A python terminal writer with git, github e2ee sync, hardware bound keys and temporal search

sys-ronin — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 19:59:23 +0000

📓 Terminal Notes

sys-ronin / terminal-notes

Terminal notes - Git, encryption, free E2EE sync, cognitive UI

📓 Terminal Notes

Encrypted terminal-based writing system with Git temporal history, powerful search, GDPR erase and zero-trust decoupled architecture.

text-based screenshots


                                 Root Notebooks                                 

No notebooks yet.

Create your first notebook to get started!

or

Press [M] to import existing from remote

[C]reate  [M]anage  [Q]uit

>


                            Create / Import Notebook
1. Default location (notebooks_root/)
   → Quick creation in app's default directory

2. External location (USB/Network drive) 🔒 MORE SECURE
   → Choose any folder on your system
   → Perfect for encrypted notebooks on USB drives
   → Easy to backup, sync with cloud, or store on encrypted drive

3. Import existing notebook
   → Load an existing Terminal Notes notebook from local path
   → Must contain structure.json and Git history

4. Import from Git URL
   → Clone and import a notebook from GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket
   → Enter repository URL (must end with .git)
   → Will prompt for account credentials if needed


Choose [1-4] or Enter to

…

View on GitHub

Encrypted terminal-based writing system with Git temporal history, powerful search, GDPR erase and zero-trust decoupled architecture.

text-based screenshots


                                 Root Notebooks                                 

No notebooks yet.

Create your first notebook to get started!

or

Press [M] to import existing from remote

[C]reate  [M]anage  [Q]uit

>


                            Create / Import Notebook                            

1. Default location (notebooks_root/)
   → Quick creation in app's default directory

2. External location (USB/Network drive) 🔒 MORE SECURE
   → Choose any folder on your system
   → Perfect for encrypted notebooks on USB drives
   → Easy to backup, sync with cloud, or store on encrypted drive

3. Import existing notebook
   → Load an existing Terminal Notes notebook from local path
   → Must contain structure.json and Git history

4. Import from Git URL
   → Clone and import a notebook from GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket
   → Enter repository URL (must end with .git)
   → Will prompt for account credentials if needed


Choose [1-4] or Enter to cancel:


────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
  YOUR RECOVERY PHRASE
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

  abstract asset offer fiber attend earth reopen walnut

  Store this phrase safely!

  • Write it down on paper
  • Save it in a password manager
  • Take a photo (store securely)

  [Y] Yes, I've saved it  [C] Copy to clipboard

  > y

  Press Enter when you have written it down.


  Notebook created successfully!
   Name: aa
   Folder: aa-20262609002928
   Location: /home/user/terminal-notes/notebooks_root/aa-20262609002928
   🔐 Encrypted with password + recovery phrase
   Recovery phrase saved - store it safely!

Press Enter to continue...


                         user-name@github.com Notebooks                         

[1] 🔒 project-alpha [Private]
[2] 🔒 aa [Public]

[I]mport  [R]efresh  [B]ack  [Q]uit

> i1


                                 Root Notebooks                                 

[1] 🔒 aa
[2] 🔐 terminal-notes (10 notes, 7 files, 1 sub)

[C]reate  [V]iew  [S]earch  [D]elete  [L]ock  [M]anage  [Q]uit

> l1

  ❌ Vault file not found: /home/user/terminal-notes/config/session.vault
     This notebook uses the default vault.
     This notebook requires the vault file to unlock.
     Please insert the USB drive or locate the vault file.

  Options:
    1) Retry (I've inserted the USB drive)
    2) Locate vault file manually
    3) Use recovery phrase (will create new vault)
    4) Cancel

  Choose [1-4]:


     .../[1]depth05/[2]depth06/[3]depth07/[4]depth08/[5]depth09/[6]depth10/     

Notes & Files: (2 notes, 4 files)
[1] regular_internal_note                               [Updated: Jun 08 19:28]
[2] regular_external_note                               [Updated: Jun 08 19:28]
[3] index.html                                          [Updated: Jun 08 19:29]
[4] Dockerfile                                          [Updated: Jun 08 20:05]
[5] research.tex                                        [Updated: Jun 08 20:05]
[6] .bashrc                                             [Updated: Jun 08 20:06]

Sub-notebook: (1 sub)
[7] View Sub-notebook =>

[C]reate  [V]iew  [D]elete  [A]ctivity  [B]ack  [J]ump  [Q]uit

>


                               [1]terminal-notes/                               

File Name: new_post.md [.md file]
Created: Jun 04  Updated: Jun 06 11:42

Show HN: A terminal writing environment with git, e2ee sync and temporal
search

I am a 40 years old jobless sys-admin with no cs degree and no development
experience and 25 yeras of system knowledge. I built a fully encrypted
writing environment where I can write with focus forgetting about the
application. Here ai was my code translator while I strictly was the
architect and instructor. It all started when i asked myself that "why and
how i remember any past memory instantly without searching inside my head".
This became the design principle of my app. Thus I solved a fundamental git
problem of tracking a single note throughout the history by embedding uuid
in every commit.

