# Memos > Memos is an open-source, self-hosted note-taking app — a Markdown-native timeline for quick notes, daily logs, links, and snippets. Self-host with Docker; private and free. ## Docs - [Documentation](https://usememos.com/docs): Official Memos documentation — install and self-host with Docker, configure storage and authentication, use the API, and master daily Markdown note-taking. - [Admin](https://usememos.com/docs/admin): Manage instance settings, user accounts, and permissions for your Memos community. - [Instance Settings](https://usememos.com/docs/admin/instance-settings): Configure instance-wide options. - [Users & Roles](https://usememos.com/docs/admin/users-roles): Manage users and permissions. - [Configuration](https://usememos.com/docs/configuration): Configure server behavior, storage, authentication, and environment variables. - [Authentication](https://usememos.com/docs/configuration/authentication): Configure password login, SSO providers, and API tokens. - [Database](https://usememos.com/docs/configuration/database): SQLite, MySQL, and PostgreSQL configuration for Memos. - [Deployment-Managed Configuration](https://usememos.com/docs/configuration/deployment-configuration): Manage access, authentication, storage, notifications, memo behavior, and AI settings from mounted JSON files. - [Environment Variables](https://usememos.com/docs/configuration/environment-variables): Reference for the most important `MEMOS_*` runtime settings. - [Security](https://usememos.com/docs/configuration/security): Practical guidance for hardening a Memos deployment. - [Storage](https://usememos.com/docs/configuration/storage): Configure attachment storage in the database, local filesystem, or S3-compatible object storage. - [Deploy](https://usememos.com/docs/deploy): Install and run Memos in local, server, and production environments. - [Binary](https://usememos.com/docs/deploy/binary): Install and run Memos as a native binary on Linux, macOS, or Windows. - [Build From Source](https://usememos.com/docs/deploy/development): Produce your own Memos build and run it as a deployment. - [Docker](https://usememos.com/docs/deploy/docker): Run Memos in a single Docker container with persistent data. - [Docker Compose](https://usememos.com/docs/deploy/docker-compose): Deploy Memos with Docker Compose for repeatable local or small production setups. - [Kubernetes](https://usememos.com/docs/deploy/kubernetes): Deploy Memos on Kubernetes with persistent storage and a reverse proxy. - [Reverse Proxy](https://usememos.com/docs/deploy/reverse-proxy): Run Memos behind HTTPS with correct forwarded headers and public URLs. - [Development](https://usememos.com/docs/development): Set up the Memos codebase, build the application, test changes, and prepare contributions for review. - [Building](https://usememos.com/docs/development/building): Build the frontend and backend for local testing or release preparation. - [Contributing](https://usememos.com/docs/development/contributing): Contribute code or docs in a way that keeps the project maintainable. - [Setup](https://usememos.com/docs/development/setup): Prepare a local environment for working on the Memos codebase. - [Testing](https://usememos.com/docs/development/testing): Run the most useful checks before opening a PR or deploying a custom build. - [FAQ](https://usememos.com/docs/faq): Common questions about running and using Memos. - [Getting Started](https://usememos.com/docs/getting-started): Run Memos locally, create the first admin user, and publish your first memo. - [Guides](https://usememos.com/docs/guides): Use Memos for Bullet Journaling, GTD, and Zettelkasten with practical, self-hosted guides for reflection, action management, and connected knowledge. - [Bullet Journal](https://usememos.com/docs/guides/bullet-journal): Build a private, self-hosted digital Bullet Journal in Memos with timeline capture, a pinned Monthly Log, tag-based Collections, and deliberate migration. - [GTD](https://usememos.com/docs/guides/getting-things-done): Set up GTD in Memos with quick capture, Markdown next actions, project tags, Views, waiting items, daily focus, and a weekly review. - [Zettelkasten](https://usememos.com/docs/guides/zettelkasten): Build a practical Zettelkasten in Memos with source notes, atomic ideas, Relations, and synthesis notes that turn each question into a useful answer. - [Integrations](https://usememos.com/docs/integrations): Connect scripts, AI assistants, event receivers, and Telegram capture to your Memos instance. - [API Access](https://usememos.com/docs/integrations/api-access): Authenticate against the Memos API with personal access tokens. - [MCP Server](https://usememos.com/docs/integrations/mcp): Connect AI assistants to Memos with the built-in Model Context Protocol server. - [Telegram Bot](https://usememos.com/docs/integrations/telegram-bot): Sync Telegram messages and images into Memos with Memogram. - [Webhooks](https://usememos.com/docs/integrations/webhooks): Receive events when memos are created, updated, deleted, or commented on. - [Operations](https://usememos.com/docs/operations): Understand your Memos deployment, prepare recoverable backups, plan upgrades, and investigate performance. - [Architecture](https://usememos.com/docs/operations/architecture): High-level