Just wondering what’s going on here. Anyone who’s used Cursor will have received the same email: an invitation to move or sync your repos from GitHub to Cursor’s newly announced code hosting platform, Origin.

What we know:

• Cursor was recently acquired by Musk/SpaceX
• Cursor has been pushing Musk’s Grok model for some time
• GitHub is overwhelmingly dominant in code hosting and has become a central part of the developer ecosystem
• Cursor is now expanding from the editor/agent layer into hosting repositories and pull requests
• SpaceX has the resources to push this very aggressively

It starts to look less like Cursor adding another feature and more like an attempt to own a much larger part of the developer stack.

Is this some kind of land grab? What do others think?

Two weeks ago I launched MinkNote, a native macOS notes and journal app built around Markdown files that you control on your own device.

The launch generated 74 comments, 36k views, my first Pro subscribers, and even a lifetime customer.

The comments in r/macapps were lively. Some people liked the privacy focus, the serverless aspect, the fact it’s a native Mac app. Some didn’t like the comparison with existing apps or the pricing.

Biggest lessons

1. Don't compare yourself to Obsidian

I learned that saying "an alternative to Obsidian" isn't the best way to describe MinkNote. Obsidian has a very loyal community, and for good reason. So I’m going with:

>A native macOS Markdown notes app focused on privacy, ownership and simplicity.

Obviously folks can decide for themselves whether it's a good fit.

2. File ownership resonates

The biggest positive surprise was how strongly people responded to owning their Markdown files. I expected it to matter, but I didn’t expect it to become one of the main talking points.

3. People need a compelling reason to switch

A lot of the discussion wasn't about whether MinkNote was any good, it was about why someone should switch from what they're already using.

The recurring questions were:

• What does this do that Obsidian, Bear or Apple Notes doesn't?
• Is the native experience enough of a differentiator?

4. Pricing is difficult

A few people felt the lifetime licence was priced too high. Happy to say some folks bought the app immediately.

I'm still looking for pricing feedback, and I really appreciate everyone who's taken the time to share their thoughts.

What changed because of your comments?

The most requested feature so far has been:

• File watching, so MinkNote automatically responds to changes made outside the app
• Handle merge conflicts when there are 2 sources of truth

I totally agree, it’s next up on the roadmap

I just released version 1.2, including:

• adjustable text size
• integrated onboarding video

Thanks!

Whether you like the app or tore my comments apart, thank you. It has already made MinkNote better.

If you've tried it I'd still love to know:

• Would you ever consider moving to a file-based notes app?

• Which feature would you most like to see next?

Hey r/macapps,

It's finally launch day.

I'm the developer of ​MinkNote​. About ten months ago I started building a notes app because I couldn't quite find one that matched the way I wanted to work.

I loved different things about Obsidian, Day One, Bear, Apple Notes, and plain Markdown in VS Code, but every time I switched I found myself compromising on something important.

So instead of compromising, I started building my own.

Today I'm releasing ​MinkNote​.

What is it?

MinkNote is a native macOS notes and journal app built around plain Markdown files that you own.

No account.

No AI.

No cloud service.

No Electron.

No proprietary database.

Your notes live as normal Markdown files inside folders you choose. If you ever stop using MinkNote, your notes are still there, readable by any Markdown editor.

That ownership was the entire point.

Mac App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/minknote/id6755822706

Problem

I think many note-taking apps have become increasingly tied to their own ecosystems.

Some store everything inside databases.

Some require accounts.

Some make exporting awkward.

Some don't feel particularly Mac-like.

I wanted the opposite: a notes app that feels completely at home on macOS while staying out of the way of your files.

Why I built it

I wasn't trying to build "another PKM app."

I wanted something I'd happily open every day for:

• work notes
• project documentation
• journaling
• meeting notes
• random ideas

without having to think about where my data lived.

A few things it focuses on

• native SwiftUI macOS app
• plain Markdown files
• folders and journals
• tags and fast search
• daily notes
• images stored alongside notes
• privacy by default
• read-only after the free trial instead of locking away your data

Comparison

I genuinely admire apps like Obsidian, Bear, Day One, and Apple Notes. MinkNote isn't trying to replace them for everyone.

