📖 Open Source
Transparency builds trust. See exactly what code runs on your device.
Our Philosophy
We believe that privacy-focused software should be auditable. That's why the core of Better Keep Notes is open source. You can inspect our encryption implementation, verify there are no backdoors, and even contribute improvements.
At the same time, we need to sustain development. That's why our hosted backend and some operational tooling remain proprietary. This "open core" model lets us be transparent while maintaining a sustainable business.
What's Open vs. Gated
| Component | Status | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Flutter UI (all screens) | Open Source | Full transparency on user experience |
| Encryption logic (E2EE) | Open Source | Security must be auditable |
| Local database schemas | Open Source | Your data format should be open |
| Entitlement definitions | Open Source | Know exactly what each plan offers |
| Sync protocol | Open Source | Interoperability and trust |
| Firebase Security Rules | Open Source | Verify server-side access control |
| Cloud Functions | Open Source | Full transparency on server-side logic |
| Backend configuration | Open Source | See how everything is set up |
| Subscription verification | Open Source | Understand how entitlements work |
| API keys & secrets | Private | Security - use your own credentials |
Why Open Source Matters
Transparency
See exactly what the app does with your data. No hidden tracking, no secret backdoors.
Security Auditing
Security researchers can verify our encryption implementation and report vulnerabilities.
Community
Developers can contribute features, fix bugs, and improve the app for everyone.
Learn & Build
Use our code as a reference for building your own Flutter apps with encryption.
License
CC BY-NC 4.0 License
Better Keep Notes is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. This means you can:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit and link to the license
- NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes
Contributing
We welcome contributions! Here's how you can help:
Bug Reports
Found a bug? Open an issue on GitHub with steps to reproduce.
Feature Requests
Have an idea? Open a discussion and let's talk about it.
Pull Requests
Ready to code? Fork the repo, make your changes, and submit a PR. Please follow our coding standards.
Security Issues
Please report security vulnerabilities privately via email to security@betterkeep.app.
Explore the Code
Star us on GitHub, open issues, or contribute code. Let's build great software together.
View on GitHub