jrnl
A command-line journal that stores entries in plain text files, with optional AES encryption.
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1 more ways to get jrnl
Package managers
- Homebrew
brew install jrnl
About jrnl
jrnl lets you write journal entries and notes from the terminal without opening another program. It uses a natural-language interface, so you type entries and queries in ordinary words instead of remembering special shortcuts.
Journals are kept as plain text files that stay readable without jrnl. They can be encrypted with AES, and you can sync the files with a tool such as Dropbox. You can keep several separate journals, for example one for work and one for personal notes.
Strengths
- Entries are plain text files you own
- Optional AES encryption of journals
- Several journals for different parts of life
- Natural-language commands for writing entries
Limitations
- Terminal only, with no graphical interface
- Sync depends on a separate tool such as Dropbox
- A lost password means an encrypted journal cannot be recovered
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source.
- License
- Open source, license not stated
- Developer
- The jrnl contributors
- Platforms
- Command line
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- People who live in the terminal and want a private, plain-text journal
- Categories
- Note-taking, CLI tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to jrnl
Compare allSoftware that can replace jrnl for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
Day One
A journaling app for writing daily entries with photos, video, audio and drawings, synced across devices.
Day One swaps the terminal for apps on phones, desktop and the web with photos, audio and end-to-end encrypted sync, but it is closed source with a paid Gold plan.
RedNotebook
Keep a searchable desktop journal with dated entries.
RedNotebook is a free GPL-2.0 graphical desktop journal for Windows and Linux with tags, templates and exports, replacing command-line entry with a searchable app.
Diarium
A private diary app for Windows, Android, iOS and Mac that syncs through your own cloud storage.
Diarium is a closed-source diary app for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS that syncs through your own cloud storage, with a one-time Pro purchase per platform.
Denote
An Emacs note-taking package that organises plain-text notes through a predictable, descriptive file naming scheme.
Denote keeps plain-text notes with predictable file names inside Emacs, and its companion packages cover journals, but it requires Emacs instead of a standalone command.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
nb
A command-line and local web tool for plain text notes, bookmarks and a Git-backed knowledge base.
Org mode
A GNU Emacs major mode for notes, outlines, to-do lists and documents kept in plain text.
zk
A command-line tool for maintaining a plain-text Markdown Zettelkasten or personal wiki.
VimWiki
A Vim plugin that turns linked plain-text files into a personal wiki with its own syntax.
Daylio
Micro-journal and mood tracker app where a daily entry takes two taps.
