Siyuan
Siyuan is a privacy-first, self-hosted personal knowledge management software that combines note-taking, outlining, and mind mapping in a block-based editor. It offers a WYSIWYG Markdown experience, allowing users to seamlessly blend formatted text with live editing. The core architecture is block-oriented, enabling granular content organization, transclusion via block references, and automatic backlinks for a networked thought approach. A built-in graph view visualizes relationships between notes, while a spaced repetition and flashcard system supports learning. Siyuan is fully open source, written in TypeScript (frontend and Electron) and Go (kernel), ensuring transparency and the ability to self-host the entire infrastructure for complete data sovereignty. The ecosystem includes a community marketplace for plugins, themes, and templates, extending functionality. It provides native desktop applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux, mobile apps for iOS and Android, and a web interface, with optional end-to-end encrypted sync across devices. Advanced features include a web clipper, local AI integration, an extensive API for automation, and support for multiple sync backends (WebDAV, S3, etc.). Siyuan is under active development with frequent releases and a vibrant open source community.
- Category
- AI/ML
- Pricing
- Open Source
Problem solved
Users who are concerned about data privacy and vendor lock-in with proprietary cloud-based note-taking apps (like Notion or Evernote) need a self-hosted, open source alternative that doesn't compromise on rich editing features. Siyuan addresses this by providing a fully self-hosted, block-based knowledge management platform where all data stays under the user's control. It enables users to manage complex notes, research, and personal wikis with advanced linking, while remaining accessible across devices through self-managed sync.
Use cases
- Personal knowledge management and daily note-taking
- Academic research with linked literature notes and references
- Building a personal wiki or second brain for lifelong learning
- Project documentation and task management using outlines and templates
- Creating interactive flashcards from notes with spaced repetition
- Automating note workflows via the HTTP API for custom integrations
Audience
- Developers
- Researchers
- Hobbyists
- Content Creators
Pros
- Fully open source and privacy-respecting with self-hosting option
- Feature-rich block-based editor with WYSIWYG Markdown and live preview
- Strong linking and backlinking system for networked note-taking
- Cross-platform availability (desktop, mobile, web) with sync support
- Active community and a marketplace of plugins, themes, and templates
Cons
- Self-hosting requires technical knowledge for setup and maintenance
- Not designed for real-time collaborative editing; primarily personal use
- Mobile experience may lack some advanced features compared to desktop
Official website: https://github.com/siyuan-note/siyuan
Canonical LambdaBase page: https://www.lambdabase.com/tools/siyuan