system structure and the main moving parts in a Memos deployment. - [Backup & Restore](https://usememos.com/docs/operations/backup-restore): Plan recoverable backups for the database and any external attachment storage. - [Performance Tuning](https://usememos.com/docs/operations/performance-tuning): Focus on the parts of a Memos deployment that most affect real-world performance. - [Upgrade](https://usememos.com/docs/operations/upgrade): Upgrade Memos safely across Docker, Docker Compose, and binary deployments. - [Troubleshooting](https://usememos.com/docs/troubleshooting): Common startup, storage, database, and proxy problems and how to fix them. - [Usage](https://usememos.com/docs/usage): Product guides for writing, organizing, sharing, and finding memos. - [Attachments](https://usememos.com/docs/usage/attachments): Add files to memos, browse them in the attachment library, and clean up unused files. - [Export & Import](https://usememos.com/docs/usage/export-import): Download your memos and attachments as a ZIP file, then import them into your account on another Memos instance. - [Inbox](https://usememos.com/docs/usage/inbox): Review comments, mentions, and Space invitations from a single notification center. - [Linked Identities](https://usememos.com/docs/usage/linked-identities): Sign in with SSO and link external accounts to your Memos user. - [Memos](https://usememos.com/docs/usage/memos): Create, edit, link, organize, and manage the core content unit in Memos. - [Reactions & Comments](https://usememos.com/docs/usage/reactions-comments): React to memos, hold discussions in comment threads, and mention other users. - [Search & Archive](https://usememos.com/docs/usage/search-archive): Search by content and metadata, then archive or restore older memos. - [Sharing](https://usememos.com/docs/usage/sharing): Control who can see a memo with visibility, share links, and image exports. - [Spaces](https://usememos.com/docs/usage/spaces): Collaborate in Spaces while keeping each memo's author, placement, and visibility independent. - [Tags](https://usememos.com/docs/usage/tags): Organize memos with hashtags and filter them with searchable metadata. - [Views](https://usememos.com/docs/usage/views): Name and reuse Memo filters to see the Memos that currently match. - [Writing Markdown](https://usememos.com/docs/usage/writing-markdown): Write rich memos with Markdown, checklists, code blocks, and embedded structure. ## API - [API Reference](https://usememos.com/docs/api/latest): REST and gRPC API reference for the latest Memos release. ## Features - [Features overview](https://usememos.com/features): Everything Memos does: quick capture, Markdown, tags, search, and self-hosted ownership. - [Self-Hosted](https://usememos.com/features/self-hosted): Run Memos on infrastructure you choose, from a Raspberry Pi to a production server. - [Data Ownership](https://usememos.com/features/data-ownership): Keep notes in your chosen database with zero telemetry and a clear path to export. - [Open Source](https://usememos.com/features/open-source): MIT licensed and developed in public, so the code can be inspected, forked, and improved. - [Free Software](https://usememos.com/features/no-fees): No subscription, seat pricing, or paid feature unlocks inside Memos. - [No Dependencies](https://usememos.com/features/no-dependencies): Works with zero external dependencies or cloud connections required. Fully self-contained. - [Instant Save](https://usememos.com/features/instant-save): Automatic persistence while you type keeps capture fast and low-friction. - [Quick Capture](https://usememos.com/features/quick-capture): Fast memo creation from anywhere - capture thoughts instantly without interrupting your flow. - [Markdown Notes](https://usememos.com/features/markdown-support): Write portable notes with Markdown, syntax highlighting, tables, and LaTeX math. - [Media Support](https://usememos.com/features/media-integration): Drag-and-drop support for images, videos, audio files, and document attachments. - [Universal Search](https://usememos.com/features/universal-search): Find the memo you need quickly with full-text search across your notes and content. - [Tags](https://usememos.com/features/tags): Organize your memos with flexible tagging system for quick categorization and filtering. - [Timeline View](https://usememos.com/features/timeline-view): Browse quick notes, logs, and ideas in the order you captured them. - [Public Sharing](https://usememos.com/features/public-sharing): Share selected memos publicly with simple links whenever you want to publish or send something out. - [Microblog](https://usememos.com/features/microblog): Turn your memos into a personal microblog for sharing thoughts, ideas, and short updates on your own terms. - [Beautiful Design](https://usememos.com/features/beautiful-design): Modern React and TypeScript interface with dark mode and responsive design for all devices. - [Progressive Web App](https://usememos.com/features/pwa-support): Install as a native app on any device - works offline with full functionality. - [Customizable](https://usememos.com/features/customizable-ui): Adjust branding, themes, colors, and UI details to make Memos feel like your own