Introduction
Xournal + + is an open source application designed for the taking of handwritten notes and the annotation of PDF documents. Born as a fork of the original Xournal project, it has evolved incorporating performance improvements, graphic tablet compatibility and a more modern interface. Its main focus is to offer an experience as close as possible to the role, allowing students, professionals and creative to translate ideas through natural, highlighted and geometric forms. Thanks to its GPL license, anyone can download, modify and distribute the software at no cost, which has encouraged an active community of developers and users who contribute plugins, templates and tutorials.
What is Xournal + +?
Although at first sight it may seem like a simple drawing tool, Xournal + + incorporates advanced capabilities that distinguish it from other free alternatives. The program works with layers, which allows to separate the handwritten text from the comments or technical drawings without losing the possibility of editing them later. In addition, it supports the import and export of files in popular formats such as PDF, PNG and SVG, facilitating integration with academic and professional workflows. The pressure of the stylus is interpreted with precision, achieving traces that vary in thickness and opacity according to the force applied, an essential feature for those who seek expressiveness in their notes.
Main characteristics
- Minimalist and customizable interface, with toolbars that can be hidden or displayed according to the user's preferences.
- Full support for Wacom tablets, Huion and other pressure-sensitive input devices, ensuring fluid and accurate strokes.
- Ability to work in multiple layers, facilitating the separation of sketches, notes and highlighted without affecting the underlying content.
- Geometrical tools (lines, rectangles, ellipses, polygons) that can be adjusted and moved after creation.
- Optional handwritten recognition function, which converts the piece into editable text by integrated OCR engines.
- Unlimited history of undoing and redoing, allowing to experiment without fear of losing major changes.
- Direct export to PDF with an option to embed layers as editable notes or as a flat image, as required.
- Multiplatform compatibility: available for Windows, macOS and various Linux distributions, with official packages in the most used repositories.
Advantages to other applications
- Unlike proprietary applications such as OneNote or Notability, Xournal + + is fully free and open source, without subscriptions or function limitations.
- Its low resource consumption allows it to be run on modest equipment or even on hybrid devices such as Surface Pro without affecting the battery.
- The developer community publishes frequent updates that correct errors and add features based on the real feedback of users.
- It does not require creating cloud accounts or linking to external services, which guarantees greater privacy and control over personal data.
- The ability to work with layers and export to SVG opens up possibilities for designers who need clean vectors without going through additional conversion processes.
How to install and start
- Download the installer from the official GitHub release page or use your distribution package manager (e.g., sudo apt install xournalpp in Ubuntu).
- Run the program and, when opening it for the first time, select the default paper type (line, square or white) from the configuration menu.
- Connect your graphic tablet and check 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, highlight, shape, text) and saving the layout for future sessions.
- Explore the help menu or access the official wiki to learn keyboard shortcuts, such as Ctrl + Z to undo or Shift + Ctrl + R to quickly change between colors.
Typical cases of use
Xournal + + is adapted to various scenarios: in the university, students use it to take notes from complex classes, highlight digital book texts and solve math problems with free drawings; in the professional field, architects and ingenheiros write PDF plans, add quotations and quick schemes without the need for heavy CAD software; graphic designers use the ability to export to SVG to create sketches that then refine in Illustrator or Inkscape; finally, artists and journalists find in Xournal + a digital canvas that imitates the texture of the paper and allows them to experience with virtual markers, and to experience them with virtual markers.
Conclusion
In short, Xournal + + combines open software freedom with the power of an advanced notation 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 are looking for an application that improves your productivity without compromising your privacy or your pocket, it is worth trying Xournal + + and finding out how you can transform the way you capture and organize your ideas.
