Mindwtr
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The free, open-source, cross-platform GTD app. Local-first, no account required. Mind Like Water.
New to GTD? Read GTD in 15 minutes for a quick introduction.
Getting Started · FAQ · Docs · Data & Sync · Cloud Deployment · MCP Server
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<p> <i>Local-First GTD on Arch Linux & Android</i> </p> </div>Why Mindwtr (Quick Comparison)
Mindwtr is built for people who want a complete GTD system without lock-in. Here is a brief, respectful comparison with mainstream task apps and GTD-focused alternatives.
| Capability | Mindwtr | Todoist | TickTick | Everdo | NirvanaHQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open source | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| GTD-native workflow | ✅ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ✅ |
| All major platforms (desktop + mobile + web, incl. Linux desktop) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ |
| Local-first + no account required | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| AI assistant (BYOK + local LLM) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Flexible sync (WebDAV / Dropbox / self-hosted / local file) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ⚠️ | ❌ |
| Completely free | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Legend: ✅ = yes, ❌ = no, ⚠️ = partial/limited support.
This comparison is based on the current public capabilities of each product. If any entry is outdated, feel free to open an issue or PR with sources.
Philosophy
Mindwtr is built to be simple by default and powerful when you need it. We focus on reducing cognitive load, cutting the fat, and keeping you in flow. That means:
- Progressive disclosure: advanced options stay hidden until they matter.
- Less by default: fewer fields, fewer knobs, fewer distractions.
- Avoid feature creep: we prioritize clarity over clutter.
Don't show me a cockpit when I just want to ride a bike.
Features
- GTD workflow end-to-end: Capture, Clarify, Organize, Reflect, Engage.
- Focus view combines time-based agenda with next actions.
- Local-first data model with native iCloud / CloudKit sync on supported Apple builds, plus file sync, WebDAV, Dropbox, and self-hosted cloud options.
- Projects support sections, areas, and reorderable project task order for larger multi-step planning.
- Obsidian vault import with note deep links on desktop.
- Optional AI copilot (BYOK + local/self-hosted compatible models).
- Cross-platform apps for desktop and mobile, plus PWA.
- Optional automation helpers with desktop local REST API, CLI, and the published
mindwtr-mcpserver.
GTD Workflow
- Capture - Quick add tasks from anywhere (global hotkey popup, tray, share sheet, voice)
- Clarify - Guided inbox processing with 2-minute rule
- Organize - Projects, sections, contexts, and status lists
- Reflect - Weekly review wizard with reminders
- Engage - Context-filtered next actions
- AI Assist (Optional) - Clarify, break down, and review with BYOK AI (OpenAI, Gemini, Claude, or local/self-hosted OpenAI-compatible LLMs)
Views
- 📥 Inbox - Capture zone with processing wizard
- 🎯 Focus - Agenda (time-based) + Next Actions in one view
- 📁 Projects - Multi-step outcomes with sections, areas, and manual task ordering
- 🏷️ Contexts - Slash-delimited contexts with parent matching (@work/meetings)
- ⏳ Waiting For - Delegated items
- 💭 Someday/Maybe - Deferred ideas
- 📅 Calendar - Time-based planning with adjustable mobile week density
- 📋 Board - Kanban-style drag-and-drop
- 📝 Review - Daily + weekly review workflows
- 📦 Archived - Hidden history, searchable when needed
Productivity Features
- 🔍 Global Search - Search all areas globally with operators (
status:,context:,assigned:,location:,where:,id:,-id:,due:<=7d) - 📦 Bulk Actions - Multi-select, batch move/tag/delete
- 📎 Attachments - Files and links on tasks
- ✏️ Markdown Notes - Rich text descriptions with preview
- 🗂️ Project States - Active, Waiting, Someday, Archived
- ♾️ Fluid Recurrence - Next date is calculated after completion
- ♻️ Reusable Lists - Duplicate tasks or reset checklists
- ✅ Checklist Mode - Fast list-style checking for checklist tasks
- ✅ Audio Capture - Quick voice capture with automatic transcription and task creation
- 🧭 Copilot Suggestions - Optional context/tag/time hints while typing
- 🍅 Pomodoro Focus (Optional) - 15/3, 25/5, 50/10 timer panel in Focus view with one optional custom preset
- 🔔 Notifications - Separate start and due reminders with snooze
- 📊 Daily Digest - Morning briefing + evening review
- 📅 Weekly Review - Customizable weekly reminder
Data & Sync
- 🔄 Sync Options - See the Data & Sync docs for supported backends and setup
- 🍎 Native iCloud / CloudKit Sync - Apple-only structured sync on supported iPhone, iPad, and macOS builds
- ☁️ Dropbox OAuth Sync (Optional) - Native Dropbox App Folder sync in supported non-FOSS builds
- 📤 Export/Backup - Export data to JSON
- ♻️ Restore from Backup - Replace local data from a validated Mindwtr backup with a recovery snapshot first
- 📥 TickTick + Todoist + DGT GTD + OmniFocus + Apple Reminders Import - Import TickTick CSV/ZIP, Todoist CSV/ZIP, DGT GTD JSON/ZIP, OmniFocus exports, or incomplete Apple Reminders into Mindwtr
- 🔗 Obsidian Integration - Desktop vault task import with deep links back to source notes
- 🗓️ External Calendars (System + ICS) - Mobile reads system calendars and pushes dated tasks; macOS desktop reads Apple Calendar and can push dated tasks; desktop/web also support ICS subscriptions and task creation from events
Automation
- 🔌 CLI - Add, list, complete, search from terminal by running the repo helper
- 🌐 REST API - Optional desktop localhost API server for token-authenticated scripting
- 🌍 Web App (PWA) - Browser access with offline support
- 🧠 MCP Server - Optional local stdio Model Context Protocol server for LLM automation, available as
mindwtr-mcpand in the MCP Registry
Desktop builds can start the local REST API from Settings -> Advanced on 127.0.0.1 with default port 3456 and a generated bearer token. The CLI remains a repo helper; the stdio MCP server can be installed from npm with npm install -g mindwtr-mcp or launched by MCP clients with npx -y mindwtr-mcp.
