The last notes app
you'll download.
Everyone's built one; most don't survive their own v2. Ornata is the fast, local-first markdown editor for macOS you actually keep. Clean UI, instant everything, and AssistantPi when you want it. Keep every note as a plain .md file in a folder you own.
Apple Silicon · macOS 12+ · v0.1.10
Q3 Roadmap
The quarter is about speed and focus — make writing feel instant, then let AssistantPi help only when it is invited.
Milestones
- Persistent editor — instant note switching
- AssistantPi with three permission modes
- External Markdown files and image paste
Details live in the Release notes. See also the app architecture
A calm place to write,built for speed.
Search, page links, external files, highlighted code, and honest markdown — fast when you need them and out of your way when you do not.
Everything, one keystroke away
Press ⌘K to jump to any note or run any action — ranked in milliseconds, keyboard all the way.
Plain files, real folders
Every note is a .md file in a folder you own. Open it in Finder, sync with iCloud, version with git.
Link ideas together
Type [[ to connect notes — stored as standard Markdown links any editor can understand.
Properties
Frontmatter, rendered
YAML from any tool is preserved and shown as a tidy properties panel.
Find it instantly
Title and content search, ranked — the note you meant surfaces first.
Bring your own model. Choose exactly how far it can go.
AssistantPi connects to Pi already installed and configured on your Mac. Your open note is attached automatically; select a passage when you want precise context, choose a permission mode, and ask it to work across your notes, todos, and bookmarks.
- Uses the model and provider you configure in Pi
- Knows the open note and can include the exact passage you select
- Read only by default; writing and destructive actions stay gated
- Full Access unlocks every Pi tool, including shell commands
Ship the editor rewrite, then open up the workflow to AssistantPi.
Turn this into action items and add them to Todos.
Read Q3 Roadmap
projects/roadmap.md
Updated the note
added a focused action plan
Added 3 todos
tagged #ornata
Ask Pi about your notes…
Questions, answered.
Where are my notes stored?
On your Mac, as plain Markdown files in a folder you choose. The core editor needs no account or proprietary database, and you can open the folder in Finder at any time.
Is there sync?
Not built in yet. Because notes are just files in a folder, you can sync them today with iCloud Drive, Dropbox, or git. Native sync is on the roadmap.
Does it work with Obsidian?
Yes. Ornata uses the same plain-Markdown vault with real folders, and preserves frontmatter from other tools. Point Ornata and Obsidian at the same folder and both just work.
Why does macOS say the app can't be verified?
Production downloads are signed with a Developer ID certificate and notarized by Apple. Download the latest build from ornata.app; if verification fails, confirm that you have the current installer.
Windows or Linux?
macOS first. Ornata is built on Tauri, which is cross-platform, so other platforms may follow — but macOS is where it's polished today.
How does AssistantPi work?
Install and configure Pi on your Mac, then Ornata connects to that local Pi process. You keep control of the model and provider in Pi, while Ornata supplies permission-controlled tools for notes, todos, and bookmarks. The open note is attached automatically, and selected note text can be included for precise context.
What can AssistantPi access?
Read only is the default. Read & write can create and update content but cannot run shell commands or perform destructive structured actions. Full Access enables every Pi tool, including shell commands, plus complete Ornata CRUD. You choose the mode in the composer before sending.
Does AssistantPi keep everything on my Mac?
The Pi process and your Ornata files run locally. If the model configured in Pi is remote, the prompt and attached context are sent to that model provider under its terms. Fully local or offline behavior depends on the model setup you choose in Pi.
How do updates work?
Ornata automatically checks its signed update feed. When a release is available, you can download it with visible progress and restart to install it. Production builds are Developer ID signed and notarized by Apple.
Which interface languages are supported?
English and Simplified Chinese are built in. You can switch languages from Settings without changing the language of your notes.