There are plenty of productivity apps that you can self-host, but I often find these apps a bit overwhelming. It’s challenging to strike a balance between functionality and usability, particularly when features are hidden or overly complex.
However, RwMarkable manages to strike this balance — allowing you to create checklists and notes easily on your self-hosted server. Not only is it easy to set up, but you can get started creating checklists quickly in a clean interface.
What is RwMarkable?
A self-hosted checklist manager
Google Keep and TickTick are the apps I use for most of my checklists and short notes, but I have found them a bit frustrating over the past few months. As I’ve been searching for more self-hosted apps to replace proprietary solutions, I also wanted to try an app that is useful for creatingcustom checklists.
That’s where RwMarkable comes in. It’s a simple, self-hosted solution that allows you to create categories, notes, and checklists. It’s easy to deploy, and despite having a sleek and clean interface, it provides useful functionality that allows you to customize your items based on your needs.
Whether you want a simple list for your groceries or a more complex Kanban board with time-tracking, RwMarkable handles both well.
How to get started with RwMarkable
Setup is simple
The recommended way to deploy RwMarkable is with Docker Compose. The developer provides an example compose file that you can use for your own container. I set up the service using Docker Desktop on Windows. Something I liked about deploying the service is that I didn’t have to tweak the compose file to get the container working on my home network, which makes it easier for newbies to use.
Once deployed, you can access the address for the service in your browser. In my case, this was simply http://localhost:1122. If you want to access the service from another device on your network, make sure to use your host machine’s IP address and the service’s port to access RwMarkable.
If you’re not automatically directed to the sign-up page when accessing the app, ensure you click on the exit icon located at the top right. This will send you to the sign-up page, where you can create an admin account.
Once you have set up your admin account, you can start creating your checklists and notes. I started by creating a variety of categories such as Personal, Work, Chores, and Ark. But the app also allows you to use the default Uncategorized folder.
Creating notes and checklists is incredibly easy. You can choose to create a checklist line-by-line or use the bulk import tool in the checklist creation window to add multiple tasks at once. This made it easy for me to copy over checklists from other apps.
Two types of checklists are available: Simple Checklist and Task Project. The task project option creates tasks in a Kanban board format, which allows you to keep track of the progress of specific items. It also has a built-in time-tracking tool that you can use to log how much time each task takes.
In terms of notes, you can create completely different categories or create duplicates of your checklist categories. The note editor allows you to create pages in the way that suits you best. For me, this is the rich text editor available in the app. But you can also choose to format your notes in Markdown. The note editor also lets you add code blocks that use different programming languages.
RwMarkable is a no-fuss solution for notes and checklists
Track whatever you like in a clean interface
While RwMarkable has a clean and simple interface, it also gives you flexibility to work in a way that suits you well. While I’ve been using Obsidian to track tasks I want to complete in certain games, I appreciate that RwMarkable can easily copy tables from the web.
The rich text editor also allows me to create longer notes that require headings and links without me needing to remember Markdown syntax. On the homepage, the app provides an overview of your tasks and notes in a clear and non-overwhelming manner. In this aspect, I prefer it to Google Keep, since the app’s sticky notes can sometimes be a bit limiting.
RwMarkable’s simplicity is also useful if you find other task apps overwhelming. However, it doesn’t have reminders or due dates, which may make it a bit too simple for some users. But I found this simplicity refreshing, and I’m considering creating a Cloudflare Tunnel to link to the service so that I can access it when doing my grocery shopping.
It’s worth seeing if RwMarkable works for you
If you’re looking for a simple checklist and notes app that you can self-host, you should try out RwMarkable. Its setup makes it newbie-friendly, and its clean interface effectively avoids many of the drawbacks of productivity apps.
As much as I love self-hosting apps, I find that many services lack a balance between user-friendliness and functionality. But RwMarkable has been a breath of fresh air.