Hibi is a free, open-source desktop writing and note-taking app designed for individuals seeking more control over their document organization and creation. It is an alternative to apps like Obsidian and Joplin, combining standard knowledge management features with a flexible editing experience that surpasses markdown.
hibi is a free, open-source markdown/latex/typst/and more editor that keeps files in your own folders and it is my beloved hobby project that i use everyday and i'm proud to launch it on product hunt.
it is generally available to use and somewhat in a stable alpha state which you can download here: https://github.com/schmayterling... but make sure to back up your notes first.
what would make hibi useful for your notes or documentation workflow? feedback on editing, quick capture, and working with existing folders would be especially helpful.
Ahh, I'm a writing nerd, this just sounds fun. Also have a bunch of different ways I write (notes, fiction, work). Love the idea of only including what I need as I write. Thanks for sharing your project - trying it out now.
Can i just open my existing Obsidian vault, or do I need to convert it first?
quick capture is the thing for me, i lose half my notes cause opening the app and finding the right folder takes too many clicks before i even start typing
Love that files stay in plain local folders, and that it goes beyond markdown to Typst and LaTeX. That's the gap I feel with most note apps. Respect for being upfront that it's alpha and a hobby project. Can the community build addons today, or is the API still settling?
About hibi on Product Hunt
“an open-source obsidian alternative”
hibi launched on Product Hunt on October 21st, 2026 and earned 78 upvotes and 8 comments, placing #23 on the daily leaderboard. Hibi is a free, open-source desktop writing and note-taking app designed for individuals seeking more control over their document organization and creation. It is an alternative to apps like Obsidian and Joplin, combining standard knowledge management features with a flexible editing experience that surpasses markdown.
hibi was featured in Productivity (663.6k followers), Writing (59.4k followers), User Experience (369.2k followers) and GitHub (41.4k followers) on Product Hunt. Together, these topics include over 250.1k products, making this a competitive space to launch in.
Who hunted hibi?
hibi was hunted by Ryana May Que. A “hunter” on Product Hunt is the community member who submits a product to the platform — uploading the images, the link, and tagging the makers behind it. Hunters typically write the first comment explaining why a product is worth attention, and their followers are notified the moment they post. Around 79% of featured launches on Product Hunt are self-hunted by their makers, but a well-known hunter still acts as a signal of quality to the rest of the community. See the full all-time top hunters leaderboard to discover who is shaping the Product Hunt ecosystem.
Want to see how hibi stacked up against nearby launches in real time? Check out the live launch dashboard for upvote speed charts, proximity comparisons, and more analytics.
Ryana May Que
hello product hunt! i'm pleased to launch hibi.
hibi is a free, open-source markdown/latex/typst/and more editor that keeps files in your own folders and it is my beloved hobby project that i use everyday and i'm proud to launch it on product hunt.
someone even built doom for hibi! https://github.com/ralphbibera/h...
we now also have recommended nightlies: https://github.com/schmayterling...
it is generally available to use and somewhat in a stable alpha state which you can download here: https://github.com/schmayterling... but make sure to back up your notes first.
what would make hibi useful for your notes or documentation workflow? feedback on editing, quick capture, and working with existing folders would be especially helpful.
please also star hibi on github! https://github.com/schmayterling... it would help a lot!
hope you guys enjoy trying it out! i'll be monitoring this at least once a day!