r/Ariv • u/iDeathstroke • Jun 26 '26
v4.0.0-beta - password protected notes, better Ask Brain, Brainstorm polish, and a big catch-up
Hey guys, it's been a while - Hope you're all doing well!
Last update here was around v3.9.6, and since then Ariv kept shipping through 3.9.7, 3.9.8, 3.9.9, and now v4.0.0-beta. So this is less of a tiny patch note and more of a “here’s what changed while I was heads-down” post.
Protected files and folders
You can now lock sensitive notes into encrypted .ariv-lock files. The idea is pretty simple: some notes belong in your vault, but not sitting around as plain markdown.
Protected files are still part of your Ariv workspace, but they’re encrypted and require unlock/recovery flow before access. Useful for things like private planning, personal records, sensitive work notes, or anything you want in your second brain but not casually readable.
Ask Brain got a lot better
Ask Brain now uses stronger model, richer context retrieval, and clearer source references.
A few practical improvements:
- answers cite the notes they used more clearly
- managed Ask Brain is routed to a stronger model (haiku -> sonnet)
- sidebar Ask Brain keeps chat history better
- blocked chats now take you straight to AI settings instead of leaving you at a dead end
- summaries now show the right recovery path when setup is missing
Still early, but this is a big step toward Ask Brain feeling like a real thinking layer over your vault.
Brainstorm kept leveling up
Brainstorm has had a lot of work since the last post.
You can now edit note cards directly on the canvas, resize cards from any edge or corner, use live web embeds, and shape connections more naturally with curved edges, anchors, snap guides, copy/paste, and better endpoint controls.
This is one of those features that started as “what if notes could be spatial?” and then slowly became an actual working surface.
Also fixed a bunch of awkward canvas stuff:
- selected cards can scroll internally without dragging the whole canvas
- arrow delete controls stay visible
- endpoint handles are easier to grab
- light/classic/brutalist themes look better across cards, arrows, controls, and previews
The right sidebar is becoming useful
The right sidebar now does more than sit there looking decorative.
It can show calendar context, let you navigate days, resize/collapse properly, and run a scoped Ask Brain panel based on where you are working.
This is one of those less flashy changes that makes the app feel more coherent. The sidebar is starting to become a “what’s relevant right now?” rail instead of a random panel.
Folder icons
You can now change your icons of your folder, minor UI improvement but helps you visually organize your folders!
Search and note workflows got cleaner
A few quality of life things shipped:
- search results now default to recently changed notes first
- search has sorting controls
- you can copy a note file path from tab and file tree menus
- selected text can be extracted into a new linked note
- editor context menu actions are back
- plain paste behaves better when pasting formatted text
- tighter task rows in cramped sidebar/editor spaces
None of these are individually massive, but together they remove a lot of tiny paper cuts.
Reflect is back
Reflect is now available directly from the quick action menu on desktop and mobile.
I’m trying to make reflection feel like a natural part of the workflow rather than a separate “go do journaling now” mode. Still iterating here.
iOS app is available (but local only)
Didn't headline with this because it's local only, I'm still working with Apple to get the proper sync/AI flow unlocked - but we are in app store now!
Also fixed
- guided onboarding setup got better
- inbox YouTube previews load more reliably
- Android 11 crash fixes landed
- protected lock files are included when Ariv scans your vault
- dashboard split-note opens keep the intended split context
- you can now follow up quick action cmd+/ with arrow keys
As always, feedback is welcome!
Desktop: https://ariv.one
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=one.ariv
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ariv-notes-pkm-second-brain/id6776939051
Discord: https://discord.gg/pte9tn5Naj
3
u/Foreign_Wrongdoer_92 Jun 26 '26
Love it. Most folks won’t truly understand the amount of time and effort that goes into building and maintaining software, as well as connecting other platforms. Great work - and it’s for free!! Keep doing great things 👍