# Self-hosted note-taking application > Deploy the memos self-hosted note-taking application quickly using Docker. Learn how to use its simple features - Markdown, checklists, tags, and image pasting. ---  **TL;DR** This article introduces 'memos', a lightweight and simple self-hosted note-taking application perfect for developers' daily reminders and tasks. The guide provides a complete walkthrough of installing memos using a custom Docker Compose setup, emphasizing how to configure it for data persistence and correct file permissions. You'll learn how to get started, create notes using Markdown and checklists, organize them with tags, and use advanced filters called 'shortcuts'. The post also highlights practical features like the ability to paste images directly into your notes. As a developer, I'm working all day on a computer and sometimes (too often in fact), at the end of the day, I send myself an email for tomorrow's me *Don't forget to ...*, *you have to continue \[a task]*, *I stopped at \[a file], I have to continue the others*, in short, I use my inbox like a to-dos/to-remember manager. Can we do better? Of course, but which tool should I choose? What I'd like: to be able to write notes very easily, for some notes to be tasks (a checkbox is enough for me) and for me to be able to copy/paste images such as a screenshot. Ideally, I'd like to have a local website that I can consult every day as a reminder. Simplicity is the key. There are a lot of applications but, because I really need one simple and fast (it's the end of the day, I should leave for my train, hop hop, a few seconds, ok, the note for tomorrow has been created), I've tried **[memos](https://www.usememos.com/)** and I appreciate it a lot.  ## Let's install memos This time, I will not suggest to use the temporary folder since we'll need to keep track of our notes, pasted images, ... on our disk during the next couple of days, weeks or months. *This is done with a [Docker volume](/blog/docker-volume): the container can be destroyed and recreated, your notes stay on your disk.* So, please run `mkdir -p ~/tools/memos && cd $_` to create a folder in your home directory and jump in it. Then, please create a file called `compose.yaml` with this content: **compose.yaml** ```yaml name: tools services: memos: image: neosmemo/memos:stable container_name: memos init: true user: ${UID:-1000}:${GID:-1000} ports: - "5230:5230" volumes: - ./data:/var/opt/memos restart: unless-stopped ``` > **Note:** > > The line `user: ${UID:-1000}:${GID:-1000}` will ask Docker to use a specific user (not the `root` one) while creating files on your disk. > > The user `1000:1000` is, in most cases, you i.e. it's your current Linux user (type `id -u` and, then, `id -g` to retrieve your user ID and your group ID and you'll see it'll be `1000` for both). > > If your IDs are not `1000`, please edit the yaml file and put your IDs instead. In your console, now, just run `docker compose up --build --detach`. In just six seconds, memos has been installed on my machine and a container has been created:  Go to `http://localhost:`5230 and you'll see the website is already running: > Screenshot — http\://localhost:5230 > >  > **Information:** > > See on the bottom left; it's possible to select another language; French is supported f.i. I'll create my account (`admin/admin` since I'm working on my localhost) and I'm ready to create my first note. It took me less than one minute until now. > Screenshot — http\://localhost:5230 > >  Click in the `Any thoughts...` edit box and start to type your thought... For instance: ```markdown **Python Codebase - User Authentication Module:** - [ ] Implement password hashing using bcrypt. - [ ] Create user registration endpoint (`/register`). - [ ] Develop user login endpoint (`/login`) with JWT token generation. ``` > Screenshot — http\://localhost:5230 > >  By pressing the `Save` button, the note is created. It's clean and, tomorrow, oh nice, oh yes, that's true, I need to do these three things. Imagine it's tomorrow and I've achieved the first one, I just need to check the box and it's automatically saved: > Screenshot — http\://localhost:5230 > >  I can still edit, pin, delete, archive, ... the task using the three-dots button:  ## Let's create a few more tasks As you can see, even it's optional, let's assign one or more tags to a note. Simply by using the hash syntax: ```markdown **Python Codebase - User Authentication Module:** #python - [x] Implement password hashing using bcrypt. - [ ] Create user registration endpoint (`/register`). - [ ] Develop user login endpoint (`/login`) with JWT token generation. ``` ```markdown Investigate and resolve the bug in the budgetary application that occurs when initializing a new financial exercise. #budget ``` ```markdown Write the missing documentation for the new user authentication module, covering API endpoints, data models, and setup instructions. #python ``` ```markdown Review the Dockerfile for the user authentication service to ensure optimal image size and security practices. #docker #python ``` > Screenshot — http\://localhost:5230 > >  ## Filtering using tags When you've used tags, you'll see them immediately bottom left under `Tags`. Simply click on a tag to filter on it. You can click on more than one if you want. In the example below, I've three notes for `Python` and just one with the Docker tag: > Screenshot — http\://localhost:5230/?filter=tagSearch%3Apython%2CtagSearch%3Adocker > >  ## Creating shortcuts Next to tags, you can use more sophisticated filters like what memos call `shortcut`.  The used filter is `has_task_list && tag in ["python"]`. Now, just click on the filter to enable it. You'll just see one task (because the other tasks with the `python` tag didn't have a checkbox). Really easy no? [Learn more about writing filters](https://usememos.com/docs/usage/shortcuts) ## Pasting images Just like you do in any modern application, copy the image in the clipboard and paste it in the text area. Add if you want some text. ## Customization By clicking on the bottom left profile icon, you can update the application's settings like setting `Monday` as the first day of the week (for the top left calendar). You can also inject some CSS / JavaScript to customize the look\&feel of memos. ## Conclusions As introduced in the preamble, personally, it's more than enough for my needs. I wanted something ultra-simple (a tab in my browser) and the ability to write my notes very quickly (with Markdown support), the possibility of having checkboxes and being able to copy/paste a screenshot. Memos go a step further with tag and shortcut management, and the ability to restrict the to-do list to a calendar period. And it's all 100% free! ## More info Please refer to the official site to get more info. *Two other self-hosted tools running next to memos on my machine: [Heimdall](/blog/heimdall-dashboard), the dashboard from which I open all of them, and [Uptime Kuma](/blog/docker_uptime_kuma) for monitoring.*