TransNote for Ubuntu

TransNote is a GNOME Shell extension for keeping and sharing small notes between trusted computers.

This is the Ubuntu GNOME version of TransNote for Omarchy. Ubuntu and Omarchy computers can share notes through a synchronized folder.

Features

• Create local notes
• Copy and delete notes
• Share and unshare notes
• Comments
• File attachments and image previews
• Note background colors
• Compact expandable note cards
• Switch between List and two-column Grid views; opening a grid note keeps its details next to that note
• Popup height adapts to the display
• Contextual note search by title, body, and author
• Red unread indicator for new peer notes and comments
• Automatic peer polling
• Share notes through a synchronized folder
• Deleted or unshared notes stay removed from other computers
• Built-in Syncthing-assisted device pairing
• Setup-code pairing between computers
• Pairing adds the other computer as trusted
• Approve new computer connections and shared-folder invitations
• Start setup-code pairing from either computer
• Automatic first-run machine name
• Automatic default sync folder on first run
• Advanced controls for machine name, shared folder, trusted peers, and diagnostics

Requirements

• Ubuntu with GNOME Shell 46 or 50
• Git and Node.js
• Syncthing for built-in device pairing, or another tool to synchronize a shared folder

Install Git and Node.js:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install git nodejs

For built-in device pairing, also install and start Syncthing:

sudo apt install syncthing
systemctl --user enable --now syncthing.service

Installation

mkdir -p ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions

git clone --branch main --single-branch \
  https://github.com/ariDev1/transNote-ubuntu.git \
  ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/transnote@aridev1

gnome-extensions enable transnote@aridev1

If TransNote does not appear after installation, enable it from a terminal:

gnome-extensions enable transnote@aridev1

To reload the extension without logging out, toggle it off and on in Extensions, or run:

gnome-extensions disable transnote@aridev1
gnome-extensions enable transnote@aridev1

On X11, Alt+F2, then r, also reloads GNOME Shell. That shortcut is not available on Wayland.

Updating

EXTENSION_DIR="$HOME/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/transnote@aridev1"

git -C "$EXTENSION_DIR" fetch origin main
git -C "$EXTENSION_DIR" switch main
git -C "$EXTENSION_DIR" pull --ff-only origin main

gnome-extensions disable transnote@aridev1
gnome-extensions enable transnote@aridev1

If Git reports local changes when switching branches, preserve or commit them before updating.

Device sync setup

Open TransNote → Setup.

On first launch, TransNote creates a name for the computer and a default shared-folder location. You can change these in Setup.

For normal setup:

1. Select Start new sync on either computer.
2. Copy Your setup code.
3. Open TransNote on the other computer.
4. Paste the code under Join existing sync.
5. Select Connect.
6. If the code came from a new computer and the receiving computer already has an established TransNote share, return to the new computer and accept the Pending computer connection.
7. Accept the Pending TransNote folder if it appears.

Pairing adds the other computer to the trusted list automatically. If either computer already has a TransNote shared folder, follow the in-app prompts to join that folder.

Normal setup does not require manual Syncthing device IDs, folder IDs, the Syncthing web interface, or terminal commands.

The Advanced section keeps the technical controls available when they are required:

• Machine name
• Shared folder
• Trusted peers
• Folder creation
• Manual save and status check
• LAN and Syncthing diagnostics

Keep the machine name stable after you start to share notes.

If you already synchronize a folder with Syncthing or another service, you can use it with TransNote without setting up an additional sync service.

Only notes you explicitly share are synchronized.

Data

Local TransNote data is stored in:

~/.local/share/transnote/

The main local note file is:

~/.local/share/transnote/notes.json

A backup is kept as:

~/.local/share/transnote/notes.json.bak

Shared notes are stored in the selected synchronized folder.

Optional automation

An optional local Agent CLI can create and manage notes. Install or remove it from the repository with:

./tools/install-agent-cli.sh
./tools/uninstall-agent-cli.sh

Agent-created notes are private unless sharing is explicitly requested. An optional OpenCode adapter is available for users of OpenCode:

./tools/opencode/install.sh
./tools/opencode/run.sh
./tools/opencode/uninstall.sh

The adapter provides dedicated TransNote tools rather than general shell access.

Links

• TransNote for Omarchy
• TransNote for Ubuntu