I recommend a note-taking tool called Tolaria that I've found quite good these days, which is very lightweight and replaces Notion and Obsidian seamlessly.

Open source repository: refactoringhq/tolaria
Tolaria: A local knowledge base that combines the basic features of Notion with Obsidian's control and native friendly AI Agent integration.
If you're a heavy AI tool user + Markdown enthusiast + a bit of a geek with OCD, this is very suitable.
Open source + local-first + AI-native desktop knowledge management tool. Tech stack: Rust + Tauri, currently mainly for macOS.
It consolidates the features of Notion, Obsidian, and Claude code, making it more suitable for writers and text workers.
➤ Why I switched to this writing tool
By 2026, three trends are already evident:
1. AI Agents are invading local workflows — Claude Code, Codex CLI, Cursor, all directly read/write local files, making cloud notes more of a collaboration obstacle.
2. Local-first is shifting from a geek slogan to a mainstream demand — Notion had incidents, Evernote lost users, and people are increasingly wary of "data hosted on others' servers," insisting on controlling their own data.
3. Obsidian's plugin ecosystem is too heavy and not lightweight enough; using Notion takes time and causes lag, with huge memory consumption.
Tolaria hits the intersection of these three trends: control over local files × block editor experience × native AI Agent interface.
➤ Core features
1. Files-first: Your data is always yours
Each note is a pure local .md file + YAML Frontmatter. Can be opened with VS Code, Obsidian, cat, etc. Zero lock-in is not just marketing talk; it's a fact at the file system level.
What if Tolaria shuts down someday? No problem, your notes are unchanged—just drag and drop into Obsidian to continue using. This certainty is vital for long-term thinkers.
2. Git-first: Built-in native Git
The entire Vault is a Git repository, with direct commit / push / diff viewing inside the app.
Tolaria integrates this capability—not via plugins, paid subscriptions, or cloud hacks.
Fine-grained version history for individual notes is hugely valuable for investment analysis, long-form writing, and research. You can see changes and sync to the cloud anytime—proof of cognitive iteration.
3. AI-first: Architecture adapted for AI Agents, not just a chat box
Supports Claude, Codex, opencode.
Many note apps' so-called AI integration is just a chat box saying "I have AI now."
Tolaria's approach is completely different: because it's pure Markdown + Git repo, it naturally becomes the perfect working directory for agents like Claude Code and Codex CLI. You can directly let the agent `cd` into the Vault, read, write, modify, commit—all seamlessly connected.
AI isn't working inside your note app; your note library is inherently an AI workspace.
AI amplifies your capabilities, not replaces you. Tool autonomy is the real ammunition—by mastering the underlying tools, AI can truly amplify you.
4. Replaces Notion: Modern experience, say goodbye to cloud dependency
Slash commands + block editing, feels just like Notion.
"Types as lenses" is a clever concept—Notion's databases are too heavy, requiring table creation before writing. Tolaria lets you write freely first, then view with types.
No registration, no subscriptions, offline-only, instant opening.
5. Replaces Obsidian: Ready to use out of the box, no plugin maintenance hell
Native support for bidirectional links, drag-and-drop images, Types/Relations/Properties, command palette, Git sync—all built-in.
➤ Disadvantages/Risks: No hype, just facts
Too young — open source project just starting, bugs, stability, and performance are still being refined. Test in small environments before heavy production use.
macOS prioritized — Windows users are temporarily at a disadvantage — Tauri theoretically supports cross-platform, but the main focus is currently on Mac.
No mobile support — No scene for quick notes on mobile devices yet. If you often take notes on the subway or walking, this is a hard limitation.
Collaboration and sharing are weaker than Notion — Notion's "share a link for everyone to see" and multi-user collaboration are more suitable for personal use.
Ecosystem to build — Obsidian has a rich plugin ecosystem; Tolaria currently relies on the official set. Features are either sufficient or you’ll need to wait.
➤ Who it's suitable for, and who it's not
Suitable for:
Programmers / geeks / heavy AI tool users (Claude Code, Cursor, Codex CLI are daily tools)
Long-term thinkers who love Git and Markdown control, and hate being tied to the cloud
People tired of Obsidian plugins and want ready-made solutions
Researchers, long-form writers, investment analysts, workflow runners on Mac
Not suitable for:
Heavy mobile users (subway commuters, quick note takers)
Teams needing real-time collaboration + web sharing
Complete beginners who don’t know Git or get overwhelmed by command line