# 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.

Alternative to: Notion, Obsidian

- Capabilities: operable
- Vertical: notes-knowledge
- Shape: business-app
- Form factor: desktop
- Execution model: hybrid
- Provenance: mixed (recorded, never ranked)
- Repo: https://github.com/refactoringhq/tolaria (AGPL-3.0), 19671 stars, last commit 2026-09-03
- Last activity: 2026-09-03
- Page: apps/refactoringhq--tolaria.html
- JSON: apps/refactoringhq--tolaria.json

## Use it when

- 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

## Gotchas

- 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

## Editions

- Free: Free, open source
  - source: https://github.com/refactoringhq/tolaria
  - binary: https://github.com/refactoringhq/tolaria/releases

## Operable: what an agent can drive

Operability: official. Interface: mcp at https://github.com/refactoringhq/tolaria/tree/main/mcp-server (published by the builder, local).

### Reach (partial coverage)

- 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: TypeScript, JavaScript
- Frameworks: Vite
- Package manager: npm
- Database: none
- Hosting target: local

## Model stack

- Providers: local agents (Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Pi, Gemini CLI), API model providers for in-app chat
- Models: none
- Keys you need (names only): none
- Prompts live in: none
- Tools: list_vaults, attach_vault, clone_vault, refresh_vault, get_vault_context, search_notes, get_note, create_note, update_note, append_to_note, open_note

## Evidence and confidence

- formFactor: README: desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux (confidence 0.95)
- executionModel: tolaria.md: chat with local or API model providers over note context; note editing needs no model (confidence 0.7)
- operability: mcp-server/ directory in the same repo; tool names read from mcp-server/index.js (confidence 0.9)
- 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 (confidence 0.7)
- editions: tolaria.md: 'Free forever', no account; releases on GitHub (confidence 0.9)
- 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 (confidence 0.5)
- reach:  (confidence 0.85)

## 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

- https://github.com/refactoringhq/tolaria (sourcing:notes-knowledge:community)
- https://tolaria.md (analysis)
- https://github.com/refactoringhq/tolaria/blob/main/mcp-server/index.js (analysis)