Introduction
Xournal++ is an open-source application designed for handwritten note-taking and annotating PDF documents. Born as a fork of the original Xournal project, it has evolved by incorporating performance improvements, compatibility with graphics tablets, and a more modern interface. Its main focus is to offer an experience as close as possible to paper, allowing students, professionals, and creatives to capture ideas through natural strokes, highlights, and geometric shapes. Thanks to its GPL license, anyone can download, modify, and distribute the software at no cost, which has fostered an active community of developers and users who contribute plugins, templates, and tutorials.
What is Xournal++?
Although at first glance it may appear to be a simple drawing tool, Xournal++ incorporates advanced capabilities that distinguish it from other free alternatives. The program works with layers, allowing you to separate handwritten text from comments or technical drawings without losing the ability to edit them later. Additionally, it supports importing and exporting files in popular formats such as PDF, PNG, and SVG, facilitating integration into academic and professional workflows. Stylus pressure is interpreted with precision, producing strokes that vary in thickness and opacity according to the applied force, an essential feature for those seeking expressiveness in their notes.
Main Features
- Minimalist and customizable interface, with toolbars that can be hidden or shown according to user preferences.
- Full support for Wacom, Huion tablets, and other pressure-sensitive input devices, guaranteeing smooth and precise strokes.
- Ability to work on multiple layers, facilitating the separation of sketches, annotations, and highlights without affecting the underlying content.
- Geometric shape tools (lines, rectangles, ellipses, polygons) that can be adjusted and moved after creation.
- Optional handwriting recognition function that converts the stroke into editable text using built-in OCR engines.
- Unlimited undo and redo history, allowing experimentation without fear of losing important changes.
- Direct export to PDF with the option to embed layers as editable annotations or as a flat image, as required.
- Cross-platform compatibility: available for Windows, macOS, and various Linux distributions, with official packages in the most used repositories.
Advantages Over Other Applications
- Unlike proprietary applications such as OneNote or Notability, Xournal++ is completely free and open-source, with no subscriptions or feature limitations.
- Its low resource consumption allows it to run on modest machines or even hybrid devices like Surface Pro without affecting battery life.
- The developer community releases frequent updates that fix bugs and add features based on real user feedback.
- It does not require creating cloud accounts or linking to external services, ensuring greater privacy and control over personal data.
- The ability to work with layers and export to SVG opens possibilities for designers who need clean vectors without additional conversion processes.
How to Install and Get Started
- Download the installer from the official GitHub releases page or use your distribution’s package manager (for example, sudo apt install xournalpp on Ubuntu).
- Run the program and, upon first opening, select the default paper type (lined, grid, or blank) from the settings menu.
- Connect your graphics tablet and verify that the stylus is recognized; the detected pressure level will appear in the status bar.
- Customize the toolbar by dragging the icons you use most (pen, highlighter, shape, text) and saving the layout for future sessions.
- Explore the help menu or visit the official wiki to learn keyboard shortcuts, such as Ctrl+Z for undo or Shift+Ctrl+R to quickly switch between colors.
Typical Use Cases
Xournal++ adapts to various scenarios: in university, students use it to take notes for complex lectures, highlight text in digital books, and solve math problems with freehand drawings; in the professional realm, architects and engineers annotate PDF plans, add dimensions, and create quick sketches without needing heavy CAD software; graphic designers take advantage of the ability to export to SVG to create sketches that they later refine in Illustrator or Inkscape; finally, artists and journaling enthusiasts find in Xournal++ a digital canvas that mimics paper texture and allows experimentation with inks, watercolors, and virtual markers.
Conclusion
In summary, Xournal++ combines the freedom of open-source software with the power of an advanced annotation tool. Its combination of layers, pressure support, and multiple export formats positions it as a solid alternative for both casual users and professionals who require precision and flexibility. If you’re looking for an application that improves your productivity without compromising your privacy or your wallet, it’s worth trying Xournal++ and discovering how it can transform the way you capture and organize your ideas.
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