STATUS //
Active
STACK //
Markor
Syncthing
Markdown
Windows
GrapheneOS
Debian
LAST UPDATED //
July 2026
I wanted my notes available across my phone, desktop, and server without
locking them inside another proprietary notes or sync platform.
The solution ended up being super simple: plain Markdown files, Markor
for writing on mobile, and Syncthing keeping everything in sync through
my server.
WHY PLAIN TEXT //
Why use anything more complicated? This post itself was written as a
plain-text file.
Markdown is supported almost everywhere, and the files remain readable
without any special software.
With Docsify running on my homelab, I can also turn a plain Markdown
file into a browsable website in seconds without a build process. That
is incredibly useful for referencing a runbook.
HOW IT WORKS //
Nexus acts as the main always-on sync point. Syncthing keeps the same
files available on my main desktop and phone.
Markor handles writing on mobile, while Windows can use any editor that
understands Markdown. The notes never stop being ordinary files, so they
remain easy to copy, back up, or open somewhere else.
BACKUPS //
Syncthing keeps the files available everywhere and updates them quickly,
but synchronization is not a backup. A deletion or bad edit can spread
just as fast as a useful change. That is the one major weakness of the
system.
For that reason, the notes are also included in my encrypted backup
routine, with both cloud and off-site copies. That gives me a way back
when something inevitably fucks up.
This keeps the entire setup portable, readable, and under my control
without handing it over to another big-tech account.