A Notes App Your AI Agent Can Actually Use
Most notes apps were built for humans alone. The notes live inside a proprietary database or a cloud service, so when you want an AI agent to help, you end up copy-pasting context back and forth. Folio takes a different approach: your notes are plain .md and .html files in one folder on your Mac, and an AI coding agent can open that same folder.
That means tools like Claude Code and Cursor read and write your actual notes. No API key inside the app, no plugin to install, no MCP server to stand up. It is just a folder of files, which is exactly what these agents are already good at working with.
Why a folder of files is the right shape for agents
AI coding agents are built to navigate directories, read files, and make edits. When your notebook is already a folder of plain files, the agent does not need a special integration. It reads notes/project-x.md, follows a relative link to notes/architecture.html, and writes its changes straight back.
Folio leans into that:
- Plain
.mdand.htmlso any agent (or any editor) can open them. - One folder you point your agent at, instead of an export step.
- Relative links between notes so the agent can follow your knowledge graph the same way you do.
This is also why files are the right shape in the first place, covered in local-first note-taking.
What Folio gives you on top of the files
- Agent panel. Folio surfaces the configuration files agents look for:
CLAUDE.md,AGENTS.md, a writing guide, and a vault index. You shape how the agent behaves without leaving the app. - Per-note history. Every note tracks changes, so you can see what you wrote versus what the agent changed and roll back if you disagree.
- Rich notes. Tables, diagrams, and live charts render inline. A note can hold structure the agent can contribute to, not just prose.
- Backlinks, graph, and search. The human side of the workflow stays first-class: connect ideas, see the graph, find anything fast.
How a typical session looks
- You keep your working notes in a Folio folder: meeting notes, specs, research, a running project log.
- You open Claude Code or Cursor and point it at the same folder.
- You ask the agent to summarize this week’s notes, update a spec, or draft a new note from your research.
- The agent edits the files directly. Folio shows the changes in per-note history so you can review them.
There is no synchronization layer to babysit because both you and the agent are touching the same files. A common use is to give Claude Code a memory that persists across sessions.
Folio compared to common setups
| Approach | Where notes live | Agent access | Review trail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud notes app + copy-paste | Vendor cloud | Manual paste | None |
| Notes app + custom MCP server | Vendor store | Via server you maintain | Depends |
| Folio | Plain files in one folder | Direct, same folder | Per-note history (you vs agent) |
You can also write rich content the agent can extend, like tables, diagrams, and live charts.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Folio call an AI model itself?
- No. Folio does not include an AI service or require an API key. You bring your own agent (Claude Code, Cursor) and point it at the folder.
- Which agents work with Folio?
- Any tool that can read and write files in a folder. That includes Claude Code and Cursor.
- Do I need to set up MCP or a plugin?
- No. Because notes are plain files, the agent works with them directly. There is nothing extra to configure to get started.
- Can I tell the agent how to write in my vault?
- Yes. Folio surfaces files like
CLAUDE.md,AGENTS.md, and a writing guide so you can set conventions the agent follows. - Is it free?
- Folio is free for personal use, on macOS today.
Your notes, on your disk, ready for your agent.
Free for personal use. Open a folder and start writing. No account, nothing to sign up for.
On an Intel Mac? Get that build · Windows and Linux coming soon