# Overview

## What is `jrnl`?

`jrnl` is a simple but powerful plain text journal application for the command
line.

`jrnl` is not the only plain text journal application. It includes features that
are common to many other applications:

- Journal entries are created and displayed directly from the command line.
- Journals are stored as human-readable, future-proof plain text files. Because
  files are stored as plain text, you can rest assured that your journals will
  still be readable in 2050 and beyond. Entries can be searched, filtered, and
  edited rapidly and easily.
- Journals can be stored anywhere, including in shared folders so that they can
  be synchronized between devices.
- Journal entries can be created and modified using an external editor of your
  choice, using the command line as a starting point to filter specific entries.
- BeJournals are stored in single files using date/time tags to identify
  individual entries. Some systems endorse a file/folder methodology; `jrnl`
  keeps 
- Journals can be protected using [256-bit
  AES encryption](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Encryption_Standard).

## Why keep a journal?

Journals aren't just for people who have too much time on their summer vacation.
Journals help you keep track of events, thoughts, feelings, tasks, ideas, and
anything else that is worth remembering. Your imagination may be limitless, but
your memory probably isn't.

To begin, try to write at least 20 words a day. `jrnl` makes this incredibly
easy. Fire up a terminal and type, `jrnl today at 8am: I arrived at work to find
a birthday present on my desk. My colleagues are the best!` You can reflect on
what made your day special so that you'll always remember why you haven't wasted
it. Or try using `jrnl` to keep a gratitude journal, a habit that has been shown
to improve mental health and quality of life.

For professional use, a text-based journal can be the perfect complement to your
to-do list -- a record of what you've done as well as how and when you've done
it. You can use a journal as a quick way to keep a change log (`jrnl Updated
jrnl overview page to make it more awesomer`). Or use it to keep a lab notebook.
The possibilities are almost endless.