What is Ars-note?

Ars-note is a local-first Markdown workspace designed for game development teams. It provides a desktop Electron application for Windows with Markdown editing, live preview, tables, and canvas. Core capabilities include a bidirectional mind map with outline, an AI planning assistant that reviews game design documents using team context, team schedules with task documents and work-hour tracking, and multi-device real-time file sync with version history and server snapshots. The self-hosted sync server runs on Node.js 22 or Docker and can be deployed on a NAS using docker-compose.nas.yml or publicly behind an HTTPS reverse proxy with docker-compose.public.yml. Data stays on the user's machine unless sync or AI features are enabled. The project is licensed under GPL-3.0-only and is currently in public beta (v1.6.0-beta.1).

Should you self-host Ars-note?

Ars-note scores 44/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #56 of 81 in Notes & Editors. It has 292 GitHub stars.

It shipped 5 stable releases in the past year. The latest, v1.5.98, came out on 28 August 2026. New versions land roughly every 2 weeks.

Setup is moderate: expect some configuration beyond a single command. It is GPL-3.0-licensed and written mostly in Typescript.

Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is Memos (86/100, 64 136 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See Ars-note vs Memos side by side.

Features

AI game design assistant
Bidirectional mind map
Encrypted credential storage
Health check endpoint
Local-first Privacy
Markdown editing with live preview
Real-time multi-device sync
Self-hosted sync server
Team schedule and task management
WebSocket live sync

How to configure Ars-note

ARS_NOTE_ALLOWED_ORIGINSPublic mode only trusts these browser origins. "null" is required by the packaged Electron client. Add a comma-separated HTTPS admin origin if needed
Public mode only trusts these browser origins. "null" is required by the packaged Electron client. Add a comma-separated HTTPS admin origin if needed
values: null or comma-separated HTTPS origins
ARSNOTE_PORT8787Sync server port (host mapping)
Sync server port (host mapping)
values: port number
ARS_NOTE_REQUIRE_API_KEYtruePublic/self-hosted deployments should fail closed when the key is missing
Public/self-hosted deployments should fail closed when the key is missing
values: true/false
ARS_NOTE_S3_ACCESS_KEY_IDMinIO access credentials (must match MINIO_ROOT_USER / MINIO_ROOT_PASSWORD)
MinIO access credentials (must match MINIO_ROOT_USER / MINIO_ROOT_PASSWORD)
values: access key
ARS_NOTE_S3_BUCKETars-note-syncS3 bucket name
S3 bucket name
values: bucket name
ARS_NOTE_S3_ENDPOINThttp://minio:9000Server connects to MinIO internally via Docker network
Server connects to MinIO internally via Docker network
values: S3 endpoint URL
ARS_NOTE_S3_FORCE_PATH_STYLEtruePath-style URLs (required for MinIO)
Path-style URLs (required for MinIO)
values: true/false
ARS_NOTE_S3_REGIONus-east-1S3 region
S3 region
values: AWS region
ARS_NOTE_S3_SECRET_ACCESS_KEYMinIO secret access key
MinIO secret access key
values: secret key
ARS_NOTE_SECURITY_MODElanLAN is the default. For an Internet-facing HTTPS reverse proxy, use docker-compose.public.yml, which switches this to "public" and fails closed
LAN is the default. For an Internet-facing HTTPS reverse proxy, use docker-compose.public.yml, which switches this to "public" and fails closed
values: lan/public
ARS_NOTE_SERVER_API_KEYAPI key for client authentication (required; use at least 32 random characters)
API key for client authentication (required; use at least 32 random characters)
values: 32+ random characters
ARS_NOTE_STORAGE_BACKENDlocalStorage backend: "local" or "s3" (local is the simplest NAS setup)
Storage backend: "local" or "s3" (local is the simplest NAS setup)
values: local/s3
MINIO_API_PORT9000MinIO port mappings (only change if you have port conflicts)
MinIO port mappings (only change if you have port conflicts)
values: port number
MINIO_CONSOLE_PORT9001MinIO console port
MinIO console port
values: port number
MINIO_ROOT_PASSWORDMinIO root password
MinIO root password
values: password
MINIO_ROOT_USERMinIO root credentials (set strong values for production)
MinIO root credentials (set strong values for production)
values: username