Show HN: Unforget, the note-taking app I always wanted: offline first, encrypted

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

App concept & workflow

  • App is an offline‑first, encrypted, self‑hostable note‑taking PWA inspired by Google Keep.
  • Notes are small, free‑form markdown documents; typically one idea per note, but can grow arbitrarily large.
  • Notes are displayed in a single chronological list, with:
    • Pinned notes floating to the top (toggleable).
    • Archived notes accessible via main menu.
  • No true tag system or folders; users simulate tags with #tag strings and rely on fast substring search.
  • Titles are inferred from markdown # headers or the first line.

Offline‑first PWA & tech stack

  • Offline capability relies on service workers and IndexedDB (not localStorage), so it fails in browsers or modes that block service workers (e.g., private/Incognito, Tor).
  • Distributed as a PWA, installable on mobile (and via “save to dock” on newer macOS Safari).
  • Author chose web stack for cross‑platform reach, easy distribution, and avoiding app stores; some commenters prefer native/Qt/GTK or desktop apps for clearer data control and performance.

Sync, security & privacy

  • Sync requires sign‑up because a server is used; self‑hosting is supported via the open‑source repo.
  • Notes are end‑to‑end encrypted on the server; clients see encrypted “gibberish” over the network.
  • On client devices, notes are stored in plaintext in IndexedDB for usability (no constant re‑auth).
  • Password handling uses hashing plus salts and PBKDF2 for encryption; initial critique highlighted weak server‑side password‑hashing choices and predictable salt, and the author agreed to strengthen this.
  • Threat model is mostly “don’t trust the server or large companies,” not “protect from other users on same device.”

Feature requests & UX feedback

  • Requests: regex search, more robust heading collapse/expand (org‑mode‑like), themes, WYSIWYG markdown editor, Mermaid diagrams, drawings, image support, improved onboarding, and a “how it works” explanation.
  • Some users like the minimal organization and keyboard‑first capture; others miss folders, ordering, and rich media.
  • Minor UI bugs/typos and Firefox layout issues are reported.

Comparisons & alternatives

  • Compared with NotesNook, Joplin, Obsidian, Apple Notes, Zettel Notes, Omnivore, Diary, SilverBullet, etc.
  • Debates around PWA vs Electron vs native:
    • Some argue people prefer “real apps” even if Electron‑based.
    • Others value PWAs for minimalism, open source, no Electron bloat, and easy installation.