[Feature] Zen Notes Component – Integrated Browser Notes Feature

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Feature Request: Integrated Notes Component for Zen Browser

Summary

Add an integrated Notes component to Zen Browser that allows users to capture, organize, and retrieve notes without leaving the browser. The feature should be tightly integrated with the browsing experience, supporting contextual note-taking linked to pages, tabs, and browsing sessions — while remaining lightweight and privacy-conscious.

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Goals

• Tight integration with Zen Browser — notes should feel native.
• Quick access — minimal clicks to open, write, and save a note.
• Context awareness — notes can be linked to specific tabs, URLs, or sessions.
• Cross-device sync (future milestone) — via existing Zen sync infrastructure.
• Lightweight storage — minimal performance impact.

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User Stories

• As a researcher, I want to take notes linked to the page I’m viewing so I can recall them when I revisit the page.
• As a casual user, I want a simple scratchpad I can pop open for quick jotting without leaving my browsing flow.
• As a power user, I want to search my notes by keyword or filter by tags so I can quickly find past information.
• As a privacy-conscious user, I want my notes stored locally by default so I can control where my data lives.

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Requirements

MVP

• Sidebar-accessible Notes panel (toggleable via UI button or shortcut).

• Create, edit, and delete notes.

• Auto-save on blur or after a short typing pause (e.g., 2 seconds).

• Link notes to:

  • Current page URL (optional toggle)
  • General “scratchpad” mode (not tied to URL)

• Tagging system (basic free-text tags).

• Search across all notes.

• Local storage (IndexedDB or file-based storage within profile folder).

Future Enhancements

• Sync across devices via Zen account.
• Rich text formatting (headings, bullet points, code blocks).
• Highlight-based note creation (select text → right-click → “Add to Notes”).
• Note history / versioning.
• Export/import notes (Markdown, JSON).

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UX Considerations

• Panel uses Zen’s visual language and adaptive theming.
• Keyboard shortcut for quick toggle (e.g., Ctrl+Shift+N / Cmd+Shift+N).
• Inline note indicator for pages with existing notes (icon in address bar).
• Minimal performance impact when inactive.

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Non-Goals (MVP)

• Sync service integration.
• Complex WYSIWYG editor — plain text + tags only.
• Collaborative notes (single-user only).

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Technical Notes

• Storage: IndexedDB for structured search; fallback to JSON file in profile directory.
• Context linking: Store URL, timestamp, and optional favicon.
• Search: Client-side only in MVP.
• Security: All data local unless sync enabled.

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Success Metrics

• Create a note from any tab in ≤ 3 clicks.
• Notes panel loads in < 500ms on first open.

• 80% positive sentiment in post-release user feedback.

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Open Questions

• Should notes be linkable to domains instead of specific URLs?
• Should tagging be optional or required?
• Best method to indicate linked notes without cluttering UI?

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[CoosForest]

Vivaldi Browser has this feature