scrap

scrap

scrap is a free and open-source scratchpad designed for macOS that integrates seamlessly into your Mac's menu bar. It provides a practical solution for users who seek a simple, keyboard-first experience for taking notes. With a default of seven plain Markdown pads, it offers customizable features without any account requirements or data lock-in.

Key Features

• Plain Text Files: Notes are stored as plain Markdown files (1.md ... N.md) in a designated folder, with iCloud Drive set as the default. This ensures easy access and sharing without the hassle of export.
• Intuitive Navigation and Search: Users can easily navigate between pads using keyboard shortcuts (⌘1 to ⌘9) and quickly search the content of all pads with ⌘K, making it easy to locate information even with typos.
• Live Markdown Editing: Notes are styled in real-time, with Markdown syntax (such as headers and code formats) visually minimized. This feature is complemented by a choice of nine themes in both light and dark modes, along with color coding for languages in code blocks.
• Raw View Mode: Activate the raw view (⌥⌘R) to display all text formatting, providing clarity on how notes are structured.
• Minimal Resource Usage: As a native Swift application, scrap does not utilize web views or Electron frameworks, resulting in low memory usage (approximately 25–60 MB) and minimal CPU consumption when idle.
• Task Management: Incorporate task tracking with smart bullet options and checkboxes (- [ ]) that allow easy flipping between open and completed tasks.
• Versatile Display Options: The application can operate as a popover or a resizable window, providing flexibility in workspace arrangement.
• Command-Line Interface (CLI): Users can interact with scrap through commands such as scrap add "buy milk", scrap show 2, or scrap list for efficient note management.
• Sync-Safe Design: In the event of conflicting versions from synchronization, both versions of a pad are preserved, minimizing data loss risks.

Additional Functionality

scrap supports various keyboard shortcuts for a smoother workflow, such as showing/hiding the app (⌃⌥Space), navigating between pads (⌘[, ⌘]), and adjusting font sizes (⌘+, ⌘-, ⌘0).

Configuration Flexibility

Users can configure optional settings in a JSON file (~/.config/scrap/config.json) to specify folder locations and the number of pads. For example:

{ "folder": "~/notes", "pads": 7 }

Integration with Other Tools

The app supports scrap:// links for easy communication with other applications, allowing users to open pads or add text directly. For instance:

scrap://add?text=buy%20milk&pad=3

Development and Contribution

Developers interested in contributing can build and test the application using Swift and follow the project’s guidelines documented in the repository.

Feedback and Community Engagement

As a free tool, scrap encourages community feedback. Users can report bugs or suggest features through the issues and discussions sections on GitHub, while stars on the repository help enhance visibility.