I wrote my own Notes app, for much of the same reason: I want to control the data, and keep it local on the device (not synced to a cloud service). The major f

I wrote my own Notes app, for much of the same reason: I want to control the data, and keep it local on the device (not synced to a cloud service). The major feature that was lacking with the built-in Notes app is a folder hierarchy. When I have ideas about software I want to code, hardware I want to build, or a shopping list, or a band I want to check out - I don't want these to all be stored in one long "Notes (723)" news feed where I'll forget it if I don't handle it immediately. Back in the days of the iPod (call me old), it was easy to have a folder hierarchy for Notes (though I admit that they weren't editable). There were third-party apps like Check Off that would sync a to-do list automatically, but only as a single file. When the iPhone arrived, iTunes gained the ability to sync Notes, but only as a flat folder structure. It's true that SQL doesn't have folder hierarchy so it's harder to code, but I'd rather categorise ideas like they come in my mind! Apple removed the feature of local Notes sync in Mac OS 10.9 Mavericks. Calendars stuck around a little longer, but I moved to BusyCal when the GUI was redesigned in 10.10. Currently I'm using Mac OS Server 5.6 on Mac OS 10.13 to host a local calendar and email server. Apple removed Calendars and Contacts from Mac OS Server in Mac OS 10.14 Mojave. The recommended replacement is CalendarServer, Copyright (c) 2005-2017 with a note that says "The developers ... have each moved on to other projects". Apple recommended this in December 18, 2019 according to the "Published date". https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208312 https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208312 Apple removed syncing Apps with iTunes 12.7. The message is clear: Apple are not interested in letting you manage your digital life - you must use iCloud and store it on their own servers. https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/86890 https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/86890 I miss the Digital Hub strategy where there is a Source of Truth that isn't owned by Apple or Google. The cloud is just someone else's computer, and if/when Apple/Google/Spotify/Facebook decided to lock me out of my account, I don't want to lose my photos, notes, music, contacts, bookmarks, calendars. https://xkcd.com/908/ https://xkcd.com/908/