SilverBullet vs Tangent Notes
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | SilverBullet | Tangent Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 91 · Excellent | 75 · Good |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,142 | ★ 556 |
| First released | 2022 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Notion, Obsidian | Obsidian, Roam Research |
What are SilverBullet and Tangent Notes?
SilverBullet
SilverBullet is an extensible, Markdown-based note-taking web app that you can run on your own server and access from any browser. It targets users who want a programmable personal knowledge tool. It is deployed via Docker or Deno.
- Markdown-based with live queries
- Extensible via Space Script
- Works offline as a PWA
- Plain file storage
Tangent Notes
Tangent is a free, local-first note-taking application that stores notes as plain Markdown files and links them together into a connected map. It focuses on capturing and connecting ideas without a cloud dependency.
- Local-first storage
- Linked note map
- Plain Markdown files
- Session history
SilverBullet vs Tangent Notes: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. SilverBullet is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Tangent Notes. SilverBullet has the considerably larger community, at 6,142 GitHub stars versus 556. SilverBullet lists first-class Docker deployment; Tangent Notes does not.
Why pick each one
Choose SilverBullet if…
- Highly hackable
- Lightweight
- Files stay portable
Watch out for
- Niche and DIY-oriented
- Smaller community
Choose Tangent Notes if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in TypeScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is SilverBullet or Tangent Notes better?
Neither is universally better. SilverBullet has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are SilverBullet and Tangent Notes free and open-source?
Yes. SilverBullet is licensed under MIT and Tangent Notes under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run SilverBullet and Tangent Notes with Docker?
SilverBullet: yes. Tangent Notes: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, SilverBullet or Tangent Notes?
SilverBullet has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Tangent Notes. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.