BugMind

A Mac app for mind maps and Excalidraw canvases kept as plain files in a folder you choose, with a built-in MCP server so Claude Code and other agents can draw into the same documents.

DownloadApple Silicon

Version 0.9.0 (build 2993)23 Oct 2026macOS 13 Ventura or later · Apple Silicon · Node.js for MCP32.6 MB

What it is

Mind maps and canvases in one folder on your Mac

Mind maps for anything that branches, Excalidraw canvases for anything you place by hand. Plain files, no account.

Mind maps save as .bugmind files, canvases as .excalidraw files that open on excalidraw.com
Search across node text, notes, tags and canvas text in the whole library
Import MindNode, Markdown outlines and OPML as new mind maps

Mind maps

Map it, then read it as an outline

Add branches from the keyboard or with the + on each node. Switch any map to an outline, fold and focus branches, and restyle it from a theme gallery or reusable format presets.

A mind map with task progress, notes and tags — **Map view**Branches with task progress, notes, tags, links and pictures on each node.

Outline view beside the map theme gallery — **Outline and themes**The same map as an indented outline, with the theme gallery open beside it.

Built-in and saved templates for new documents — **Templates**Built-in starting points, plus any map or canvas you save as a template.

Canvas

Diagrams from text, slides from frames

The canvas is the Excalidraw editor with extras. Paste Mermaid, DOT or an outline and get an editable drawing. Turn frames into slides with transitions, steps and speaker notes, then present or export.

Text to diagram reads Mermaid flowcharts, Graphviz DOT and Markdown outlines
Frames become slides with entrance effects, transitions, Morph and notes
Export slides to PowerPoint (PPTX) or an MP4 video
Export maps and canvases as SVG, PNG, PDF or a self-contained interactive HTML page

Tasks

Every task from every map on one Board

Mark a node as a task and give it a status, priority, tags and a due date. The Board collects them from the whole workspace, so you can plan across maps without leaving the app.

Board: every task in the workspace in one table — **Table**All tasks with status, due date and priority; search, filter and group them.

Kanban view of the same tasks, by status — **Kanban**Drag a card between To do, In progress and Done to change its status in the map.

Snapshot library with a saved version preview — **Snapshots**Named versions of any document, compared side by side and restored as new or in place.

Agents

Let Claude Code draw into the map you have open

BugMind ships its own MCP server. Point Claude Code, Codex or another MCP client at it and the agent can list, search, read and edit your documents. The app reloads an open document as the agent writes.

1

Turn on the server

Settings › MCP registers the bundled server with Claude Code and tests it with a real handshake. Node.js has to be on your PATH.

2

Ask your agent

In a coding session, ask for a roadmap, a task list or an architecture sketch. The agent finds the right document with search before reading it.

3

Watch it land

Nodes and canvas elements appear in the open window as they are written. A write is refused if you changed the document meanwhile, so your edits are kept.

Your files

Local files first, sync only when you set it up

Documents stay in your folder. Thumbnails, templates and keys stay on this Mac. Backups and sync are opt-in and show you what will change before anything is copied.

Plain files

A workspace is just a folder of .bugmind and .excalidraw files. Other files in it are never touched.

Snapshots and backups

Take named snapshots, schedule them, and back the workspace up to another folder with a verified restore.

Reviewed sync

Sync through a folder, a GitHub repository or Google Drive (beta). Each sync shows the changes and asks before applying them.

Keys stay on the Mac

AI features are off until you pick an engine. API keys are kept in a credential file on this Mac and never written into documents or exports.

Changelog

What's new

0.9.0

Latest23 Oct 2026 · build 2993

Release history →

Gallery

The library: maps and canvases from one folder

Mermaid text drawn as a canvas flowchart

Canvas frames edited as presentation slides

Settings › MCP: connect Claude Code or Codex

Questions

What is BugMind?

A macOS app for mind maps and Excalidraw canvases that keeps every document as a plain file in a folder you choose. It adds tasks with a Board, slides, text to diagram, snapshots, and an MCP server so coding agents can edit the same documents.

Who is it for?

People who plan in mind maps and sketch on a whiteboard, and especially developers who use Claude Code or Codex and want the agent to draw roadmaps, task lists and diagrams into files they can then edit by hand.

Which Macs does it run on?

macOS 13 Ventura or later on an Apple Silicon Mac. Some extras use Apple features from newer macOS versions, such as Image Playground. The MCP server needs Node.js on your PATH; the rest of the app does not.

How much does it cost?

BugMind is free. The source code is closed for now; any change to that will be announced here.

Where are my documents stored?

In the workspace folder you pick, as .bugmind and .excalidraw files. There is no database and no account. Thumbnails are cached in ~/Library/Caches, and templates and settings in ~/Library/Application Support, both on your Mac.

Does it work offline? Can I sync between Macs?

Yes, it works fully offline. Sync is optional: connect the workspace to a folder, a GitHub repository or Google Drive, review the changes, then apply them. A second Mac can clone a workspace from GitHub or Google Drive. GitHub and Google Drive sync are in beta.

Does BugMind send my documents to an AI service?

Only if you turn an AI feature on and choose an engine for it; all of them start off. You can use a local CLI, OpenAI, Anthropic or an OpenAI-compatible server such as Ollama or LM Studio. Keys stay in a credential file on your Mac.

How do I install and update it?

Download it from kael.io.vn. Updates are manual for now; in-app updates are coming soon. The app is not signed with an Apple Developer ID, so on first launch macOS will block it. Open System Settings › Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway, or Control-click the app and choose Open.

Can I import from MindNode or export to other tools?

Import reads MindNode files, Markdown outlines and OPML. Maps export as SVG, PNG, PDF, Markdown, OPML and interactive HTML. Canvases are standard .excalidraw files, and slides export to PPTX and MP4.

How does it compare to Excalidraw or MindNode on their own?

BugMind uses the Excalidraw editor for canvases and keeps files compatible with excalidraw.com. What it adds is a mind map editor beside it, tasks and a Board across documents, snapshots, and an MCP server so agents can edit both kinds of document.

How do I connect Claude Code?

Open Settings › MCP and turn the server on. BugMind registers its bundled server with Claude Code for every project and can test the connection. For Codex or other MCP clients, Connect Agents gives you the command to paste.

How do I report a bug?

Send it through the contact form at kael.io.vn/contact, or leave a comment on this page. Include your macOS version and the steps that lead to the problem.