FAQ
FAQ
Honest answers to the questions people ask first.
Is Scaffold really free, and will it stay free?
Yes. There is no subscription, no premium tier, no trial and no advertising, and every feature is available to everyone.
Nobody can promise the future, but Scaffold is built so that free does not depend on a promise. The app runs entirely on your device, so a build you have downloaded keeps working whatever happens to this website. Your notes are plain files you can open with any other program.
Do I need an account?
No. There is no sign-up and no sign-in. You open the app, choose or create a folder, and write.
There is also nothing on this website that asks for an email address.
How is it funded, and how can there be no sync server?
Scaffold runs no servers that hold your data: no sync server, no accounts, no analytics, no hosted publishing. The usual reasons to charge money for a notes app, such as paying for servers, simply do not apply.
The only infrastructure is this static website. There is no donation or payment flow in the app or on this site, and nothing is sold or promoted inside the app.
How do I sync between my devices, then?
Bring your own sync. A vault is a folder, so any tool that syncs folders works, as does Git or a plain copy to a USB stick.
If a file changes on two devices, Scaffold keeps both versions rather than overwriting either. Optional sync between your devices is coming in a later update; it is not in the current version.
Is the source code public?
No, the source code is private. Because of that, it is worth being clear about what protects you: your notes are stored in open formats (Markdown, JSON Canvas, YAML) in a folder you control, so you never depend on the program to read them, and the app does not need the network for any core feature. The only request it makes on its own is the optional daily update check, and only if you said yes to it.
You can check both network claims yourself with a firewall or network monitor. The security page describes the design and its limits, including that there has been no independent audit yet.
Can I open a folder of notes I already have?
Yes. Open any folder of Markdown files as a vault. Scaffold indexes the files where they are, without copying or converting anything. Wikilinks, tags, frontmatter properties and canvas files are understood.
Scaffold keeps its own settings in a .scaffold folder and leaves hidden configuration folders that other tools created exactly as they are, so other programs can keep working on the same files.
What happens to my notes if Scaffold stops being developed?
Nothing happens to them. They are .md files in a folder. Open them in any editor, or move them to another app. Scaffold keeps its own data in a hidden .scaffold folder, which you can ignore.
Which platforms does it run on?
Windows 10 and 11, and Android 7.0 or newer. Preview builds of both are on the download page: an installer for Windows and an APK you install yourself on Android. On Android, vaults live in the app’s own storage for now. macOS and Linux builds are not available yet, and no dates are promised.
Does Scaffold collect any data about me?
No. The app has no analytics or telemetry. This website sets no cookies, loads no third-party scripts or fonts, and runs no analytics.
No network unless you allow it: the only automatic request is the optional daily update check, which you choose on first launch and which sends no personal data. A plugin can only reach the network if you grant it the network permission.
How do updates work?
From 0.2.0 on, Scaffold updates from inside the app, with no reinstall. On first launch it asks "Check for updates automatically?". Say yes and it checks this website once a day; say no and it only checks when you press Check for updates now in Settings.
Still on 0.1.x? Download 0.2.0 once and install it over your existing app. Do not uninstall first: on Android, uninstalling deletes the notes stored in the app.
Does Scaffold have a calendar or reminders?
Yes, since 0.2.0. The planner has Day, 2-, 3- and 4-day, Week and Month views, a Today page, repeating events, habits with streaks and an Inbox you drag onto the calendar. Reminders show as notifications on Windows and Android.
Every event is a normal note with a few frontmatter lines, so it stays readable in any editor. You can also import .ics calendar files.
Why does Windows warn me when I install it?
Preview builds are not signed with a paid certificate, so Windows SmartScreen shows "Windows protected your PC". Choose More info, then Run anyway.
Check the SHA-256 checksum on the download page against the file you downloaded. If they match, the file is the one that was published.
Are plugins safe?
Plugins are off until you turn the plugin system on, and each plugin starts with every permission off. Nothing downloads or runs automatically, and there is no plugin store. Even so, a plugin is code: install only ones you trust.
Does it work offline?
Yes, completely. Reading, writing, search, the graph, canvas, the planner and reminders all run on your device with no connection. Only the optional update check needs a connection.
Where do I report a problem or ask something?
Start with the troubleshooting guide, which covers the common install and vault problems. For anything else use the contact page.