Working with Markdown notes
Practical answers for keeping plain Markdown files in sync, private, and useful, including where other apps are the better fit.
How bring-your-own-key AI works in Octarine
How to connect an AI API key to Octarine, which note context is sent, where credentials are stored, who charges for model usage, and when to use a local model instead.
How Octarine works for researchers and long-form writers
A concrete workflow for collecting sources, connecting research notes, and drafting long-form work in Octarine, including the limits researchers should account for.
How to chat with your notes without uploading them
How local-first AI chat over your notes works — what stays on your device, what a cloud model still sees, and how to set up a fully local stack with Ollama or LM Studio, or with an app that keeps indexing local.
How to keep a private journal in plain Markdown files
How local Markdown journaling works in Octarine, what stays on your device, what can use the network, and how to build a backup routine without locking entries into one app.
How to sync Markdown notes with Git
A practical guide to keeping a folder of Markdown notes in Git: setting up the repository, what to ignore, how to handle sync conflicts between machines, and which notes apps build this in.
How to try Octarine without changing your Obsidian vault
A low-risk Obsidian-to-Octarine migration workflow that preserves the original vault, tests Markdown and wikilink compatibility, and explains what may need adjustment before switching.
Local AI vs cloud AI for personal notes
The privacy, quality, cost, setup, and hardware tradeoffs between local and cloud AI for personal notes, with an explanation of how Octarine handles each path.
Obsidian Sync alternatives: every way to sync a Markdown vault
Five ways to sync an Obsidian vault without the Obsidian Sync subscription — iCloud Drive and other folder services, Syncthing, and Git — with the setup and the failure mode of each.
The best Markdown note apps for Mac
Six Markdown note apps for Mac compared honestly — Octarine, Obsidian, Bear, Craft, NotePlan, and Logseq — by what fits your writing, where your notes live, and what you pay. Facts from each app's own pages.
Using Claude Code with Markdown notes
How to point Claude Code at a folder of Markdown notes safely: connecting through the Octarine CLI's MCP server or working on plain files directly, what the agent can do, and how to keep it from making a mess.
What happens to your notes if Octarine disappears?
Which Octarine data remains usable without the app, what needs a complete workspace backup, and which online or device-local features require a separate continuity plan.
What is the best local-first Markdown app for writers?
A practical comparison of what writers should look for in a local-first Markdown app, where Octarine fits, and when a different notes app is the better choice.
When Octarine is—and is not—the right notes app
A candid guide to the workflows Octarine suits, the requirements it does not prioritize, and the fastest way to decide using your own notes.