erictli

erictli / scratch

Public

A minimalist, offline-first markdown note-taking app for Mac

612
44
100% credibility
Found Feb 13, 2026 at 282 stars 2x -- GitGems finds repos before they trend. Get early access to the next one.
Sign Up Free
AI Analysis
TypeScript
AI Summary

Scratch is a lightweight offline-first markdown note-taking app that saves notes as plain files with rich editing, search, optional AI assistance, and Git backups.

How It Works

1
📱 Discover Scratch

You hear about Scratch, a simple app for jotting down notes that works completely offline on your Mac or Windows.

2
⬇️ Install easily

Download and open the app with one click, no accounts or internet needed.

3
🗂️ Pick your notes spot

Choose a folder on your computer where all your notes will live as simple text files you fully own.

4
✨ Start writing

Create a new note instantly and type with beautiful formatting like bold, lists, and links that appear as you go.

5
🔍 Find anything fast

Search your notes or jump between them using quick keyboard tricks and a handy command menu.

6
Boost your notes
🤖
Smart edits

Describe changes and let the helper improve your note automatically.

📋
Track changes

Save versions of your notes so you can go back anytime.

✅ Notes mastered

Your thoughts are organized, searchable, and safe forever in files you control.

Sign up to see the full architecture

5 more

Sign Up Free

Star Growth

See how this repo grew from 282 to 612 stars Sign Up Free
Repurpose This Repo

Repurpose is a Pro feature

Generate ready-to-use prompts for X threads, LinkedIn posts, blog posts, YouTube scripts, and more -- with full repo context baked in.

Unlock Repurpose
AI-Generated Review

What is scratch?

Scratch is a minimalist, offline-first markdown note-taking app built for Mac and Windows using TypeScript, Tauri, and React. It stores notes as plain .md files in a local folder you control—no cloud sync, accounts, or subscriptions required—while offering WYSIWYG editing that outputs clean markdown. Keyboard-driven with a command palette, Git integration for versioning, and Claude Code CLI support for AI-assisted edits, it solves bloated note apps by staying under 10% the size of Obsidian.

Why is it gaining traction?

In a sea of feature-heavy tools like Notion or Obsidian, Scratch hooks developers with its github minimalist ethos: instant startup, zero distractions, and seamless external file detection for AI agents beyond Claude. GitHub scratch editor vibes meet real productivity—quick commits from the sidebar, Tantivy-powered search, and table/link/task support without the cruft. At 252 stars, it's pulling in users tired of electron bloat and cloudy lock-in.

Who should use this?

Mac devs managing project notes in Git repos, indie hackers prototyping ideas offline, or writers using Claude for markdown polishing. Ideal for keyboard ninjas who paste images, build tables, or pin frequent notes without mouse dependency—skip if you need mobile sync or heavy plugins.

Verdict

Grab it via Homebrew if you want a github minimalist markdown editor that's snappy and local-first; Windows builds from source for now. With 252 stars and 1.0% credibility score, it's early but polished—solid docs and MIT license make it low-risk to try, though watch for broader platform support. (198 words)

Sign up to read the full AI review Sign Up Free

Similar repos coming soon.