Show HN: OBTF-2, simple notes with screenshots
james_marks Monday, January 05, 2026OBTF stands for “One Big Text File”. It's a style of keeping notes that’s effective for many people, myself included.
Basically, just keep writing in a big text file, sometimes adding the date. OBTF-2 is an app for editing that text-file. It’s hyper-focused on reducing friction to keeping notes. In many ways, it’s defined as much by what it doesn’t do:
OBTF-2 does not:
- Require a subscription - Allow you to choose the font, style, or color - Support categories of notes or tagging - Sync your notes across devices - Support markdown, syntax highlighting, LaTeX, etc
All of these things turn into decisions that need to be made to take a note. They are distractions to the actual thing you’re trying to do. If you need that stuff, that’s fine–– but OBTF-2 is not for you.
What it does, OBTF-2 strives to do well:
- Provide a dedicated place for notes - Reduce friction to keeping notes - Display images (like screenshots) alongside text - Find stuff in your notes - Keep your notes readable a long time from now
It's very much in beta, give it a shot at your own risk. MacOS only for now.