# catcher
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/5a060469-40c5-4fd8-a17c-cab2e60b6f96
A minimal note-taking app for the terminal. Local-first, no accounts, no sync: your notes are a folder of `.md` files in `~/catcher`, so `grep`, git and Obsidian work on them too.
> Called **tinynote** until 0.9. Existing `~/tinynote` and `~/.config/tinynote` folders are still picked up.
## Install
```
brew install tinycomputer-io/tap/catcher
```
or `cargo install catcher`. Then run `catcher`.
## Using it
- **^K** is the command palette: new, open, delete, rename, move to folder, reading view, help, settings, quit.
- **^O** opens a note: every folder, most recently opened first, fuzzy-searched by filename. **Tab** flips it to a folder tree.
- **^N** makes a note. The filename follows its first line until you rename the file yourself.
- **^P** flips between the live-preview editor and the rendered page. Images draw inline in Ghostty, kitty and iTerm2.
- `[[wikilinks]]` work like Obsidian's. **⌥⏎** follows one, **⌥P** peeks at it, **^B** / **^F** go back and forward. The reading view lists the notes that link here at the bottom.
- A ` ```mermaid ` fence is drawn as text: flowcharts and sequence diagrams, in box-drawing characters, no images and no network. Other kinds keep their source under a label.
- Callouts, front matter, tables wider than the page (they pan sideways), checkboxes and `==highlights==` all render.
- Notes autosave. Mouse works: click, drag to select and copy, scroll. **^V** pastes a clipboard image as a PNG.
## CLI
```
catcher open the note you last had open
catcher groceries open the note that best matches; create it if none does
catcher add "buy milk" write a new note and print its path
catcher ~/vault open the TUI rooted at that folder
catcher path print the notes directory
catcher --keys show what your terminal sends for each key
```
## Keys
| `^K` | Command palette |
| `^O` | Open a note (`Tab` for the folder tree) |
| `^N` | New note |
| `^P` | Reading view |
| `^S` | Save now |
| `^Z` / `^Y` | Undo / redo |
| `^C` `^X` `^V` | Copy / cut / paste |
| `⌥⏎` / `⌥P` | Follow / peek at the `[[wikilink]]` under the cursor |
| `^B` / `^F` | Back / forward |
| `^/` or `F1` | Help card |
| `^,` | Settings |
| `^Q` | Quit |
Editing is macOS-style: `⌘←`/`⌘→` line ends, `⌥←`/`⌥→` by word, `⇧` to extend a selection, `⌘A` select all. Every key is rebindable in the settings; `^K` answers to ctrl or cmd.
## Settings
**^,** opens `~/.config/catcher/settings.md` as a note; **^S** applies it. It covers the notes and attachments folders, theme (`auto`, `dark`, `light`) and colours, page width, borders, status bar, autosave delay, tab width, front matter, table style, wikilinks, linked mentions, how far **^O** looks, and every key binding. Each line has a one-line hint beside it. `CATCHER_DIR` overrides the notes folder.
## Development
```
cargo run # against ~/catcher (set CATCHER_DIR to test elsewhere)
cargo test
cargo clippy
```
Rust, ratatui + crossterm. `src/editor.rs` is the buffer, `src/md.rs` live-preview styling, `src/render.rs` the reading view, `src/mermaid/` the diagram renderer, `src/config.rs` the settings note. Every colour lives in the `theme` module at the top of `src/md.rs`.
## License
MIT