Firestore sync, if you connect your own Firebase project. Not configured in downloaded builds — see docs/features/cloud-sync.md
• MCP Server - Model Context Protocol integration for AI assistants (Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.)

FlowBot AI

Built-in AI assistant for productivity coaching and insights.

• Context-aware responses based on your data
• Natural language task and habit creation
• Personalized productivity tips and recommendations
• ADHD-friendly insights in productivity reports

Supported AI Providers

MCP Server Integration

bytepad includes a built-in Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants to interact with your data.

What is MCP?

MCP is an open protocol that enables AI tools to securely access local data sources. With bytepad's MCP server, you can use AI assistants like Claude Desktop, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible client to:

• Query and search your notes, tasks, habits, and journal entries
• Create new items through natural language
• Get context-aware assistance based on your actual data

Connecting AI Clients

Claude Desktop

Add to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "bytepad": {
      "command": "curl",
      "args": ["-N", "http://localhost:3847/mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Cursor / VS Code

Add to MCP settings:

{
  "bytepad": {
    "url": "http://localhost:3847/mcp"
  }
}

Docker Support

Run the MCP server standalone with Docker:

docker run -d -p 3847:3847 -v bytepad-data:/app/data bytepad/mcp-server:latest

Or use docker-compose:

services:
  bytepad-mcp:
    image: bytepad/mcp-server:0.25.0
    ports:
      - "3847:3847"
    volumes:
      - bytepad-data:/app/data

Available MCP Tools

Download

Download the latest release from the Releases page.

Installation Notes

Windows: If you see a SmartScreen warning, click "More info" then "Run anyway".

macOS: Right-click and select "Open" if prompted about unidentified developer.

Linux: Run chmod +x bytepad-*.AppImage before executing.

Keyboard Shortcuts

bytepad is designed for keyboard-first navigation. Press Ctrl+? anytime to see all shortcuts.

Privacy

• All data stored locally on your device
• No external servers by default (Gist sync uses your GitHub account; cloud sync, if you configure your own Firebase project, uses that project)
• AI features only send necessary context to your chosen provider
• API keys stored locally, never transmitted
• MCP server runs locally - your data never leaves your machine

Contributing

See CONTRIBUTING.md for development setup, code style, and contribution guidelines.

Security

See SECURITY.md for supported versions and how to report a vulnerability privately.

License

Personal Use License - This software is licensed for personal, non-commercial use only.

See LICENSE for full details.

Author

Sami Tugal - @samitugal

bytepad - Your personal productivity companion