SiYuan
Privacy-first personal knowledge base with block references
SiYuan is a local-first note-taking and personal knowledge management app designed around “blocks” (paragraph-level units) that can be referenced, embedded, and linked across documents. It supports Markdown editing, backlinks, and graph-style knowledge navigation, and can be run as a self-hosted service for web access and multi-device usage.
Key Features
- Block-based editor with block references, block embeds, and bi-directional links
- Markdown support with rich editing (tables, code blocks, math/LaTeX, etc.)
- Backlinks and knowledge graph views for navigating connected notes
- Full-text search across notebooks and documents
- Organize content with notebooks, folders, tags, and templates
- Web access via the built-in server for using SiYuan in a browser
- Data stored locally and designed for offline-first workflows
Use Cases
- Building a personal knowledge base (Zettelkasten/PKM) with backlinks and block references
- Maintaining project notes, meeting logs, and technical documentation as Markdown
- Creating a lightweight personal wiki with cross-page embeds and references
Limitations and Considerations
- Some advanced features and the overall UX can differ from mainstream SaaS note apps; evaluating the editor model (block-based) is recommended before migrating large note sets.
SiYuan is a strong fit for users who want a local-first knowledge system with granular block linking and Markdown-centric writing. It combines wiki-style navigation with an editor model optimized for reusing and connecting content across notes.
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Tech Stack:
Docker
Go
TypeScript
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