Reflect
Fast personal notes with backlinks, calendar context, and AI assistance
Reflect's solo core is compact: build a local-first networked notes app with fast capture, full-text search, backlinks, tags, and Markdown export. A competent builder can reach a useful personal version in one sitting, while the paid product mainly wins on polish, sync, importers.
Build verification: not recorded. How we judge buildability
What you give up
- native mobile clients
- conflict-safe multi-device sync
- mature importers and exporters
- collaborative editing and sharing
- calendar-provider edge cases and timezone correctness
Why people still pay
Reflect: People pay for a writing surface they trust for years, plus migration tools, sync, and tiny interaction details that disappear into habit.
Your build guide
The stack, security requirements, and agent rules for a focused replacement.
Before you start
- Node and the Rust toolchain, a supported desktop build environment and an explicitly selected data folder. Remote sync is outside the initial scope.
- Implementation components: Tauri, React and TypeScript for the desktop interface with a narrowly scoped Rust filesystem bridge. SQLite for structured state and search; user-owned files for original documents and attachments.
- Scope boundary: native mobile clients; conflict-safe multi-device sync
Use these project rules and optional skill references alongside the prompt. Review each skill before adding it to your agent; the AGENTS.md export includes the same guidance.
Optional external skill: vercel-react-best-practices — Improve React and Next.js data fetching, rendering, bundle size and server performance. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Optional external skill: web-design-guidelines — Review web interfaces for accessibility, keyboard focus, forms, navigation and interaction quality. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Optional external skill: sharp-edges — Review security-sensitive APIs and configuration for dangerous defaults and easy-to-misuse interfaces. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Project rule — data model: daily notes, stable note IDs, backlinks, tags, revision files and optional local search embeddings
Project rule — preserve this invariant: A rename changes display text without breaking link identity; sync-folder conflicts create explicit copies rather than silently choosing a winner.
Project rule — acceptance evidence: Edit a note externally while the editor is open and review both versions; rebuilding the search index preserves all backlinks.
Implementation plan
Phase 1
Scope and fixtures. Implement this bounded workflow: Capture daily notes, link ideas and browse backlinks in a focused personal workspace. Search exact text first and export normal Markdown files with an attachment manifest. Record prerequisites, select representative user-owned fixtures and document the unsupported features: native mobile clients; conflict-safe multi-device sync
Phase 2
Durable model. Model daily notes, stable note IDs, backlinks, tags, revision files and optional local search embeddings Add migrations or a versioned document format, explicit validation, stable IDs and a visible import-error report. Preserve this rule: A rename changes display text without breaking link identity; sync-folder conflicts create explicit copies rather than silently choosing a winner.
Phase 3
Complete the first useful path. Implement the workflow's input, review and output interface, with clear controls and explicit empty/error states. Save edits atomically with stable IDs and revision history. Detect external file changes and offer a conflict copy instead of last-write-wins data loss.
Phase 4
Permissions and integration failure. Limit Tauri capabilities to selected folders and commands. Render imported content without executable HTML, and never expose arbitrary shell execution to the webview. Request integration credentials and permissions only for the enabled feature; show a disconnected state instead of mock results.
Phase 5
Portable handoff. Provide a portable folder export with a JSON manifest and original files. Restore to a separate folder; rebuild disposable indexes from sources. Include setup, operating limits, fixture walkthrough and shutdown/restart instructions in the README.
Phase 6
Acceptance scenarios. Edit a note externally while the editor is open and review both versions; rebuilding the search index preserves all backlinks. Repeat the workflow after restart and with a denied permission or unavailable dependency; show recoverable failure rather than a success placeholder.
