Sylva
中文
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v1.2.3See what's new

Sylva is a desktop document library. Import PDFs, Word and Excel files and compile them into linked knowledge pages and a graph.
Ask a question and every claim in the answer cites its source, one click from the original.

Download for macOS
See how it works

v1.2.3 · macOS · Apple silicon

⌥SpaceSummon it from any app; it hides when you click away

↵Knowledge opens in place; follow the links from there

⌘OAnswers stay in the window; continue in Sylva any time

Document Q&A

Sylva reads the knowledge index first, then the originals as needed. Every claim is cited, and one click shows you the source.

In Q3, Cold Brew had a gross margin of 68.4%, second among all drinks, behind Oat Latte at 71.2%.

Summer prep follows the Summer Stock Standard: 18 L of concentrate per store on weekdays, 26 L on weekends, refrigerated for no more than 48 hours.

Cold brew beans come from Yunling Estate, due by the 25th of each month. If they're more than 3 days late, backup beans can be used.

Sources
Choose documents · Perch Coffee
Scope

Ask just these files

Type @ to pick one or more documents, and answers draw only on those files. Great for comparing contracts or checking reports.

Try asking
Suggestions

Not sure where to start?

After reading your library, Sylva suggests questions worth asking. Click one to begin.

Retrieval
  1. Read knowledge indexPerch Coffee · 4 categories
  2. Hybrid retrievalkeyword · vector · pages, 12 hits
  3. Read originalsreport, ops manual, supply contract
  4. Compose answer3 findings, each with a source
Transparent

See how each answer was found

Hybrid retrieval across keywords, vectors and knowledge pages, with a record of what was read and how long each step took.

Formats

Office documents, ebooks and spreadsheets import directly and become editable Markdown, while the originals are kept for good.

  • Reads scans tooScanned pages go to a multimodal model; images in the text are kept and described.
  • Import whole foldersPick a folder and its structure is kept as-is, with the originals copied into the library.
  • Runs in the backgroundImports queue in the background. Quit midway and Sylva picks up where it left off.
Import to Perch CoffeeDrop files or a whole folder
  • Yunling Estate Supply Contract.docxDone
  • Q3 Business Report.xlsxDone
  • Barista Training Notes.mdDone

Knowledge

Sylva extracts concepts, entities and relationships from your documents into a set of linked knowledge pages.
Click a link and keep reading.

Perch Coffee · Operations

Concepts, entities and summaries compiled from your documents, all linked together.

2026/10/12 17:01

Cold Brew

ConceptFrom 3 documents

Coffee steeped in cold water for hours: smooth, low in acidity, and Perch Coffee's best seller in summer.

Recipe

1:12 coffee to water, steeped at 4 °C for 14 hours, then filtered. New baristas must make it solo three times to pass the check.

Performance

9,860 cups sold in Q3 at a of 68.4%, second only to . Stores prep it according to the .

Supply

Cold brew beans come from and arrive by the 25th of each month.

Sources
Store Operations Manual 2026.pdfpage 12
Q3 Business Report.xlsxDrink Margins · row 14
Barista Training Notes.mdsection 3
Mentioned in
Many files, one page

When a concept shows up across files, it's merged into a single knowledge page.

Every paragraph is sourced

Each page lists the originals and locations it cites, ready to check.

Alerts when files change

Edit a source file and affected pages are flagged for a one-click rebuild.

Graph

Knowledge pages are nodes and links are edges. Drag and click to see what each concept connects to.

Editor

Every imported document becomes Markdown. Fix typos, tables and heading levels right inside Sylva.

Perch Coffee / Store Operations Manual 2026Autosaved 09:12:40

Store Operations Manual 2026

  • Click to edit

    Reading stays clean. Click into the text and the toolbar rises from the bottom with headings, lists, tables, links and AI writing.

  • Tools follow your selection

    Select a passage and bold, inline code, the hand-drawn highlighter and links appear right above it.

  • An outline that keeps up

    The thin lines on the right are the outline: hover to expand, click to jump, and it updates as you edit headings.

  • Autosave and export

    Pause for a moment and it saves. Export Markdown in one click; re-import an updated original and older versions stay in history.

Design

Arcs of color on warm white, handwritten type, hand-drawn marks and just enough motion.
Software you open every day deserves a little extra care.

