Outspline
Outspline is a free, open-source modular outliner for Linux.
What Outspline is
Outspline is a free, open-source modular outliner for Linux. It stores text items hierarchically, while the Organism add-on adds todo lists, task scheduling, and event reminders. Items may have multiple event rules, including complex recurrences, with times set in local time or UTC. Schedule views can show unallocated periods and overlapping events, then export schedules as plain text. Alarm notifications appear with a tray icon and can be snoozed or dismissed. Navigation includes tiling, tabbing, schedule, and search views. Global and contextual keyboard shortcuts are configurable, and a plain-text configuration file provides further interface customization. Add-ons can be enabled or disabled to extend the application. Outspline is distributed under GPLv3, and its homepage lists version 0.8.4, released on 2018-02-04. The project provides an Arch Linux package and manual installation instructions for other operating systems, with forums, mailing list, bug tracker, and email support.
Good
- Free and open-source under GPLv3
- Hierarchical notes with task scheduling
- Complex recurring event rules
- Schedule export as plain text
- Configurable shortcuts and add-ons
Watch out
- Pre-packaged only for Arch Linux
- Other systems require manual installation
- Homepage lists a 2018 release
Who it suits
It suits Linux users who want hierarchical notes combined with task planning, recurring events, reminders, and schedule views. Users comfortable with manual installation can use it beyond Arch Linux.
Verdict
Outspline combines an outliner with detailed scheduling and reminder functions through Organism. Its Linux packaging and older listed release may matter when deciding how to install and maintain it.
Plans and prices
From Outspline's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Outspline | Free | Free and open-source modular outliner · GPLv3 |
The facts
Each one read from Outspline's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Add-ons
- Outspline functionality can be extended with add-ons, which can be enabled or disabled as needed.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Alarms
- The application provides a tray icon and notifications for alarms, which can be snoozed or dismissed.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Availability
- The maker's getting-started page says Outspline is pre-packaged only for Arch Linux and directs users of other operating systems to manual installation instructions.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Customization
- The interface supports configurable global and contextual keyboard shortcuts and customization through a plain-text configuration file.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Hierarchical notes
- It stores text items hierarchically.checked 9 Oct 2026
- License
- Outspline is distributed under the GNU General Public License version 3.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Outspline is a modular outliner whose Organism add-on adds time management for todo lists, task scheduling, and event reminders.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Recurring events
- Items can have multiple event rules, including rules for complex recurrences.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Release
- The product homepage lists version 0.8.4, released on 2018-02-04.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Schedule view
- The schedule can highlight unallocated time and overlapping events, and schedule views can be exported as plain text.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project lists a SourceForge forum, an Arch Linux forum thread, a mailing list, a bug tracker, and email as ways to contact the developer.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Time zones
- Event times can use local time or UTC.checked 9 Oct 2026
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