space. - [Cross-Platform](https://usememos.com/features/cross-platform): Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, and Kubernetes - deploy anywhere with universal compatibility. - [Super-fast](https://usememos.com/features/performance): Go-powered backend with instant loading and minimal resource usage for peak performance. - [Lightweight & Efficient](https://usememos.com/features/lightweight): Minimal footprint - runs smoothly on low-powered devices with minimal resource usage. - [Multi-Database](https://usememos.com/features/database-support): Choose between SQLite, PostgreSQL, or MySQL to match your infrastructure needs. - [API & Integrations](https://usememos.com/features/api-first): REST and gRPC APIs for custom capture flows, integrations, and automation. - [Community-Driven](https://usememos.com/features/community): Active development with 45,000+ GitHub stars, transparent roadmap, and engaged community. - [Multi-Language Support](https://usememos.com/features/multi-language): Available in multiple languages with community-contributed translations for global accessibility. - [Keyboard Shortcuts](https://usememos.com/features/keyboard-shortcuts): Move faster with keyboard shortcuts for writing, navigating, and capturing without leaving the keyboard. - [Import](https://usememos.com/features/import): Migrate from other platforms with easy import from Markdown files and popular note apps. - [Print & Export](https://usememos.com/features/export): Export your memos to Markdown, JSON, or CSV - your data is always portable and accessible. ## Compare - [Compare Memos](https://usememos.com/compare): How Memos compares to popular note apps, and when to choose each. - [Memos vs Obsidian](https://usememos.com/compare/obsidian): Memos vs Obsidian: how a self-hosted, open-source notes app compares to Obsidian on licensing, hosting, sync, and Markdown — and when to choose each. - [Memos vs Joplin](https://usememos.com/compare/joplin): Memos vs Joplin compared: two open-source, self-hosted note apps. See hosting, sync, encryption, and Markdown — and which fits your workflow. - [Memos vs Notion](https://usememos.com/compare/notion): Looking for a self-hosted, open-source Notion alternative? See how Memos compares to Notion on hosting, data ownership, cost, and features. - [Memos vs Google Keep](https://usememos.com/compare/google-keep): Memos is an open-source, self-hosted Google Keep alternative. Compare hosting, privacy, Markdown, and cost — and see when to choose each. - [Memos vs Evernote](https://usememos.com/compare/evernote): Memos is a free, open-source, self-hosted Evernote alternative. Compare hosting, data ownership, Markdown, and cost before you switch. ## Use Cases - [Use cases](https://usememos.com/use-cases): Common ways people use Memos. - [Homelab & Self-Hosting Community use case](https://usememos.com/use-cases/self-hosting): Discover how self-hosting enthusiasts use Memos for homelab documentation, server configurations, and infrastructure logs. Lightweight, private, and easy to run on your own hardware. - [Families & Friends use case](https://usememos.com/use-cases/family): See how families and friend groups use Memos as a private social feed for updates, memories, photos, and shared notes without relying on public platforms. - [Software Developers & Engineers use case](https://usememos.com/use-cases/developers): Discover how software developers use Memos for code snippets, bug tracking, architecture decisions, and technical documentation. Free, self-hosted with Markdown support and syntax highlighting. - [Content Creators & Writers use case](https://usememos.com/use-cases/writers): Learn how writers and content creators use Memos for article drafts, research collection, and creative ideation. Self-hosted writing with Markdown support and clear data ownership. - [Personal Journaling & Notes use case](https://usememos.com/use-cases/personal-knowledge): Learn how people use Memos for personal notes, daily journaling, and lightweight idea trails with clear data ownership. - [Hobbyists & Makers use case](https://usememos.com/use-cases/hobbyists-makers): Discover how makers, DIY enthusiasts, and hobbyists use Memos for project documentation, build logs, and creative idea collection. Self-hosted with media support and quick capture. - [Students & Researchers use case](https://usememos.com/use-cases/students-researchers): Learn how students and researchers use Memos for lecture notes, thesis research, and academic writing with Markdown support and no subscription fees. - [Privacy-Conscious Professionals use case](https://usememos.com/use-cases/privacy-professionals): Discover how journalists, healthcare workers, and legal professionals use Memos for confidential notes, private research, and self-hosted documentation. - [Team Documentation & Collaboration use case](https://usememos.com/use-cases/teams): Learn how teams use Memos for shared notes, meeting records, and internal documentation. Self-hosted, simple to run, and easy to keep under your control. ## Blog - [20k GitHub Stars in Just 2 Years 🤩](https://usememos.com/blog/20k-github-stars-in-2-years): In early November 2023, we achieved a major milestone - Memos had reached 20,000 stars on GitHub. This achievement is a result of our continuous efforts and the