cabinet vs siyuan
Self-hosted knowledge workspaces compared
cabinet and siyuan both help people organize knowledge in workspaces they can host or control. cabinet centers on Markdown files and AI-agent workflows, while siyuan focuses on linked content blocks and personal knowledge-management tools.
cabinet: Build a Self-Hosted AI Knowledge Base
Cabinet combines a local, Markdown-based knowledge base with AI agents, scheduled jobs, and team workflows. It is aimed at people who want persistent AI context and automation while keeping their files on disk and under their control.
siyuan: Build a Self-Hosted Knowledge Workspace
SiYuan is a privacy-first workspace for organizing notes as linked, addressable content blocks. It combines a visual Markdown editor, knowledge-management tools, and optional AI features, with desktop, mobile, and self-hosted deployment options.
| cabinet | siyuan | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Stars | 2.9k | 46.6k |
| Forks | 302 | 3k |
| Last analyzed | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
Key differences
- cabinet stores notes as Markdown files on disk with Git-backed history; siyuan organizes knowledge around linked, referenceable content blocks.
- cabinet adds agent workspaces, scheduled jobs, missions, tasks, and team chat; siyuan offers backlinks, databases, flashcards, and document structuring tools.
- cabinet's agent tasks use local Claude Code or Codex CLI adapters; siyuan provides AI writing and question-answer chat through the OpenAI API.
- cabinet is a local web application; siyuan offers desktop and mobile apps, a CLI, and Docker hosting, with Docker hosting limited to browser access.
- cabinet uses the MIT license; siyuan uses AGPL-3.0, which is relevant when modifying and distributing it or offering it as a network service.
- siyuan has 46.6k stars and 3k forks, compared with cabinet's 2.9k stars and 302 forks.
Choose cabinet if you…
- want Markdown files on disk with Git-backed history and portable project context.
- need AI agents, scheduled jobs, and team workflows in a local workspace.
- are comfortable running a local web app and configuring Claude Code or Codex CLI.
Choose siyuan if you…
- want block-level links, backlinks, and structured knowledge across documents.
- need features such as flashcards, outlines, and export options for notes and long documents.
- prefer desktop or mobile apps, or want browser-based Docker hosting.
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This comparison is generated with AI from the OSRepos analyses of both projects. Always check each project's repository and documentation before choosing.