# Overview - jrnl
Author: Manuel Ebert

# Overview

## What is jrnl?

`jrnl` is a simple journal application for your command line. Journals are stored as human readable plain text files - you can put them into a Dropbox folder for instant syncing and you can be assured that your journal will still be readable in 2050, when all your fancy iPad journal applications will long be forgotten.

`jrnl` also plays nice with the fabulous DayOne and can read and write directly from and to DayOne Journals.

Optionally, your journal can be encrypted using the 256-bit AES.

## Why keep a journal?

Journals aren't just for people who have too much time on their summer vacation. A journal helps you to keep track of the things you get done and how you did them. Your imagination may be limitless, but your memory isn't.

For personal use, make it a good habit to write at least 20 words a day. Just to reflect what made this day special, why you haven't wasted it.

For professional use, consider a text-based journal to be the perfect complement to your GTD todo list - a documentation of what and how you've done it. Or use it as a quick way to keep a change log. Or use it to keep a lab book.

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