kuku
Open-source local-first Markdown workspace for macOS with wiki, AI editing, and encrypted sync.
Open source alternative to:
kuku is an open-source, local-first Markdown workspace for macOS designed for people who want their notes to stay portable, private, and useful to AI. It edits ordinary .md files in a local vault, then layers search, graph navigation, AI assistance, Second Brain workflows, and encrypted sync on top.
The app connects notes with [[wikilinks]], backlinks, and 2D/3D graph navigation, turning your vault into a personal wiki. AI features include Agent, Ask, and Inline editing modes with diff-based approval, so proposed changes are always reviewable before they are applied. Decision documents help AI context improve explicitly over time by turning proposals into traceable memory and wiki updates.
Built as a full-stack open-source project, kuku includes the macOS client, web app, Go server, protobuf contracts, Rust AI/indexing crates, and Docker infrastructure. You can use it entirely offline, sign in for managed convenience, or self-host the complete stack yourself.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What sets kuku apart from other Notion alternatives?
Kuku is a local-first markdown workspace for macOS built on Tauri (not Electron), with Rust, Go, and TypeScript components and an MIT license. Its differentiator is AI-native editing: Agent, Ask, and Inline modes can read and edit your vault, but every proposed change goes through a Cursor-style reviewable diff that you accept or reject — so AI assistance never silently rewrites your notes.
Can I use kuku on Windows or Linux?
Not yet. The current build is macOS-only, and the kuku.mom homepage explicitly lists Windows and Linux as Coming soon. Because the macOS client is paired with a Go-based sync server and Docker infrastructure in the same repo, the long-term plan is to ship native clients on the other desktop platforms rather than rely on a web wrapper.
How does kuku handle data ownership and sync?
Your notes are plain .md files in a local vault that works with git, vim, and Obsidian-compatible tools. The repo describes an encrypted sync foundation using key envelopes, signed commits, and encrypted objects, so the server never sees plaintext notes. You can run kuku entirely offline, sign in for managed convenience, or self-host the Go server stack yourself.
What is the pricing model for kuku?
Kuku is released under the MIT license, so the desktop app and the self-hostable server stack are free and open source. The website hints at a managed cloud option (sign in for managed convenience) for users who do not want to run the Go sync server themselves, but the core product is source-available on github.com/kuku-mom/kuku.
Repository details
Updated 8/12/2026, 5:00:36 PM
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