Reor: OPENSOURCE & 100% LOCAL Obsidian Alternative AI Note-taking app with RAG Support (w/ Llama 3)

Introduction

As productivity enthusiasts increasingly delve into note-taking applications, many turn to popular options like Notion, which boast a plethora of features. However, for those who prefer simplicity, tools like Apple Notes or Notepad can suffice. Recently, I began exploring Obsidian, a markdown editor that offers enhanced features compared to basic note-taking apps. With the rise of AI, I've also utilized conversational interfaces to summarize and better understand my notes. Unfortunately, this often required cumbersome processes of copying, pasting, or converting notes into PDFs for summarization.

This is where Reor comes into play. Reor is an AI-based desktop note-taking application with an intuitive interface reminiscent of Obsidian but offers unique built-in features. Its standout feature is an integrated chat interface that leverages the context of your notes, allowing you to interact with them intelligently. Reor not only builds connections between similar notes for improved understanding, but it also includes an advanced AI-driven search function that enables searching through notes without needing exact keywords. Moreover, it supports the latest developments in AI and is fully open-source, meaning that your sensitive data remains on your local machine instead of being sent to external servers, although it can also interface with OpenAI endpoints if desired.

Getting Started with Reor and Llama 3

To enhance your experience, I will walk you through the installation process, specifically using the local AI model Llama 3.

1. Download Llama: Begin by visiting the Llama website to download the software. Choose your operating system and follow the installation prompts to get it running in the background.

2. Download Reor: Next, navigate to the Reor project page and download the setup file for your operating system. After installation, you will be greeted with a prompt to create or open an existing vault.

3. Set Up Reor Vault: You can either use an existing vault from Obsidian or create a new one. For this guide, I’ll create a new vault and have an empty directory ready.

4. Select LLM: Choose the local LLM option, and it will prompt you to enter the model you want to utilize. Here, enter “Llama 3” – which is available on the Llama model page – and click to download.

5. Finalize Model Selection: After the download completes, select Llama 3 as your default LLM. Your new vault should now be initialized, and the user interface will feature options for managing notes, a chat interface, a semantic search option, and note organization features.

Exploring Reor's Features

• Chat Interface: The chat option is intuitive, allowing you to type queries based on your notes. You can ask questions, and Reor’s AI will analyze the context of your notes using semantic search.

• Managing Notes: You have options to create new notes or folders, organize your notes effectively, and even adjust settings related to AI performance and note context management.

• Chat Context: To use specific notes in the chat, simply right-click on the desired note and select “Add file to chat context.” This will send you to the chat interface with relevant context, allowing for focused discussions based on that note.

Conclusion

In summary, Reor is an excellent AI-powered tool for note-taking and summarizing, making it easier to manage and interact with your notes efficiently. With support for local data and advanced AI features, it stands out as a worthy alternative to more complex applications like Obsidian. I look forward to utilizing this tool further and encourage you to consider trying it out too.

Keywords

• Reor
• AI-based note-taking
• Llama 3
• Open source
• Local storage
• Semantic search
• Chat interface
• Contextual understanding
• Note organization

FAQ

Q: What is Reor?
A: Reor is an AI-based desktop note-taking application that allows users to interact with their notes using a built-in chat interface while ensuring data privacy through local storage.

Q: Can I use my existing Obsidian vault in Reor?
A: Yes, Reor allows you to open an existing vault from Obsidian.

Q: How does the chat interface work in Reor?
A: The chat interface allows you to ask questions about your notes, using contextual understanding powered by AI to provide relevant answers.

Q: Is Reor an open-source application?
A: Yes, Reor is fully open-source, ensuring that your sensitive data remains private on your local machine.

Q: What LLM can be used with Reor?
A: Reor supports local LLMs such as Llama 3, which can be used to enhance note interactions and queries.