                                  Page 1 of 7    >>                             

[E]dit  [V]iew  [X]port  [T]imeline  [R]ename  [B]ack  [N]ext  [Q]uit

>


                         Activity: aa and subnotebooks                          

[1] erased file: scipt.sh                                                [root]
[2] renamed note: regular_internal_note → regul...        [.../depth09/depth10]
[3] updated file: index.html 65(+) 3(-)                   [.../depth09/depth10]
[4] updated file: index.html 5(+) 5(-)                    [.../depth09/depth10]
[5] restored note: regular_internal_note                  [.../depth09/depth10]
[6] deleted note: regular_internal_note                   [.../depth09/depth10]
[7] erased note: regular_external_note                    [.../depth09/depth10]
[8] updated note: regular_internal_note 6(+) 0(-)         [.../depth09/depth10]
[9] created sub: depth11                                  [.../depth10/depth11]
[10] created file: .bashrc 178(+)                                        [root]
[11] created file: research.tex 62(+)                                    [root]
[12] created file: Dockerfile 255(+)                                     [root]
[13] created file: index.html 94(+)                       [.../depth09/depth10]
[14] created note: ff 3(+)                                               [root]
[15] created note: a 1(+)                                                [root]

                                  Page 1 of 2    >>                             

[V]iew  [B]ack  [N]ext  [Q]uit

>


                              Timeline: 4 versions                              

[1] 2026-06-09 00:13 [RENAMED] regular_internal_note  → regular_internal_...
[2] 2026-06-09 00:09 [RESTORED]
[3] 2026-06-09 00:09 [DELETED]
[4] 2026-06-09 00:06 [UPDATED] 6(+) 0(-)

[V]iew  [B]ack

>


                                 Notebook: 🔐 aa                                 

Type: 🔐 Encrypted (unlocked)
Path: /home/user/terminal-notes/notebooks_root/aa-20262607180201

Account: user-name@github
Repository: aa-20262607180201
Visibility: 🔒 PRIVATE
Last modified: Jun 07, 2026 20:46

Vault: default

Notes: 4
Files: 0
Subnotebooks: 0

[V]isibility  [S]ync  [D]elete  [C]hange  [A]ctivity  [B]ack  [Q]uit

>


                              Change Options - aa                               


  [1] Change password
  [2] Change Autolock status
  [3] Change remote location
  [4] Change trusted device status
  [5] Change vault location

  Press Enter to cancel

  Choose:

꘎ SECURELY ERASING ENTIRE NOTEBOOK: aa
  This will DELETE ALL COMMITS and remove the folder permanently!

  Repository: /home/user/terminal-notes/notebooks_root/aa-20262607180201

  Enter notebook password to confirm erasure (3 attempts):

📦 1. Requirements

Python 3.13 (any version for installed cffi and cryptography)
Git (for history, timeline, restoration)
No pip install needed (cryptography is bundled in assets/)
nvim / micro (configurable via config.json)
Linux / Windows / Mac (designed to run on any OS)

(tested only on Debian Linux 13)

🚀 2. Executables

terminal_notes_ui.py - Main notebook app — encrypted notes, search, Git timeline, restore

Run from project folder:

python3 terminal_notes_ui.py

git clone https://github.com/sys-ronin/terminal-notes.git
cd terminal-notes
chmod 700 terminal_notes_ui.py
./terminal_notes_ui.py

single command

git clone https://github.com/sys-ronin/terminal-notes.git && cd terminal-notes && python3 terminal_notes_ui.py

🔍 3. Search (from main app)

Command	Description
`s query`	Search current notebook
`s g* query`	Search all notebooks
`s created*`	Show all created notes
`s deleted*`	Show deleted notes (restorable)
`s in* notebookname`	Search inside a specific notebook
`s date* 15-05-2026`	Filter by exact date
`s today*`	Today’s changes
`s thisweek*`	This week’s activity
`s created* file* in* projects`	Created files inside the "projects" notebook

💡 Tips:

j1, j2, jb → jump between notebooks
l → lock / unlock encrypted notebooks
b → back
q → quit
s → search

The entire GitHub repository with all its source code and documentation are explicitly part of the prior art (Public + timestamped + enabling)

A fact – my app itself has no name printed except on documents, like an app with no name. I could not find a place to put it and it is not needed inside the environment.

`The rest is explained in documentations`

email : sys_ronin@protonmail.com

Write without friction inside the best possible environment - The Terminal

sys-ronin

DEV Community: sys-ronin

A python terminal writer with git, github e2ee sync, hardware bound keys and temporal search

📓 Terminal Notes

sys-ronin / terminal-notes

Terminal notes - Git, encryption, free E2EE sync, cognitive UI

📓 Terminal Notes

📦 1. Requirements

🚀 2. Executables

🔍 3. Search (from main app)

The rest is explained in documentations

`The rest is explained in documentations`