Tolaria
Files-first markdown second brain with git built in and an in-repo MCP server for Claude Code and Codex.
Tolaria is a desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux that manages a vault of markdown notes with YAML frontmatter, each vault a git repository. The Builder bundles an MCP server (mcp-server/) that lists and attaches vaults and lets an agent search, read, create, update, and open notes in the running app.
- you want your notes as plain markdown in git and an agent that can search and write them from Claude Code
- you run a 10,000-note personal vault and want keyboard-first navigation with AI on the side
- AGPL-3.0-or-later
- The MCP server talks to the running desktop app over a websocket bridge; open_note and vault attach need the app open
- No paid or hosted edition; sync is whatever git remote you choose
Last activity Sep 3, 2026. Fit: adaptable 1, operable 3.
Operable: what an agent can drive
Interface
OfficialMCP serverpublished by the builderlocal
How an agent can drive an Operable Listing, in five levels: native (built for the agent as the primary interface), official (the Builder ships an agent interface), wrapped (a third party wraps the software's API), config (an agent can only drive it by editing files), gui (screen control only). An interface is official only when it is published by the same organization that ships the software. GUI-level Listings are allowed and sorted last.
- Docs
- github.com/refactoringhq/tolaria/tree/main/mcp-server
- Tools
list_vaultsattach_vaultclone_vaultrefresh_vaultget_vault_contextsearch_notesget_notecreate_noteupdate_noteappend_to_noteopen_note
Reach
Partial coverage. 4 of 8 jobs reachable through the stated interface.
| Job | Through the interface | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Create, read, update, and append to notes | Reachable | create_note, get_note, update_note, append_to_note in mcp-server/index.js |
| Search notes | Reachable | search_notes tool |
| Manage vaults (list, attach, clone, refresh) | Reachable | list_vaults, attach_vault, clone_vault, refresh_vault |
| Open a note in the app | Reachable | open_note tool over the ws-bridge to the desktop app |
| Types and note relationships | Undetermined | get_vault_context likely returns vault metadata; not verified |
| Git commit, push, and history | Not reachable | no git tool in mcp-server; the vault is a plain git repo an agent can drive with shell |
| In-app AI chat over note context | Not reachable | human UI feature |
| Inbox and web-resource capture | Not reachable | walkthroughs describe UI workflows; no capture tool |
Code stack
- Languages
- TypeScriptJavaScript
- Frameworks
- Vite
- Package manager
- npm
- Database
- none
- Hosting target
- local
- Built
- Mixed (recorded, never ranked)
Model stack
- Providers
- local agents (Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Pi, Gemini CLI)API model providers for in-app chat
- Models
- none
- Keys you need
- none
- Prompts live in
- none
Evidence and confidence
| Field | Where it was seen | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| formFactor | README: desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux | 95% |
| executionModel | tolaria.md: chat with local or API model providers over note context; note editing needs no model | 70% |
| operability | mcp-server/ directory in the same repo; tool names read from mcp-server/index.js | 90% |
| effort | .env.example holds only LARA_ACCESS_KEY_ID, LARA_ACCESS_KEY_SECRET, VITE_POSTHOG_KEY, VITE_POSTHOG_HOST, VITE_SENTRY_DSN: build-time telemetry, not a behavior surface for an Adopter, so Adaptable is not claimed | 70% |
| editions | tolaria.md: 'Free forever', no account; releases on GitHub | 90% |
| active | pushedAt 2026-09-03; Show HN 2026-04-23 with 318 points | – |
| provenance | README: sponsors keep the project 'ready for AI-assisted development'; CLAUDE.md and AGENTS.md at root | 50% |
| reach | 85% |
Open questions
- Does get_vault_context expose types and relationships?
- Is there an app-level config file (mcp-server/app-config-policy.json suggests a policy surface) that would justify an Adaptable capability?
Sources
- github.com/refactoringhq/tolaria sourcing:notes-knowledge:community
- tolaria.md analysis
- github.com/refactoringhq/tolaria/blob/main/mcp-server/index.js analysis