Lokus is a privacy-focused, local-first note-taking application designed for knowledge workers who demand full ownership of their data. Built with React 19, Tauri 2.0, and Rust, it replaces cloud-dependent tools like Notion by storing all notes as standard Markdown files on the user’s device, eliminating subscriptions and telemetry. It combines powerful editing with visual organization tools like graph views and infinite canvas to support deep thinking, research, and knowledge management.
The app leverages a modern tech stack including TipTap for rich text editing, KaTeX for LaTeX rendering, Shiki for syntax highlighting, TLDraw for canvas, and Three.js/D3-force for 3D graph visualization. It supports cross-platform deployment (macOS, Windows, Linux), plugin extensibility via MCP server, and seamless integration with existing Markdown vaults like Obsidian. Deployment options include pre-built binaries and source builds using npm and Tauri.
What You Get
- Rich Markdown Editor - Live preview, 100+ language syntax highlighting with Shiki, LaTeX math rendering via KaTeX, and smart paste that converts HTML to Markdown.
- Bidirectional Wiki Links - Automatic backlink detection and [[autocomplete]] for creating interconnected notes using standard Markdown syntax.
- Graph View (2D & 3D) - Visualize note relationships using Three.js and D3-force, revealing hidden connections in your knowledge base.
- Infinite Canvas (TLDraw) - A spatial, limitless workspace for brainstorming, diagramming, and arranging notes visually without constraints.
- Template System (90+ Features) - Advanced templates with variables, conditionals, loops, and dynamic content generation for consistent note structuring.
- MCP Server Integration - Built-in AI assistant support via Model Context Protocol (MCP) for AI-powered summarization, analysis, and content generation.
- Plugin Marketplace - Extend functionality with community-built plugins for graph analysis, smart templates, and workflow automation.
- Full-Text Search & Tags - Instant search across all notes and nested tag system for organizing content without folders.
- Live Theme Editor - Real-time customization of colors, fonts, and spacing with instant visual feedback and exportable theme files.
- Zero Telemetry & Offline-First - No data leaves your device; all notes are stored as plain Markdown files with no account or cloud requirement.
- Obsidian Compatibility - Open existing Obsidian vaults directly; supports standard Markdown, frontmatter, YAML metadata, and wiki links without conversion.
Common Use Cases
- Building a personal knowledge base - A researcher uses Lokus to store academic papers with wiki links and graph views to map connections between theories and sources.
- Managing research projects - A PhD student organizes literature reviews using templates, tags, and the infinite canvas to visually structure arguments and hypotheses.
- Creating a Zettelkasten system - A writer uses bidirectional links and atomic notes to build a self-organizing knowledge network following the Zettelkasten method.
- Developing content for public speaking - A professor uses the canvas and graph view to map lecture topics, link related concepts, and export notes as Markdown for slides.
Under The Hood
Architecture
- Monolithic React frontend with tightly coupled components relying on global styling utilities, lacking domain-based modularity
- Tauri backend exposes low-level system operations without formal service abstraction, resulting in procedural code paths
- Plugin system is partially implemented via ModelContextProtocol but lacks defined extension points or interface contracts
- State management is inconsistent, mixing localStorage and custom providers without a unified data flow pattern
- No clear architectural boundaries between UI, native interop, and plugin layers, creating implicit dependencies
Tech Stack
- React 18+ with TypeScript and shadcn/ui for a component library built on Radix UI and Tailwind CSS
- Tauri 2.x as the desktop runtime, enabling secure native access to filesystem and system APIs
- MCP SDK for AI integration, Supabase for optional cloud sync, and Sentry for error monitoring
- Vite and Vitest for fast builds and comprehensive testing, with Playwright for end-to-end UI validation
- Monorepo structure with path aliases and ESLint for cross-package type safety and modular organization
- Local-first design with canvas-based knowledge graphs using react-sigma and Excalidraw for visual note mapping
Code Quality
- Extensive test coverage across unit, integration, and e2e layers with realistic mocking of native and external dependencies
- Consistent use of React hooks, typed props, and reusable UI primitives with clear documentation
- Robust error handling with graceful fallbacks and structured logging in both frontend and backend modules
- Strong TypeScript usage ensures type safety in core logic, plugin contexts, and state interfaces
- Automated linting and CI pipelines enforce naming conventions and modular file organization
What Makes It Unique
- Native parsing and rendering of Obsidian .canvas files via custom IR-to-JSON transformation for seamless visual knowledge mapping
- Deep Tauri integration enables high-performance local note repositories with offline-first capability and native system access
- Centralized plugin API with disposable resource management supports safe, lifecycle-aware extensions across multiple UI frameworks
- Built-in search engine with XSS-safe highlighting and Rust-powered real-time file indexing for rapid local corpus queries
- Unified theming system using CSS variables that synchronizes appearance across React, Vue, and native desktop components
- ProseMirror-based editor with extensible command system allowing plugins to modify editing behavior without forking the core