Memos is an open-source, self-hosted note-taking platform designed for individuals and teams who prioritize privacy, data ownership, and performance. Built with Go and React, it provides a fast, clean interface for capturing thoughts, managing knowledge, and collaborating without relying on third-party cloud services. Unlike commercial note-taking tools that track usage or lock users into proprietary ecosystems, Memos ensures complete control over your data—stored locally on your infrastructure with no telemetry or advertising. It’s ideal for developers, privacy-conscious users, and teams seeking a transparent alternative to cloud-based solutions like Notion or Evernote.
Memos supports multiple deployment options including Docker, Kubernetes, and pre-built binaries, making it accessible for both beginners and advanced users. With full REST and gRPC APIs, Markdown-native storage, and mobile-responsive design, it integrates seamlessly into existing workflows while maintaining simplicity and speed. Its MIT license ensures freedom to use, modify, and extend the software without restrictions.
What You Get
- Privacy-First Architecture - Zero telemetry, no ads, and no data collection; all notes are stored entirely on your infrastructure with full export capabilities.
- Markdown Native Support - Notes are saved as plain Markdown files, ensuring portability and compatibility with any text editor or toolchain.
- Blazing Fast Performance - Built with Go for the backend and React for the frontend, delivering instant load times even with large note collections.
- Simple Docker Deployment - One-line command to deploy Memos using Docker, with volume mounting for persistent data storage.
- Full REST and gRPC APIs - Programmatically create, read, update, and delete notes; integrate with automation tools or custom applications.
- Multi-Database Support - Choose between SQLite (default), MySQL, and PostgreSQL for data storage based on your scalability needs.
- Dark Mode & Mobile-Responsive UI - Clean, minimal interface with optional dark theme and responsive layout for desktop and mobile devices.
- Self-Hosted Control - Full ownership of data, no vendor lock-in, and the ability to fork or customize the codebase under MIT license.
Common Use Cases
- Building a personal knowledge base - Users store research, ideas, and daily thoughts in Markdown format with full search and tagging, ensuring long-term accessibility without dependency on proprietary platforms.
- Creating a team wiki for internal documentation - Engineering teams use Memos to maintain runbooks, onboarding guides, and project notes with API integrations for automated updates.
- Problem: Losing notes to cloud service outages → Solution: Self-hosted Memos - Users who experienced data loss or downtime with cloud-based tools migrate to Memos to eliminate third-party dependency and ensure 24/7 availability.
- DevOps teams managing documentation across environments - Teams deploy Memos on internal servers or private clouds to centralize infrastructure docs, API specs, and incident reports with version-controlled Markdown files.
Under The Hood
This project is a full-stack application designed with a modular architecture that emphasizes extensibility and developer experience. It combines a Go backend with a TypeScript/React frontend, leveraging modern tools and patterns to deliver a scalable and maintainable system.
Architecture
The project follows a modular monolithic structure with clear separation between backend and frontend layers. This design enables flexible plugin integration and reusable components.
- Modular backend architecture with core modules and extensible plugin system
- Component-based frontend structure with strong typing and state management
- Clear separation of concerns between UI, data handling, and business logic
Tech Stack
The tech stack reflects a modern full-stack approach with Go and TypeScript as the primary technologies, supported by a suite of contemporary tools.
- Backend built in Go with frontend using TypeScript and React
- Frontend leverages UI libraries like Radix UI, Tailwind CSS, and shadcn/ui
- Build process powered by Vite with Biome for linting and formatting
- Testing frameworks include Vitest and React testing utilities for frontend, with unit/integration tests for backend
Code Quality
The codebase maintains a solid foundation in testing and follows established conventions, though some inconsistencies and technical debt remain.
- Extensive test suite covering various functional areas
- Error handling implemented across modules with room for consistency improvements
- Adherence to Go conventions and TypeScript best practices observed
- Some duplicated logic and incomplete test coverage in key areas
What Makes It Unique
The project stands out through its innovative plugin architecture and API-first approach, offering extensibility and seamless integration capabilities.
- Plugin system designed with clear separation to support third-party extensions
- Protocol Buffer-based API design using Connect RPC for type-safe communication
- Declarative configuration patterns for components such as filters and schedulers
- Built-in support for identity providers and webhook integrations for unified workflows