support of our community. - [Best practices to write a TAG](https://usememos.com/blog/best-practices-to-write-tag): Learn the best practices for writing tags in Memos to ensure accurate recognition and better organization of your content. - [Choosing a Storage for Your Resource: Database, S3 or Local Storage?](https://usememos.com/blog/choosing-a-storage-for-your-resource): In Memos v0.12.0, we introduced three storage options for resources - database, S3, and local storage. Learn about each option's advantages and how to choose the right one for your needs. - [Choosing Between SQLite and MySQL: The Database Dilemma](https://usememos.com/blog/choosing-between-sqlite-and-mysql): In Memos v0.16.1, we've introduced support for MySQL as an alternative to the previously used SQLite database. This addition expands your choices for managing your data. In this article, we'll discuss the reasons behind our initial choice of SQLite and why we added MySQL support. - [New in Memos: Deployment-Managed Configuration](https://usememos.com/blog/deployment-managed-configuration-in-memos): A look at the new file-backed configuration in Memos, the demo problem that prompted it, and how to use it in a self-hosted deployment. - [Everything's Down. Why Self-Hosting Still Matters](https://usememos.com/blog/everythings-down-why-self-hosting-still-matters): When a major cloud outage takes down half the internet, it's a wake-up call about who really controls your infrastructure. - [Syncing and Managing Data with GitHub](https://usememos.com/blog/syncing-and-managing-data-with-github): In today's digital age, many of us use multiple devices, and it's crucial to keep our data synchronized across all of them. Whether it's your work laptop, personal computer. One excellent solution for this is GitHub, a platform initially designed for version control and code collaboration. - [Syncing Data Across My MacBooks with iCloud](https://usememos.com/blog/syncing-data-with-icloud): In all honesty, I don't have a suitable cloud service for deploying Memos, but I do have two trusty MacBooks - a MacBook Air in home and a MacBook Pro in company. But how to keep data in sync between them? ## Changelog - [Release v0.0.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-0-1) - [Release v0.1.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-1-0) - [Release v0.1.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-1-1) - [Release v0.1.2](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-1-2) - [Release v0.1.3](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-1-3) - [Release v0.10.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-10-0) - [Release v0.10.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-10-1) - [Release v0.10.2](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-10-2) - [Release v0.10.3](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-10-3) - [Release v0.11.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-11-1) - [Release v0.11.2](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-11-2) - [Release v0.12.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-12-0) - [Release v0.12.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-12-1) - [Release v0.12.2](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-12-2) - [Release v0.13.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-13-0) - [Release v0.13.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-13-1) - [Release v0.13.2](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-13-2) - [Release v0.14.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-14-0) - [Release v0.14.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-14-1) - [Release v0.14.2](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-14-2) - [Release v0.14.3](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-14-3) - [Release v0.14.4](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-14-4) - [Release v0.15.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-15-0) - [Release v0.15.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-15-1) - [Release v0.15.2](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-15-2) - [Release v0.16.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-16-0) - [Release v0.16.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-16-1) - [Release v0.17.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-17-0) - [Release v0.17.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-17-1) - [Release v0.18.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-18-0) - [Release v0.18.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-18-1) - [Release v0.18.2](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-18-2) - [Release v0.19.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-19-0) - [Release v0.19.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-19-1) - [Release v0.2.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-2-0) - [Release v0.2.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-2-1) - [Release v0.2.2](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-2-2) - [Release v0.20.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-20-0) - [Release v0.20.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-20-1) - [Release v0.21.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-21-0) - [Release v0.22.