Questions
Good to know.
The questions people ask before they try φ. If yours isn’t here, write to me: the contact page has every way.
The basics
Is φ free?
Yes. φ is free, and there are no plans to charge for it. Once it’s stable, there will be a way to support it if you’d like to.
Which computers does it run on?
macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows and Linux. An app for iPhone and iPad is on its way.
Do I need an account?
No. There’s no account and no sign-in. φ runs on your computer, and nothing you write is sent to us.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Writing, searching and exporting all work without a connection.
Your files
Where is my writing kept?
In a vault: an ordinary folder you choose, on your own computer. Each document is a .poiesis file inside it, with its images and its version history beside it.
Can other apps open my files?
Not directly. .poiesis is φ’s own format, so a Markdown app won’t read it. To take your writing somewhere else, export it to Markdown, Word or PDF, or a whole book to EPUB, whenever you like.
How do I sync with iCloud or Dropbox?
Put your vault in a folder your devices share, such as iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive, and open it in φ on each computer. φ notices changes from your other devices within moments.
What if two devices change the same document?
φ never writes one over the other. It keeps one version and sets the other aside, and you compare the two and keep either, or both.
Writing & export
Can I bring my writing in?
Yes. Import a Markdown file, or a whole folder of notes, and keep writing.
What can I export?
A print-ready PDF and its cover, an EPUB, a submission manuscript, Word, Markdown, a web page and Rich Text. The printed book and the ebook share one design.
Is it good for poetry?
Yes. Verse keeps your line breaks exactly where you put them, and epigraphs, scene breaks and pull-quotes are blocks of their own, in the editor and in every export.
The alpha & feedback
When does the alpha end?
Soon. The alpha is nearly done, and φ is close to its beta: steadier, with fewer rough edges. Updating keeps your writing exactly as it is.
Is it safe to use while it’s in alpha?
Your words are. Documents are saved as you type, checked, and kept with a version history you can go back to. Expect rough edges elsewhere, and give exports a read before you send them.
How do I send feedback or report a bug?
From inside φ, choose Help › Send Feedback…, click the ALPHA badge, or press ⌘P and type “feedback”: each opens an email with your version and system filled in. Feedback is always welcome.
How do updates arrive?
φ checks for updates on its own and asks before it downloads one. When it’s ready, restart to install it. On Linux, the .deb is updated by installing the newer package.
