Introduction
Welcome to the Flow Book - the official documentation for Flow, a developer-first note-taking tool.
Thoughts captured. Focus unbroken.
What is Flow?
Flow is an outliner-first note-taking application with object-based notes designed for developers. It stays out of your way, letting you capture thoughts without breaking your concentration.
# Capture a thought without leaving your terminal
flow capture "Research CRDT sync options for offline-first #idea"
# Done. Back to work.
Philosophy
Flow is built on principles that put you in control:
- Local-First - Your data belongs to you, stored on your machine
- Plain Text - Markdown files you can read in any editor
- No Lock-In - Your notes are just files, take them anywhere
- Outliner-First - Organize thoughts hierarchically, add prose when needed
- Developer-Friendly - Built for terminal workflows and automation
- Progressive Enhancement - Start simple, add complexity as needed
Components
Flow is modular - use what you need:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| CLI | Quick capture and search from your terminal |
| TUI | Full-featured terminal interface for browsing and editing |
| GUI | Native desktop application for longer sessions |
| Server | Self-hosted sync server for multi-device access |
Project Status
⚠️ Flow is in early development. The core architecture is being built, and features are being actively developed. This documentation will evolve alongside the project.
Getting Started
Ready to dive in? Head to the Installation guide to get started.