In simple English
You can write notes, draw diagrams, and build tables in one place. It works like Notion and Miro combined. Your files stay on your computer, so you keep control of your data. You can run it for free on your own server or download the desktop app. It costs nothing in money, but it needs a capable computer to run smoothly.
What it is
AFFiNE is an open-source, local-first workspace that merges text documents and visual whiteboards. It uses a custom licence and runs on TypeScript.
What it is good for
Solo builders who want a private place to write notes, map out product ideas, and track tasks without paying for multiple SaaS subscriptions.
- Combines rich text notes and visual whiteboards on one canvas.
- Keeps your data local on your machine instead of forcing cloud storage.
- Free to self-host and use as a desktop application.
- Heavy application that can use significant memory on your computer.
- Complex codebase makes self-hosting setup harder for non-programmers.
- Uses a custom licence that restricts certain commercial uses.
Notion and Miro
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docker run -d --name affine -p 3010:3010 -v ~/.affine:/root/.affine affine/affine:latest