I wanted my notes to be plain files, so I built a small Windows notes app (no Electron)

Description and use

Leaflet is a lightweight Windows notes app that stores notes as plain Markdown files, supports internal linking, live preview, search, and export, all without Electron.

Problem

Most note apps keep notes in a database, cloud, or embed a browser; I wanted plain .md files in a folder with links, search, and live formatting.

Outcome

Leaflet provides a lightweight, native Windows notes app that stores notes as plain Markdown files, supports internal linking, live preview, search, image handling, autosave, and export, all without Electron or a browser.

Workflow

• Open Leaflet.exe
• Select a folder containing .md files
• Edit notes with Markdown syntax
• Use [[links]] to create backlinks
• Live preview shows formatted text
• Search across notes with Ctrl+P
• Export notes to HTML/PDF
• Close and reopen to see autosave and version history

Evidence

Most note apps keep your notes in their own database, or in the cloud behind an account, or they ship a whole web browser inside.

Source

Leaflet: a free, open‑source (MIT) notes app for Windows, written in C# with Avalonia. No WebView, no Electron.

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Open any folder and every .md file in it (and in subfolders) becomes a note.

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If you rename or move a note, the [[links]] in all the other notes are fixed automatically.

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Live preview in the editor itself: the line with the cursor shows raw Markdown, every other line is formatted.

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Avalonia draws through Skia in a single native process, so Leaflet starts in about a second and uses around 130 MB on a note with 5,000 lines.

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There is nothing to install: unzip, run Leaflet.exe, pick a folder (Windows 10/11, .NET is included, about 50 MB).

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