Vesper

Getting started ​

This takes about two minutes. You need a GitHub or Google account and a device that can save a passkey.

1. Sign in ​

Open noted-this.date and choose Continue with GitHub or Continue with Google. Signing in only tells Vesper who you are. It does not open your content; the passkey does that.

The first 100 workspaces are open. After that, new accounts join a waiting list and are let in as places free up. Sign in again later to see whether yours has opened.

2. Pick a nickname ​

The nickname becomes the address of your public page, {nickname}.noted-this.date. It is 3 to 32 lowercase letters, digits or hyphens, and it cannot be changed later. The public page is off unless you turn it on, so nobody sees the nickname until then.

3. Create a passkey ​

Choose Set passkey and create. Your browser asks where to save the passkey. Pick one that syncs between your devices:

  • iCloud Keychain on Apple devices
  • Google Password Manager on Android and Chrome
  • 1Password, or another password manager whose passkeys support PRF

The passkey is the only key to your workspace. Before the workspace is created, you tick a box to confirm you understand that losing every passkey means losing the content. Passkeys and privacy explains why and how to avoid it.

If the browser says the passkey cannot unlock Vesper, it does not support the PRF extension Vesper needs. Try one of the stores above; some security keys and older systems do not support it yet.

4. Choose a plan ​

Next you see Free and Pro side by side. Start with Free if you are not sure; you can upgrade any time in Settings → Plan and data.

5. Write the first entry ​

Click the note at the top of the timeline, type, and press Save or ⌘ + Enter (Ctrl + Enter on Windows and Linux). Add tags in the line under the text and drop in up to four photos. Writing has the details.

6. Install it (optional) ​

Vesper has no app store app. You can install the site instead, and it opens in its own window with its own icon:

  • Chrome or Edge: the install button at the right of the address bar.
  • Safari on a Mac: File → Add to Dock.
  • iPhone and iPad: Share → Add to Home Screen.
  • Android: the browser menu → Add to Home screen.

Day to day ​

Vesper locks itself 12 hours after you unlock it, and when you press the lock button in the header. Unlocking asks for your passkey again. You stay signed in for 30 days.

The header also has a theme switch (system, light, dark) and a language switch (English, 中文).