jrnl/docs/overview.md

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# Overview
`jrnl` is a simple journal application for the command line.
You can use it to easily create, search, and view journal entries. Journals are
stored as human-readable plain text, and can also be encrypted using [AES
encryption](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Encryption_Standard).
`jrnl` has most of the features you need, and few of the ones you don't.
## Plain Text
`jrnl` stores each journal in plain text. You can store `jrnl` files anywhere,
including in shared folders to keep them synchronized between devices. Journal
files are compact (thousands of entries take up less than 1 MiB) and can be read
by almost any electronic device, now and for the foreseeable future.
## Tags
To make it easier to find entries later, `jrnl` includes support for inline tags
(the default tag symbol is `@`). Entries can be found and filtered
## Support for Multiple Journals
`jrnl` includes support for the creation and management of multiple journals,
each of which can be stored as a single file or as a set of files. Entries are
automatically timestamped in a human-readable format that makes it easy to view
multiple entries at a time. `jrnl` can easily find the entries you want so that
you can read them or edit them.
## Support for External Editors
`jrnl` plays nicely with your favorite text editor. You may prefer to write
journal entries in an editor. Or you may want to make changes that require a
more comprehensive application. `jrnl` can filter specific entries and pass them
to the external editor of your choice.
## Encryption
`jrnl` includes support for [AES
encryption](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Encryption_Standard). See the
[encryption page](./encryption.md) for more information.
## Import and Export
`jrnl` makes it easy to import entries from other sources. Existing entries can
be [exported](./export.md) in a variety of formats.
## Multi-Platform Support
`jrnl` is compatible with most operating systems. You can download it using one
of a variety of package managers, or you can build from source.
See the [installation page](./installation.md) for more information.
## Open-Source
`jrnl` is written in [Python](https://www.python.org) and maintained by a
[friendly community](https://github.com/jrnl-org/jrnl) of open-source software
enthusiasts.