Penlit

A writing app built on Git and Markdown

Turn words into value

What you write stays yours.

Penlit keeps your notes as plain Markdown files in your own Git repositories, on every device you write on.

See platforms AI skills on GitHub

Why Penlit

Built to last ten years

  1. Yours

    Notes are plain .md files, with no private database. Open them in any editor, and take the whole library with you whenever you like.

  2. Every change kept

    Git records each version, so you can compare any two and roll back. Sync with GitHub, GitLab, and other Git hosts, or stay fully local.

  3. Lit up by AI

    Agents reach your notes through a local server that needs a token. You decide which tools connect.

Features

A complete writing tool

  • Three ways to write

    Switch between Markdown source, live preview, and rich text. The file underneath stays Markdown.

  • Git, built in

    Commit, push, read diffs, and browse history in the app. Commits made offline push when you reconnect.

  • Vault

    An encrypted notebook for passwords, two-factor codes, documents, and attachments. Files are encrypted before they sync, and unlock with your master password or biometrics.

  • Source notebooks

    Open an existing code repository to read it, search it, switch branches, and commit selected files.

  • Search everything

    Full-text search across a notebook, with quick file search on the desktop.

  • Capture fast

    Checklists, to-dos, and a calendar on your notes. Memos catch a passing thought on iOS and macOS.

AI

Your notes, ready for your AI tools

Penlit for macOS connects your notes to Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex in one step. It runs on your own machine.

  • MCP server

    Agents can search, read, and edit notes through penlit_* tools.

  • Command line

    The penlit CLI opens, reads, and searches notes from your terminal.

  • Agent journal

    Keep your AI coding sessions as a searchable timeline, and let agents learn from past fixes.

  • Task documents

    Write tasks in a note. Agents claim them, do the work, and report back in the same document.

  • Skills library

    Keep your AI skills in a notebook and sync them to every tool and machine.

  • penlit_searchpenlit_read_filepenlit_patch_filepenlit_tasks_listpenlit_journal_search

Free skills for your agents

Teach an agent to use Penlit with ready-made skills.

Browse the skills

Platforms

Wherever you write

  • macOS
  • iOS
  • Android
  • HarmonyOS

In development

  • Windows
  • Web

Public download links are coming soon.

Questions

Questions

Do I need an account?

No. You can write in a local notebook, or connect your own Git repository. An account is only for Penlit Cloud, which is still in development.

Where are my notes stored?

On your device, and in the Git repository you choose. Each notebook is a normal repository you can clone and open anywhere.

What happens if I stop using Penlit?

Nothing changes for your notes. They are Markdown files with a full Git history, and they keep working without the app.

Can AI tools read my notes on their own?

Only tools you connect can. The local server listens on your own machine by default, and each request needs a token.

What you write stays yours.