Cross-Platform
- 🖥️ Desktop - Tauri v2 (macOS, Linux, Windows)
- 📱 Mobile - React Native/Expo (iOS via App Store/TestFlight, Android) with in-app tips for gestures and app shortcuts
- 📲 Android Widget - Home screen focus/next widget
- ⌨️ Keyboard Shortcuts - Vim and Emacs presets
- 🎨 Themes - Light/Dark
- 🌍 i18n - English, Vietnamese, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Spanish, Hindi, Arabic, German, Russian, Japanese, French, Portuguese, Polish, Korean, Czech, Italian, Turkish, Dutch
- 🐳 Docker - Run the PWA + self-hosted sync server with Docker
Installation
For the complete and current install guides, see Desktop Installation and Mobile Installation.
Quick options:
- Windows: Microsoft Store, Winget, Chocolatey, Scoop, or GitHub Releases.
- macOS: Mac App Store, Homebrew, TestFlight beta, or GitHub Releases.
- Linux: Flathub, Snap, AUR, APT/RPM repos, or GitHub Releases.
- Android: Google Play, F-Droid, IzzyOnDroid, or GitHub Releases APK.
- iOS: App Store or TestFlight beta.
- Web / self-hosted: Cloud Deployment or the Docker guide.
flatpak install flathub tech.dongdongbh.mindwtr
yay -S mindwtr-bin
brew install --cask mindwtr
winget install dongdongbh.Mindwtr
For APT/RPM repo setup, source builds, portable ZIPs, mobile store variants, and Docker setup, use the full install guides above.
</details>Community
Mindwtr is shaped by its users and contributors. Thank you for helping improve it.
♥️ Contributing & Support
If you want to get involved for coding, start with CONTRIBUTING.md.
You can help in several ways:
- Spread the word: Share Mindwtr with friends and communities, and support it on Product Hunt and AlternativeTo.
- Leave store reviews: A good rating/review on the App Store, Google Play, or Microsoft Store helps a lot.
- Star and share: Star the repo and post about Mindwtr on X, Reddit, or LinkedIn.
- Report bugs and request features: Open issues on GitHub Issues.
- Join the community chat: Come to Discord.
- Help with translations: Contribute locale updates in
packages/core/src/i18n/locales/. - Contribute code/docs: Open a pull request and follow the contribution guide and commit conventions.
- Pick and build: Community members are welcome to pick any open issue and submit a PR.
- Sponsor the project: Support ongoing development via GitHub Sponsors or Ko-fi.
Documentation
- 📚 Official Docs
- 🚀 Getting Started
- ❓ FAQ
- 🔄 Data & Sync
- 🛠️ Cloud Deployment
- ☁️ Cloud API
- 🧠 MCP Server
- 📝 Release Notes Index
Star History
<a href="https://www.star-history.com/?repos=dongdongbh%2FMindwtr&type=date&legend=top-left"> <picture> <source media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)" srcset="https://api.star-history.com/chart?repos=dongdongbh/Mindwtr&type=date&theme=dark&legend=top-left" /> <source media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)" srcset="https://api.star-history.com/chart?repos=dongdongbh/Mindwtr&type=date&legend=top-left" /> <img alt="Star History Chart" src="https://api.star-history.com/chart?repos=dongdongbh/Mindwtr&type=date&legend=top-left" /> </picture> </a>Sponsors
Thanks to these monthly sponsors for supporting Mindwtr.
<p align="center"> <a href="https://github.com/jarrydstan" title="@jarrydstan"> <img src="docs/assets/sponsors/jarrydstan.png" width="60" height="60" alt="@jarrydstan" /> </a> <a href="https://github.com/ronmolenda" title="@ronmolenda"> <img src="docs/assets/sponsors/ronmolenda.png" width="60" height="60" alt="@ronmolenda" /> </a> <a href="https://github.com/bepolymathe" title="@bepolymathe"> <img src="docs/assets/sponsors/bepolymathe.png" width="60" height="60" alt="@bepolymathe" /> </a> <a href="https://github.com/karl1990" title="@karl1990"> <img src="docs/assets/sponsors/karl1990.png" width="60" height="60" alt="@karl1990" /> </a> <a href="https://github.com/srijan" title="@srijan"> <img src="docs/assets/sponsors/srijan.png" width="60" height="60" alt="@srijan" /> </a> <a href="https://github.com/davibicudo" title="@davibicudo"> <img src="docs/assets/sponsors/davibicudo.png" width="60" height="60" alt="@davibicudo" /> </a> <a href="https://github.com/PLPeeters" title="@PLPeeters"> <img src="docs/assets/sponsors/plpeeters-avatar.png" width="60" height="60" alt="@PLPeeters" /> </a> </p> <p align="center"> <sub><a href="https://github.com/jarrydstan">@jarrydstan</a> · <a href="https://github.com/ronmolenda">@ronmolenda</a> · <a href="https://github.com/bepolymathe">@bepolymathe</a> · <a href="https://github.com/karl1990">@karl1990</a> · <a href="https://github.com/srijan">@srijan</a> · <a href="https://github.com/davibicudo">@davibicudo</a> · <a href="https://github.com/PLPeeters">@PLPeeters</a></sub> </p>