File format & storage

A vault is a folder you pick. Nolagmind does not copy it into a database. There is no account, no login, and no cloud sync. The only network request is an update check against nolagmind.com.

Markdown notes

A note named Stew is a file Stew.md. Optional YAML frontmatter between --- fences holds properties; the rest is Markdown.

---
pinned: false
tags:
  - recipe
aliases:
  - grandma's stew
---

Brown the meat. Add **onions**. See [[Stock]].

Open that file in any other text editor and it looks the same. Wikilinks are the usual [[Note Name]] or [[Note Name|display text]] form.

Mind maps

A mind map named Outline is Outline.mindmap.md. Frontmatter includes type: mindmap; the body is a nested Markdown bullet list, one node per line. That file is still readable as text.

Boards

A board named Sprint is Sprint.board.json — versioned JSON (version: 1, type: board) with lists, tasks, and visible columns. That is a Nolagmind-specific format, not Markdown. Other editors will not render it as a kanban board.

Images

Pasted or dropped images are real files in an images/ folder next to the note (older notes may use attachments/). Those folders are not treated as note folders in the sidebar. The note stores a relative Markdown image, for example ![alt](images/photo.png).

What is not a file in the vault

Some things are stored by the app, keyed to the vault, rather than as files in the folder:

• Custom slash commands
• Theme, home-screen layout, taskbar, editor padding, and most other settings
• Graph filters
• Where completed board tasks go (Stay / Top / Bottom)

Copying or syncing only the folder will not take those along. The notes, mind maps, boards, and images will.

Privacy

The app can only reach one address on the internet — nolagmind.com, to check whether a new version is available — nothing else leaves your machine. See Installation for how updates are installed.