A notes app for Linux that saves what you select in any app with one shortcut, and finds it again by meaning. New features reach Linux first; the current release is 0.12.17.
What you get on Linux
- Save the selection, from any app
- Select text anywhere and press Ctrl+Shift+=. ReticulOS reads the X primary selection, so your clipboard is left alone.
- A widget that stays on top
- An always-on-top panel for your collections, shown and hidden with Ctrl+Shift+\. Closing it leaves ReticulOS in the system tray.
- Search everything, from anywhere
- Ctrl+Shift+/ opens a search box over whatever you're doing. Search by meaning runs on your computer, and works offline after a one-time model download.
- Reticulum, the full workspace
- Every collection as a grid, a list or a free canvas, with an editor for headings, tables, to-dos, callouts and code.
- Encrypted, on your machine
- Notes live in an encrypted database in your home directory; the key is protected by your desktop's keyring (GNOME Keyring or KWallet).
- Connect your AI apps
- Claude Code, Cursor and other MCP apps can search your notes; anything they want to change needs your approval.
- Signed updates
- Linux builds update themselves: each release is signed and checked before it installs, and you choose when to restart.
- Take it all with you
- Export to a folder of Markdown files, or one JSON file, whenever you like.
Installing
Download the .deb, then install it with apt, which pulls in the few dependencies (xclip, xdg-utils, libnotify4) for you:
sudo apt install ./reticulos-linux_0.12.17_amd64.debIt appears in your application menu. The installation guide covers launching, the tray and uninstalling, and every shortcut is listed in the docs.
Linux questions
Which Linux distributions does ReticulOS support?
Debian and Ubuntu, and distributions based on them, on 64-bit (amd64). It ships as a .deb package; Ubuntu 22.04 or newer is recommended.
Does ReticulOS work on Wayland?
Yes, with one extra step for the shortcuts. Global shortcuts are fully supported on X11. On Wayland the desktop controls global shortcuts, so you add them yourself, for example in GNOME's Settings → Keyboard → Custom Shortcuts. Troubleshooting has the exact commands.
Is it a clipboard manager?
No. A clipboard manager keeps a history of everything you copy. ReticulOS keeps what you choose to save, in named collections, as notes you can edit and search by meaning. See the comparison with clipboard managers.
Does it need an internet connection?
Mostly not. Saving, organising, editing and exporting work offline, and search by meaning does too after a one-time download of its model. Ret's AI answers need a connection to the AI service you use, and the app checks for updates when it's online.
Where does ReticulOS keep my data on Linux?
In an encrypted database under ~/.config/reticulos-linux, with the key protected by your desktop's keyring. Your notes never leave your computer unless you ask Ret a question or connect an AI app. The app itself only checks for updates, and downloads its search model once.
Start saving.
Free for Linux and Windows, in beta now. Your first note takes one shortcut.
Linux and Windows today · Mac coming soon · Questions? support@reticulos.com
