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WhyNote

WhyNote

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github.comProductivity0Updated 11w ago
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About WhyNote

WhyNote is a zero-dependency, read-only MCP server for searching and reading notes in one WhyNote account. It also lists todos and provides access to notes by date.

Key features

  1. 01Search note lines by case-insensitive substring
  2. 02List incomplete or all todos
  3. 03Read a complete note for a date
  4. 04Browse existing notes around an anchor date
  5. 05Read-only access using a token

Use cases

  1. 01Find a passage in WhyNote notes
  2. 02Review incomplete todos
  3. 03Read notes from a specific day or nearby days

MCP support

WhyNote exposes note search, todo listing, and date-based note reading as tools for MCP clients. It accepts a read-only token and provides no write tool.

Configuration

Local server config is the same for every client. Copy it into your client’s MCP config file.

mcp.json · Universal config
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "coooolinz-why-note": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "why-note-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "NOTE_URL": "<NOTE_URL>",
        "NOTE_TOKEN": "<NOTE_TOKEN>"
      }
    }
  }
}
Run commandnpx -y why-note-mcp
Environment variables to set
NOTE_URLBase URL of the WhyNote service
NOTE_TOKENSecretRead-only token generated in WhyNote settings

Local servers need a runtime on your machine (e.g. Node.js 18+). Config file locations differ by client; see your client’s docs.

Packages
npmwhy-note-mcp0.1.0

Tools

4

Saved tool list · updated 3w ago

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
qstringYesSubstring to search for.
offsetintegerNo

Details

From the project README

WhyNote MCP

A zero-dependency, read-only Model Context Protocol server for searching and reading the notes in one WhyNote account.

Install

Generate a read-only token in WhyNote settings, then configure your MCP client to run npx -y why-note-mcp with NOTE_URL and NOTE_TOKEN.

Generic project configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "note": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "why-note-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "NOTE_URL": "https://note.example.com",
        "NOTE_TOKEN": "<read-only-token>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Claude Code:

claude mcp add --scope user note \
  -e NOTE_URL=https://note.example.com \
  -e NOTE_TOKEN='<read-only-token>' \
  -- npx -y why-note-mcp

Codex CLI:

codex mcp add note \
  --env NOTE_URL=https://note.example.com \
  --env NOTE_TOKEN='<read-only-token>' \
  -- npx -y why-note-mcp

Values written directly in a command may be retained in shell history. Edit the client configuration instead if that is a concern.

Node.js 18 or newer is required.

Tools

  • search: search note lines by case-insensitive substring
  • todos: list incomplete or all todo items
  • read_day: read one date's complete note and etag
  • recent_days: read existing note days around an anchor date

Security

The server reads NOTE_URL and NOTE_TOKEN only from its environment. It sends the token only as a Bearer credential to the configured WhyNote URL. It never receives the account password and exposes no write tool.

Changing the WhyNote account password revokes its read-only tokens. Generate a new token in WhyNote settings when a token expires or is revoked.

Development

npm ci
npm test
npm run pack:check

The test suite uses a local fake HTTP service; it does not require a WhyNote account, network access, or third-party dependencies.

License

MIT

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