Compared with Obsidian, MinkNote is much smaller in scope, but it is a fully native Mac app rather than Electron, and it keeps more of the core workflow built in instead of relying on plugins.

Compared with Bear or Day One, MinkNote is more file-first. Your notes are ordinary Markdown files in folders you choose, not content hidden behind an app database or account system.

The aim is not to win every feature checklist. It is for people who want something calmer, native to macOS, private by default, and built around complete ownership of their notes as ordinary files.

Pricing

MinkNote gives you 14 days of full access, with no subscription, account, or payment required to start.

After the trial, existing notes remain readable in read-only mode inside the app, so your data is not locked away. Of course, they remain text files on disk that you can edit at any time outside the app.

Pro pricing:

• $2.99 monthly
• $19.99 yearly
• $49.99 lifetime

Pricing page: https://muse23.com/apps/minknote/pricing.html

Launch

This is version 1.0 after roughly ten months of development, more than 1,200 commits, and over 400 TestFlight users who helped shape the app through many beta releases.

A huge thank you to everyone here who downloaded early builds, reported bugs, suggested features, and challenged my assumptions. MinkNote is much better because of it.

Transparency links

Developer portfolio: https://muse23.com/apps/

MinkNote website: https://muse23.com/apps/minknote/

Changelog: https://muse23.com/apps/minknote/changelog.html

Roadmap: https://muse23.com/apps/minknote/roadmap.html

Privacy Policy: https://muse23.com/apps/minknote/privacy.html

Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

I'd love your feedback

If file ownership matters to you, I'd love to know:

• Does the file-based approach actually make a difference in day-to-day use?
• What still feels missing compared with Obsidian, Bear, Day One, or Apple Notes?
• If you tried earlier TestFlight builds, has the app improved in the ways you hoped?

I'll be around all day to answer questions, and I genuinely appreciate honest feedback, whether positive or negative.

Hi r/MacOSApps,

The final TestFlight build of ​MinkNote​ is ready before the Mac App Store release.

>

No account. No database lock-in. No proprietary document store. Your notes remain readable outside the app.

Reddit feedback has shaped a lot of MinkNote’s direction. People here tried early builds, found rough edges, challenged assumptions, and reported issues I would not have caught on my own. I’m very grateful for everyone’s feedback.

A few milestones from the build:

• First commit: 29 September, 2025
• First TestFlight build: 27 November, 2025
• 1,171 commits so far
• 400+ TestFlight users

What’s new in the final TestFlight build

• Added feedback options
• Improved note sorting
• Formatting toolbar enhancements
• Even more keyboard shortcuts
• Added StoreKit purchase flows ahead of App Store launch
• Read-only mode after the free trial expires

TestFlight purchases

This build includes StoreKit purchase flows for monthly, annual, and lifetime unlocks.

Purchases made in TestFlight are simulated by Apple. ​You will not be charged​.

App Store launch

MinkNote will be released on the Mac App Store in around a week.

The TestFlight build will remain available for a short time afterwards, so existing testers have time to move over to the App Store version.

The App Store version includes a ​14-day free trial​. After the trial, notes remain readable, and your Markdown files remain under your control as regular files on disk. Editing and paid features require a subscription or lifetime unlock.

Giveaway licenses

A small number of promo codes will be handed out to testers who provided feedback during development.

If you contributed feedback and would like to be considered, please send a short note with the feedback you provided and the name, Reddit account, email, or handle you used.

Final feedback wanted

I’m especially interested in:

• install and first-run experience
• trial and paywall wording
• restore purchases
• search
• folder permissions
• performance with larger note collections
• anything that feels confusing before launch

TestFlight link: https://testflight.apple.com/join/dwtUUyGB

Previous posts covering the MinkNote are here, and here.

Thanks again to everyone who has tested, commented, criticised, or reported bugs. This is the last TestFlight push before launch, so if you want to try MinkNote before it hits the App Store, now is the best time.

You can read more about the app here.