Notes from
the workshop.
We are just getting started here. Soon this is where we will write about plain markdown, local-first AI, careful exports, and the small decisions behind a native editor. No posts yet — here is what is in the drafts folder.
What we are
writing about
A look at the pieces taking shape. Each is coming soon — check back, or get on the list below.
Why we bet on plain markdown
File formats outlive apps. The case for notes you can still open in twenty years.
Local-first AI without the cloud
Bring-your-own-key, on-device models, and CLI agents — help that never phones home by default.
Designing exports that look hand-set
How we turn a markdown file into a PDF and a Word document you would be proud to send.
Encryption for notes, explained
Per-note encryption with a vault passphrase and Touch ID — what it protects, and what it does not.
Building a native editor with Rust and Tauri
The tradeoffs behind a fast, small macOS app — and why we did not reach for Electron.
Moving in from Obsidian or Notion
Bringing a whole library across without losing structure, links, or attachments.
Want to know when we publish?
Reading can wait.
Writing shouldn't.
The blog is just warming up — but the editor is ready now. Download Ampersand and start your own notes.
Free to start · macOS 13+ · No account required