From 5f66af8d296e61eed0c0c90e3cd464d3bace3534 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Aditya Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2026 14:05:02 +0530 Subject: [PATCH] docs: ground philosophy and add antinote origin story --- PHILOSOPHY.md | 58 +++++++++++++++------------------------------------ README.md | 4 +--- 2 files changed, 18 insertions(+), 44 deletions(-) diff --git a/PHILOSOPHY.md b/PHILOSOPHY.md index fce1a71..97d09ae 100644 --- a/PHILOSOPHY.md +++ b/PHILOSOPHY.md @@ -1,68 +1,44 @@ # Our Philosophy ### 1. **Your Thoughts Are Ephemeral** -A scratchpad shouldn't feel like a database. PaperCache is designed for the temporary, the messy, and the in-between. It spawns when you need it, vanishes when you're done, and respects the fleeting nature of brainstorming. We believe in tools that feel like an extension of your mind, not a filing cabinet. +A scratchpad shouldn't feel like a database. PaperCache is designed for the temporary, the messy, and the in-between. It spawns when you need it, vanishes when you're done, and gets out of your way. ### 2. **Active > Passive** -Most note-taking apps are passive: you write text, and it sits there. PaperCache is **active**. It evaluates your math in real-time, queries AI inline, links your notes automatically, and visualizes your knowledge graph. We believe your notes should *work for you*, not just store your words. +PaperCache is active. It evaluates your math in real-time, queries AI inline, links your notes automatically, and visualizes your knowledge graph. Your notes should work for you, not just store your words. -### 3. **Zero Friction is Non-Negotiable** +### 3. **Zero Friction** If a tool slows you down, you won't use it. That's why PaperCache: - Spawns exactly where your mouse cursor is -- Uses **0% CPU when idle** (truly zero, not "low") +- Uses 0% CPU when idle - Hides markdown syntax when you aren't editing - Vanishes the moment you click away -- Loads heavy dependencies (like `mathjs`) only when needed -We believe performance is a feature, not an optimization. - -### 4. **Developers Think Differently** -You don't just write prose; you write code, equations, and structured data. PaperCache is built for the developer brain: +### 4. **Built for Developers** +You don't just write prose; you write code, equations, and structured data. PaperCache includes features like: - Reactive variables (`/var x = 5`) - Inline AI with context injection (`/ctx`) - Implicit folder organization (`projects/PaperCache.md`) - Knowledge graph visualization -We believe productivity tools should match how you *actually* think, not how a product manager thinks you should think. - -### 5. **Open Source is the Only Ethical Choice** -Your personal workflow shouldn't be locked behind a paywall or a SaaS subscription. PaperCache is: +### 5. **Free and Open Source** +I saw a really cool app called Antinote, but it was locked behind a paywall. I wanted something just as good that was open source and could fit my own specific needs, so I built PaperCache to match it. It solved my problem perfectly, and since other people probably have the exact same needs, I made it completely free and open for everyone to use, fork, and improve. - **100% free** (no "Pro" tier, no feature gating) - **Open source** (audit the code, contribute, fork it) -- **Self-hosted** (your data never leaves your machine) -- **Cross-platform** (macOS, Windows, Linux) +- **Local first** (your data never leaves your machine) -We believe transparency and accessibility aren't features; they're responsibilities. - -### 6. **AI Should Be Invisible, Not Intrusive** -Most apps bolt on a chatbot sidebar and call it "AI-powered." PaperCache integrates AI **inline**, where you're already working: +### 6. **Invisible AI** +PaperCache integrates AI inline, where you're already working: - Type `/ai ` and get an answer right in your document - Use `/ctx ` to automatically include your entire note as context -- Your API keys are encrypted with Electron's `safeStorage` - -We believe AI should augment your workflow, not interrupt it. +- Your API keys are encrypted securely locally. -### 7. **Opinionated Design is Kind** -We don't try to be everything to everyone. PaperCache makes specific, intentional choices: -- No complex plugin system (we ship what works) +### 7. **Opinionated Design** +PaperCache makes specific, intentional choices: +- No complex plugin system - No cloud sync (your data is yours) -- No WYSIWYG editor (you get raw text speed with rendered readability) - -We believe saying "no" to feature creep is how you build tools that respect your users' time. - -### 8. **Engineering Rigor Matters, Even for "Simple" Apps** -PaperCache is version `0.2.10`, but it has: -- CI/CD pipelines with automated testing -- Zustand state management with slice-subscriptions -- Lazy-loaded heavy dependencies -- Debounced reactive evaluations -- Power throttling via `powerMonitor` API - -We believe "just a scratchpad" is no excuse for sloppy code. Every line is written with the same rigor as a production SaaS app. +- No WYSIWYG editor (raw text speed with rendered readability) --- ### The Bottom Line -**PaperCache exists because we refuse to compromise.** We refuse to accept that Electron apps must be bloated. We refuse to accept that scratchpads must be dumb. We refuse to accept that productivity tools must be expensive or closed-source. - -This is a tool built by a developer, for developers, with an obsession for performance, privacy, and polish. It's the scratchpad we always wanted but could never find—so we built it ourselves. +PaperCache is a simple, polished tool built by a developer to solve a personal need. It's the floating scratchpad I always wanted but didn't want to pay a subscription for—so I built it myself, and now it's yours too. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index f563a3a..1798f03 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -5,9 +5,7 @@ **A floating markdown scratchpad for developers and power users.** -> **PaperCache exists because we refuse to compromise.** We refuse to accept that Electron apps must be bloated. We refuse to accept that scratchpads must be dumb. We refuse to accept that productivity tools must be expensive or closed-source. -> -> This is a tool built by a developer, for developers, with an obsession for performance, privacy, and polish. It's the scratchpad we always wanted but could never find—so we built it ourselves. Read our [Core Philosophy](PHILOSOPHY.md). +> **Why PaperCache?** I saw a cool tool called Antinote, but it was locked behind a paywall. I wanted something similar that was open source and fit my own workflow perfectly, so I built PaperCache to match it. It solved my problem, and I figured other people might have the exact same needs, so I made it completely free and open for everyone. Read the full story in our [Core Philosophy](PHILOSOPHY.md). Summon it with a hotkey. Jot. Dismiss. It stays out of your way until you need it.