WORKING SLICE Capture daily notes, link ideas and browse backlinks in a focused personal workspace. Search exact text first and export normal Markdown files with an attachment manifest. Build this scoped Reflect-inspired workflow with a documented data model and visible failure states. Architecture - Tauri, React and TypeScript for the desktop interface with a narrowly scoped Rust filesystem bridge. - SQLite for structured state and search; user-owned files for original documents and attachments. Prerequisites and limits Node and the Rust toolchain, a supported desktop build environment and an explicitly selected data folder. Remote sync is outside the initial scope. Outside this release: native mobile clients; conflict-safe multi-device sync Data model and correctness daily notes, stable note IDs, backlinks, tags, revision files and optional local search embeddings Invariant: A rename changes display text without breaking link identity; sync-folder conflicts create explicit copies rather than silently choosing a winner. Save edits atomically with stable IDs and revision history. Detect external file changes and offer a conflict copy instead of last-write-wins data loss. Security and privacy Limit Tauri capabilities to selected folders and commands. Render imported content without executable HTML, and never expose arbitrary shell execution to the webview. Recovery and export Provide a portable folder export with a JSON manifest and original files. Restore to a separate folder; rebuild disposable indexes from sources. Implementation order 1. Phase 1 — Scope and fixtures. Implement this bounded workflow: Capture daily notes, link ideas and browse backlinks in a focused personal workspace. Search exact text first and export normal Markdown files with an attachment manifest. Record prerequisites, select representative user-owned fixtures and document the unsupported features: native mobile clients; conflict-safe multi-device sync 2. Phase 2 — Durable model. Model daily notes, stable note IDs, backlinks, tags, revision files and optional local search embeddings Add migrations or a versioned document format, explicit validation, stable IDs and a visible import-error report. Preserve this rule: A rename changes display text without breaking link identity; sync-folder conflicts create explicit copies rather than silently choosing a winner. 3. Phase 3 — Complete the first useful path. Implement the workflow's input, review and output interface, with clear controls and explicit empty/error states. Save edits atomically with stable IDs and revision history. Detect external file changes and offer a conflict copy instead of last-write-wins data loss. 4. Phase 4 — Permissions and integration failure. Limit Tauri capabilities to selected folders and commands. Render imported content without executable HTML, and never expose arbitrary shell execution to the webview. Request integration credentials and permissions only for the enabled feature; show a disconnected state instead of mock results. 5. Phase 5 — Portable handoff. Provide a portable folder export with a JSON manifest and original files. Restore to a separate folder; rebuild disposable indexes from sources. Include setup, operating limits, fixture walkthrough and shutdown/restart instructions in the README. 6. Phase 6 — Acceptance scenarios. Edit a note externally while the editor is open and review both versions; rebuilding the search index preserves all backlinks. Repeat the workflow after restart and with a denied permission or unavailable dependency; show recoverable failure rather than a success placeholder. Acceptance Edit a note externally while the editor is open and review both versions; rebuilding the search index preserves all backlinks. Use real source data or clearly labeled fixtures. Explain unsupported input and provider failures; do not fabricate analytics, delivery receipts, accuracy claims or security guarantees. Optional agent guidance Optional external skill: [vercel-react-best-practices](https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/blob/main/skills/react-best-practices/SKILL.md) — Improve React and Next.js data fetching, rendering, bundle size and server performance. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission. Optional external skill: [web-design-guidelines](https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/blob/main/skills/web-design-guidelines/SKILL.md) — Review web interfaces for accessibility, keyboard focus, forms, navigation and interaction quality. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission. Optional external skill: [sharp-edges](https://github.com/trailofbits/skills/blob/main/plugins/sharp-edges/skills/sharp-edges/SKILL.md) — Review security-sensitive APIs and configuration for dangerous defaults and easy-to-misuse interfaces. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission. Project rule — data model: daily notes, stable note IDs, backlinks, tags, revision files and optional local search embeddings Project rule — preserve this invariant: A rename changes display text without breaking link identity; sync-folder conflicts create explicit copies rather than silently choosing a winner. Project rule — acceptance evidence: Edit a note externally while the editor is open and review both versions; rebuilding the search index preserves all backlinks.
$ open in your agent (prompt prefilled, you press enter), copy the prompt or copy or download AGENTS.md · generated from this app's build plan
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Reflect pricing
| plan | monthly | annual (per mo) | what you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| reflect | — | $10/user | One plan with networked notes, web clipper, Kindle sync, end-to-end encryption, iOS app and AI; no numeric note/storage caps publishedBilled $120/year; 14-day trial. |
free tierno permanent free tier; 14-day free trial
billingannual only on the public page ($120/year = $10/month); auto-renews
hidden costsNo monthly checkout price or numeric usage/storage limits are published. Paid fees are generally non-refundable.
pricing sources checked 2026-08-13 · pricing source ↗
Questions about Reflect
Can you build your own Reflect with AI?
The verdict is yes for the scoped workflow. Reflect's solo core is compact: build a local-first networked notes app with fast capture, full-text search, backlinks, tags, and Markdown export. A competent builder can reach a useful personal version in one sitting, while the paid product mainly wins on polish, sync, importers.
What does the Reflect build prompt cover?
The prompt starts with this scope: Capture daily notes, link ideas and browse backlinks in a focused personal workspace. Search exact text first and export normal Markdown files with an attachment manifest. Full-product capabilities excluded from the comparison include: native mobile clients; conflict-safe multi-device sync; mature importers and exporters. Follow the implementation plan and its prerequisites before expanding the build.
How do I use the prompt, AGENTS.md and agent skills?
Start with the Reflect prerequisites and stack, then copy the prompt into your coding agent. Save the project rules as AGENTS.md in the project root. Linked skills are optional packages or source instructions for specific tasks; review their current contents and install only those matching the chosen stack. A skill does not supply API credentials or verify the finished app.
How long will this Reflect project take?
The catalogue estimate is one sitting for the limited scope. Setup, integration approvals, debugging, deployment and ongoing maintenance can add time. This is an estimate, not a delivery guarantee.
What would I give up by replacing Reflect?
native mobile clients; conflict-safe multi-device sync; mature importers and exporters; collaborative editing and sharing; calendar-provider edge cases and timezone correctness. Reflect: People pay for a writing surface they trust for years, plus migration tools, sync, and tiny interaction details that disappear into habit.
What can I use instead of building Reflect?
Logseq: Daily notes, backlinks and block references; calendar context is native, AI is optional. Obsidian: Fast local notes and backlinks, with calendar and AI supplied by one-click plugins. Check each option's license, hosting needs and feature limits.