Opal is a visual, spatial knowledge management tool that lets freelancers, solopreneurs, and small teams organize notes, documents, and files on a digital desk — where everything stays visible and findable by location, not just search.
What is Opal?
Opal is a web-based spatial knowledge management app that takes notes, documents, links, files, and Google Docs & Sheets as inputs and lays them out on an infinite grid. You drag and drop items wherever your brain expects them, then zoom out to see everything at once. The product is bootstrapped and built by Chevas Balloun, who uses it daily to run his own business.
Key Features
- Visual desk — Drag notes, docs, links, PDFs, images, and Google Docs/Sheets onto a giant grid. No folders or tree structures; spatial arrangement replaces search.
- Markdown block editor — Write formatted documents with rich media, no setup. Create beautiful notes without clutter.
- Wikilinks — Link notes and docs together internally to connect ideas, projects, and procedures.
- Embed Google Docs & Sheets — Drop live Google files onto your desk and edit them directly inside Opal.
- Share and collaborate — Share individual items or full binders with specific people, control view/edit permissions. Publish documents as public read-only pages.
- Drag-and-drop files — Store PDFs, images, and files in context; read PDFs directly in Opal.
- AI agent integration — Connect your AI agent via the Opal API and agent skill to make Opal a human-in-the-loop surface.
- CRUSH device integration — A single-button voice recorder that transcribes audio into text notes that land directly in your Opal inbox or workspace.
Who is it for?
- Freelancers and solopreneurs — Keep client calls, proposals, and active jobs visible in one spatial view without switching apps.
- Small teams — Share binders of notes, docs, and files; collaborate in real time without burying information in nested folders.
- Neurodivergent thinkers — Rely on spatial memory (where things are located) rather than hierarchical organization, reducing cognitive overload.
- Knowledge workers — Anyone who loses hours searching for information can find any note in seconds by remembering where they placed it on the desk.
What can you do with Opal?
- Client project management — Drag estimates, checklists, and client notes into one spot; open multiple side-by-side to see everything at once.
- Writing and content creation — Place drafts, references, outlines, and images on the desk so your brain knows "writing stuff lives here."
- Standard operating procedures (SOPs) — Link docs together with wikilinks; publish procedures as public pages for clients or team members.
- Visual backlog — Zoom out to see all active jobs, hot clients, half-finished ideas, and notes from months ago at a glance.
How does Opal work?
- Drop it on your desk — One click creates a note, doc, or link; drag-and-drop files directly.
- Place it where your brain wants it — Move items spatially on the grid (e.g., writing stuff in the top-left corner).
- Open multiple items side by side — Click two, three, or five items; see them all open in one browser tab.
- Zoom out to see everything — A single overview restores context and eliminates searching.
Pricing
Opal offers a free tier to start using it immediately. Paid plans unlock more items, more workspaces, more features, and more storage when you’re ready to scale. No credit card is required for the free tier.
FAQ
Do I have to move my entire business into Opal on day one?
No. Most users start by adding active jobs, hot clients, or current initiatives. You can embed live Google Docs & Sheets to organize them spatially and edit from Opal. You’ll feel the difference in under an hour.
