explaingit

usememos/memos

Analysis updated 2026-06-20

59,400GoAudience · generalComplexity · 2/5Setup · easy

TLDR

A self-hosted, lightweight note-taking app with a Twitter-style timeline. Jot down Markdown notes fast, keep all your data on your own server, and connect it to other tools via REST or gRPC APIs.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    Note Capture
      Markdown formatting
      Timeline interface
      Quick jot mode
    Storage
      SQLite
      MySQL
      PostgreSQL
    Deployment
      Docker one-liner
      Single Go binary
      Linux macOS Windows
    APIs
      REST API
      gRPC API
    Privacy
      No telemetry
      No external calls
      Self-hosted data
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What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Run a private daily journal or thought log on your own server with no third-party access to your notes.

USE CASE 2

Replace Notion or Bear with a tool where you own all the data and can export it as plain Markdown files anytime.

USE CASE 3

Build a personal knowledge base that other apps or scripts can read and write to via its REST or gRPC API.

USE CASE 4

Set up a lightweight note-taking server on a home network or VPS in minutes using a single Docker command.

What is it built with?

GoSQLiteMySQLPostgreSQLDockerREST APIgRPCMarkdown

How does it compare?

usememos/memosfilosottile/mkcertpocketbase/pocketbase
Stars59,40058,78658,165
LanguageGoGoGo
Setup difficultyeasyeasyeasy
Complexity2/51/52/5
Audiencegeneraldevelopervibe coder

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

One Docker command gets you running with SQLite. For persistent data mount a local volume. Switch to MySQL or PostgreSQL by changing one env variable.

License not mentioned in the explanation. Check the repo directly before using in a commercial project.

In plain English

Memos is a self-hosted note-taking application designed around quick, low-friction capture of thoughts and ideas. The problem it solves is that traditional note-taking apps either live in someone else's cloud where you have no control over your data, or require complex setup and maintenance. Memos gives you a Twitter-like timeline interface where you can rapidly jot down notes in Markdown format, meaning notes support formatting like bold text, bullet lists, and code snippets, but the focus is on getting thoughts down fast without navigating folders or categories. The application is designed to be exceptionally lightweight and simple to run. The entire server is a single Go binary of roughly 20 megabytes, and the recommended Docker installation is a one-line command. Data can be stored in SQLite for simple setups, or in MySQL or PostgreSQL for more robust deployments. Notes are stored as Markdown files, making them portable and readable outside the application. The server exposes both a REST API and a gRPC API, so you can integrate it with other tools or build your own clients on top of it. Memos collects no telemetry and has no external dependencies that phone home. You would reach for Memos when you want a personal knowledge base or daily log that you fully control, deployed on your own server or home network. It fills a similar niche to tools like Notion or Bear, but with the key difference that all your data stays on infrastructure you own. The tech stack is Go for the backend with a web frontend, running on Linux, macOS, or Windows.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
I just deployed Memos. How do I write a Python script that posts a new note to its REST API every morning with today's weather summary?
Prompt 2
How do I back up all my Memos notes automatically and restore them to a new server? Walk me through the steps for a SQLite setup.
Prompt 3
I want to use Memos as a team scratch pad on a private server. How do I set up multiple user accounts and control who can see whose notes?
Prompt 4
How do I migrate my Memos data from SQLite to PostgreSQL without losing any notes or timestamps?
Prompt 5
Can I access my Memos notes from my phone? What are my options for a mobile client that works with the Memos API?

Frequently asked questions

What is memos?

A self-hosted, lightweight note-taking app with a Twitter-style timeline. Jot down Markdown notes fast, keep all your data on your own server, and connect it to other tools via REST or gRPC APIs.

What language is memos written in?

Mainly Go. The stack also includes Go, SQLite, MySQL.

What license does memos use?

License not mentioned in the explanation. Check the repo directly before using in a commercial project.

How hard is memos to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 5min to a first successful run.

Who is memos for?

Mainly general.

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