Michaelliv

Michaelliv / napkin

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🧻 Local-first CLI for Obsidian vaults. Operates directly on markdown files — no Obsidian app required. Designed as a memory system for AI agents using progressive disclosure.

169
6
100% credibility
Found Mar 28, 2026 at 169 stars -- GitGems finds repos before they trend. Get early access to the next one.
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AI Analysis
TypeScript
AI Summary

Napkin is a command-line tool for managing a local, file-based knowledge base with progressive disclosure levels, templates, search, tasks, and Obsidian compatibility, designed as a memory system for AI agents.

How It Works

1
🧻 Discover Napkin

You hear about Napkin, a simple way to capture and organize ideas just like scribbling on a napkin.

2
📥 Get it ready

Download and set it up on your computer with one easy step.

3
🗂️ Start your notebook

Create your personal notebook folder with a ready structure for work, life, or projects.

4
🔍 See the big picture

Get a friendly map of what's in your notebook, with key words from each section.

5
📖 Find what you need

Search for ideas and read full notes to refresh your memory.

6
✏️ Add your thoughts

Jot down new notes, daily entries, checklists, or connect ideas with links.

🎉 Ideas at your fingertips

Your knowledge grows in one organized spot, easy to search and share with helpers like AI.

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Star Growth

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AI-Generated Review

What is napkin?

Napkin is a TypeScript CLI for Obsidian vaults that works directly on markdown files—no app needed. It initializes structured vaults with templates for coding, company, or research setups, then lets you overview, search, read, create, or edit notes via simple commands. Built as a memory system for AI agents, it uses progressive disclosure to feed context efficiently: start with a 200-token project note, scale to vault maps or full files.

Why is it gaining traction?

In a world of bloated note apps, napkin stands out as a local-first GitHub for knowledge, like a napkin ai alternative on GitHub tailored for agents. Devs love the token-smart overviews (1-2k for the whole vault), BM25 search with snippets, and pi extensions that auto-distill chats into notes. It's pulling interest as a napkin ai clone GitHub option, especially for local-first CLI fans eyeing github napkin ai or github napkin math tools.

Who should use this?

AI agent builders needing cheap, structured memory without Obsidian overhead; Obsidian power-users wanting headless CLI for daily notes, tasks, or graphs. Ideal for solo devs organizing project decisions/architecture, or teams running napkin ki workflows in multilingual napkin deutsch/englischer setups with agents and app integration.

Verdict

Promising 169-star TypeScript CLI with great docs, full test coverage, and agent hooks, but 1.0% credibility signals early maturity—use for prototypes, not production. Grab it if local-first napkin ai fits; otherwise, stick to established tools.

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