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-22-0) - [Release v0.22.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-22-1) - [Release v0.22.2](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-22-2) - [Release v0.22.3](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-22-3) - [Release v0.22.4](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-22-4) - [Release v0.22.5](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-22-5) - [Release v0.23.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-23-0) - [Release v0.23.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-23-1) - [Release v0.24.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-24-0) - [Release v0.24.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-24-1) - [Release v0.24.2](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-24-2) - [Release v0.24.3](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-24-3) - [Release v0.24.4](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-24-4) - [Release v0.25.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-25-0) - [Release v0.25.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-25-1): Bug fixes, performance improvements, and enhanced user experience - [Release v0.25.2](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-25-2): Enhanced UX with masonry layout, theme detection, and improved image handling - [Release v0.25.3](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-25-3): Focus mode, attachment management, and markdown improvements - [Release v0.26.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-26-0) - [Release v0.26.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-26-1) - [Release v0.26.2](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-26-2) - [Release v0.27.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-27-0): Live refresh, voice notes, AI transcription, MCP tools, and memo sharing improvements - [Release v0.27.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-27-1): Patch fixes for user resource names and release artifacts - [Release v0.28.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-28-0): SSO user identity linkage, account management improvements, and authentication hardening - [Release v0.29.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-29-0): Link previews, email notifications, memo workflow improvements, and security fixes - [Release v0.29.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-29-1): Markdown task list alignment, richer link preview descriptions, and mobile video poster fixes - [Release v0.3.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-3-0) - [Release v0.3.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-3-1) - [Release v0.30.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-30-0): A rebuilt Markdown editor, richer memo workflows, flexible feeds, OpenAPI-driven MCP tools, and stronger access controls - [Release v0.30.0-rc.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-30-0-rc-1): A rebuilt Markdown editor, OpenAPI-driven MCP tools, flexible memo feeds, and signed webhooks - [Release v0.30.0-rc.2](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-30-0-rc-2): Memos Web Clipper, redesigned memo details, faster feeds, and API compatibility improvements - [Release v0.31.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-31-0): Spaces for collaboration, Calendar and Map, personal export and import, and improvements to writing, search, and attachments - [Release v0.31.0-rc.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-31-0-rc-1): Collaborative Spaces, unified navigation, inline images, Views, and stronger data boundaries - [Release v0.31.0-rc.2](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-31-0-rc-2): Calendar and Map pages, easier Space navigation, View icons, attachment storage usage, and account email upgrades - [Release v0.4.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-4-0) - [Release v0.4.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-4-1) - [Release v0.4.2](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-4-2) - [Release v0.4.3](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-4-3) - [Release v0.4.4](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-4-4) - [Release v0.4.5](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-4-5) - [Release v0.5.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-5-0) - [Release v0.6.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-6-0) - [Release v0.6.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-6-1) - [Release v0.7.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-7-0) - [Release v0.7.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-7-1) - [Release v0.7.2](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-7-2) - [Release v0.7.3](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-7-3) - [Release v0.8.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-8-0) - [Release v0.8.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-8-1) - [Release v0.8.2](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-8-2) - [Release v0.8.3](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-8-3) - [Release v0.9.0](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-9-0) - [Release v0.9.1](https://usememos.com/changelog/0-9-1)