CherryTree — The Complete Guide: A Hierarchical Technical Notebook With Code, Tables and Equations
CherryTree is an open-source notes app in which each entry is a node in a tree. Each node can combine formatted text, syntax-highlighted code, tables, attachments and LaTeX equations. It suits a technical notebook, documentation of system settings, a collection of formulas and project summaries.
CherryTree
Giuseppe Penone
Hierarchical notes in a tree, with rich text, code boxes and tables — a whole technical notebook in one file.
Get it from the vendorWhat you get
- Tree of entries — project, topic and sub-topic, at any depth.
- Syntax-highlighted code — keep scripts and commands.
- Tables and equations — including LaTeX equations.
- One file — the whole notebook in SQLite or XML, optionally password-protected.
- Export — to PDF and HTML.
Who it suits
An engineer who wants one place for all personal know-how: recurring formulas, software settings, useful commands and a summary of every project. Because everything is in one file, it is easy to move between computers and back up. It is less suited to real-time collaborative work.
Related tools
For a wiki stored as text files — Zim. For notes synced between devices — Joplin. For a hierarchical knowledge base with advanced features — Trilium Notes.
Zim Desktop Wiki
Jaap Karssenberg
A desktop wiki that stores pages as plain text files — project logbooks, procedures and meeting notes.
Get it from the vendor
Joplin
Joplin
Notes and to-do app with encrypted sync — site diaries, checklists and project documentation.
Get it from the vendor
Trilium Notes
TriliumNext community
A hierarchical knowledge base for large engineering notebooks — code, canvas, diagrams, encryption and self-hosted sync.
Get it from the vendorObsidian
Obsidian
A local knowledge base of Markdown files with links and a graph view — for project notes, design decisions and lessons learned.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
CherryTree keeps a tidy technical notebook in one portable, protected file. Open source and free for commercial use too.