Getting started

Install Rope Notes, open a project, and learn the editor, panels, and agent basics.

Install and run

  1. Get a license and download Rope Notes.
  2. Install the build for your platform (desktop AppImage / native packages, or the mobile app where available) and launch it.
  3. To use the AI agent, start Ollama (default http://localhost:11434) or configure your preferred backend under Preferences → Agent.

Open a project

  1. Launch Rope Notes.
  2. Use File → Open Folder… (or open a file from the command line / file picker).
  3. The Explorer panel shows the project tree. Click a file to open it in a tab.

On Android, choose a document tree the first time you open a folder; Rope Notes remembers that access for the project.

Orient yourself

AreaWhat it is
EditorCenter tabs — your open files
Browser panelsDockable side/top/bottom panels (Explorer, Git, Agent, Terminal, …)
FooterLanguage, cursor position, zoom; sync status icon (opens Preferences)
PreferencesIn-app settings tab (view layout, agent, LSP, sync, file recovery, sessions)

Toggle the browser bar with Ctrl/Cmd+B, or a browser panel with Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+B. See shortcuts.

Suggested first workflow

  1. Open a project folder.
  2. Open a few files from Explorer.
  3. Try Ctrl/Cmd+F for find, or open a .md file and switch to Markdown preview mode.
  4. On desktop: open the Terminal panel (Ctrl/Cmd+`).
  5. Open the Agent panel, pick a model provider, and ask a simple question about the project, or an open file using @filename.

Where settings live

  • Per-project settings and agent history live under .rope_notes/ inside the project (preferences, permissions, sessions, sync state).
  • Global choices (e.g. last folder, some agent defaults) are stored with the app.

See Preferences for what you can change in the UI.

Next steps