cnotes/README.md

# cnotes

A simple command-line logging and note-taking system written in strict C89/ANSI C for maximum portability.

## Overview

cnotes provides quick, one-line note capture from the terminal. Notes are stored in a simple CSV format and can be displayed, sorted, and filtered.

## Supported Platforms

- Linux/Unix (GCC)
- macOS (GCC/Clang)
- Windows (Turbo C++ 3.0, MinGW)
- DOS 6.22 (Turbo C++ 3.0)

## Building

### Linux/Unix/macOS

```bash
make
```

Binaries are placed in the `build/` directory.

### DOS/Windows (Turbo C++ 3.0)

```batch
make -f MAKEFILE.TC
```

Or use the batch file if `make` is unavailable:

```batch
BUILD.BAT
```

### Installation (Unix-like systems)

```bash
sudo make install    # installs to /usr/local/bin
sudo make uninstall  # removes from /usr/local/bin
```

## Commands

### cnadd

Add a new timestamped note entry.

```bash
cnadd "Remember to call Bob"
cnadd -c Work "Meeting at 3pm"
cnadd -c Personal "Buy groceries"
```

Options:
- `-c CATEGORY` - Specify category (max 10 chars, default: "General")

### cndump

Display all notes in a formatted table. Output width adapts to terminal size automatically.

```bash
cndump              # display all notes (boxed table)
cndump -s           # simple output (no box borders)
cndump -d           # sort by date (newest first)
cndump -c           # sort by category
cndump -r           # reverse sort order
cndump -d -r        # sort by date, oldest first
cndump -a           # display archived entries
```

Options:
- `-d, --date` - Sort by date/time
- `-c, --category` - Sort by category
- `-r, --reverse` - Reverse sort order
- `-a, --archive` - Show archived entries instead of active
- `-s, --simple` - Simple output without box borders

### cncount

Display note statistics.

```bash
cncount             # total entry count
cncount -c          # count by category
cncount -d          # count by date
cncount -a          # count archived entries
cncount -a -c       # count archived entries by category
```

Options:
- `-c, --category` - Show counts per category
- `-d, --date` - Show counts per date
- `-a, --archive` - Count archived entries instead of active

### cndel

Archive note entries. Entries are moved to `cnotes.arc` rather than permanently deleted.

```bash
cndel -n 5          # archive entry at line 5
cndel -l            # archive the last (most recent) entry
cndel -d 2025-01-30 # archive all entries from a specific date
cndel -n 5 -y       # archive without confirmation prompt
```

Options:
- `-n LINE_NUMBER` - Archive entry at specified line number
- `-d DATE` - Archive all entries matching DATE (YYYY-MM-DD)
- `-l` - Archive the last (most recent) entry
- `-y` - Skip confirmation prompt

Archived entries can be viewed using `cndump -a`, searched with `cnfind -a`, or counted with `cncount -a`.

### cnfind

Search notes by text, category, or date.

```bash
cnfind meeting              # search for 'meeting' in text (case-insensitive)
cnfind -c Work              # show all entries in Work category
cnfind -d 2025-01-30        # show all entries from a specific date
cnfind -c Work meeting      # search 'meeting' in Work category only
cnfind -i meeting           # case-sensitive search
cnfind -n meeting           # show only match count
cnfind -a meeting           # search in archived entries
```

Options:
- `-c CATEGORY` - Filter by category (case-insensitive)
- `-d DATE` - Filter by date (YYYY-MM-DD)
- `-i` - Case-sensitive search (default is case-insensitive)
- `-n` - Show only count of matches
- `-a, --archive` - Search archived entries instead of active

The output includes line numbers for use with `cndel -n`.

### cnhelp

Quick reference for all cnotes commands.

```bash
cnhelp              # show command overview
cnhelp cnadd        # help for cnadd
cnhelp dump         # help for cndump (short form)
```

## Configuration

### Notes Location

By default, notes are stored in:

| Platform | Active Notes | Archived Notes |
|----------|--------------|----------------|
| Unix/Linux | `~/.local/share/cnotes/cnotes.csv` | `~/.local/share/cnotes/cnotes.arc` |
| Windows | `%USERPROFILE%\.cnotes\cnotes.csv` | `%USERPROFILE%\.cnotes\cnotes.arc` |
| DOS | `cnotes.csv` | `cnotes.arc` |

### Environment Variables

- `CNOTES_PATH` - Override the notes directory location (highest priority)
- On DOS, set `CNOTES_HOME` if `HOME` is not available

Example:
```bash
export CNOTES_PATH=/custom/path/to/notes
```

### Compile-time Configuration

Override defaults by defining at compile time:

```bash
gcc -DCNOTES_DIR=\".mynotes\" -DMAX_ENTRIES=1000 ...
```

## Data Format

Notes are stored in CSV format:

```
DATE,TIME,CATEGORY  ,"MESSAGE"
2025-01-30,14:30,Work      ,"Meeting with team"
2025-01-30,09:15,Personal  ,"Buy groceries"
```

Fields:
- Date: `YYYY-MM-DD` (10 chars)
- Time: `HH:MM` (5 chars)
- Category: padded to 10 chars
- Message: quoted, max 125 chars

### Archive

cnotes follows an immutable-log philosophy. When entries are "deleted" using `cndel`, they are moved to an archive file (`cnotes.arc`) rather than permanently removed. This provides:

- **Recoverability** - Archived entries can be reviewed or manually restored
- **Audit trail** - A complete history of all notes is preserved
- **Data safety** - Accidental deletions are never permanent

Use the `-a` flag with `cndump`, `cnfind`, or `cncount` to work with archived entries.

## TODO

Future commands to implement:

- [ ] **cntail** - Show last N entries (quick view)
  ```
  cntail                  # last 5 entries
  cntail -n 10            # last 10 entries
  ```

- [ ] **cncat** - List unique categories
  ```
  cncat                   # list categories
  cncat -c                # with counts
  ```

- [ ] **cnexport** - Export to other formats
  ```
  cnexport > notes.txt    # plain text
  cnexport -t > notes.tsv # tab-separated
  ```

## License

This project is dedicated to the public domain under the [CC0 1.0 Universal](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) license. See [LICENSE](LICENSE) for details.

## Author

Greg Gauthier (gmgauthier@protonmail.com)