Libraries

Libraries

Every library feels like a real stack of files

Hover and the files fan out like a hand of cards; click and the documents unfold below, no page change needed.

Knowledge · Cold Brew

In summer, Cold Brew is prepped to the Summer Stock Standard: 18 L on weekdays, 26 L on weekends. Beans come from Yunling Estate; if they're late, switch to backup beans from Beishan Roastery. While you're here, check the Gross Margin on Oat Latte.

Handwritten

Reads like notes, not a spreadsheet

Handwritten-style type, and knowledge links underlined in marker, with the same word always in the same color.

Article · Cold brew procedure

Once opened, cold brew concentrate must be used within 48 hours; anything older is discarded. Finish brewing before 9:30 daily, and prep 26 L on weekends. The old repurposing rule is gone.

Hand-drawn highlight
Sylva
Hand-drawn marks

Circle what matters

Select text and pick a stroke: highlighter, wavy line, circle, box, cross-out. Eight styles in eight colors, previewed live on “Sylva” at the top of the menu, and wrapped lines are marked in full.

Details polished for everyday use. You notice them more the longer you use Sylva.

Quick open

Press ⌘K and type a title to jump straight to any document, page or chat.

One-click mind maps

Turn any article into a mind map and see the structure of long reads at a glance.

Knowledge export

Export to an Obsidian vault, OKF, or an installable Agent Skill package.

Encrypted backups

Pack your whole library into an encrypted backup and restore it in one click.

Background tasks

Imports and knowledge builds queue in the background, with progress always visible.

Mix and match models

Choose separate models for chat, multimodal and embeddings.

Your library, indexes and chats live in a local data folder.
Only when building knowledge or asking questions is relevant content sent to the model provider you chose.

Everything stays local

Data Sylva keeps
  • Originals and Markdown textLocal
  • Full-text and vector indexesLocal
  • Knowledge pages and graphLocal
  • Chats and retrieval tracesLocal

Built-in database, ready to go

~/Library/Application Support/Sylva
├── config.toml
├── pgdata/ # embedded PostgreSQL 17 · pgvector
├── files/  # originals and images
└── logs/

You choose the models

30 model providers
  • OllamaLocal model
  • LM StudioLocal model
  • DeepSeekChat
  • Alibaba Cloud Model StudioChat · Multimodal
  • SiliconFlowEmbeddings

Compare

For the odd question about a few files, any tool will do.
The difference shows when documents pile up over time and answers must match the original.

FeatureSylvaLocal AI document libraryAI chat assistantsUpload files into a chatCloud AI knowledge basesUpload files to the cloud firstNote apps + AI pluginsLocal notes with an AI plugin
Import & organize
Office files and scanned PDFsWord, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF become text; scanned pages are read by a multimodal modelSome formatsPlugin needed
Organized into knowledge pagesConcepts and entities extracted into linked pages and a knowledge graphSummaries, mind mapsBy hand
Rebuild alerts when files changeAffected pages are flagged and recompiled in one click
Answers & verification
Answers cite sourcesEvery claim names the file it came fromPartlyDepends on plugin
Citations open the originalOpens the actual PDF, Excel or Word file at the page region, row or paragraphText snippets only
Inspectable retrievalSee what was searched and which passages were readPartly
Data ownership
Data stays on your computerOriginals, indexes, knowledge pages and chats live on your machine
Works with local modelsConnect Ollama, LM Studio and other local models so nothing leaves your computerPlugin needed
Exports to open formatsExport a Markdown vault your note app can open, OKF, or an Agent Skill packagePartly

Best for contracts, reports, research and policies: material you build up over time and check again and again.

Columns summarize common approaches, not any specific product. Products change quickly; check their current versions.

Pricing

One license unlocks everything, forever, with 12 months of updates. The more devices, the less each one costs.

Sylva licenseOne-time purchase
$9.9

1 device · pay once, use forever

  • Every feature: document Q&A, knowledge pages & graph, editor, cloud backup
  • Pay once, use forever, with all updates released within 12 months
  • Moving to a new computer? Unbind online and transfer the seat
  • Works offline for 30 days after each online check
  • Your documents always stay on your own computer

How to buy

  1. 1
    Pick the number of devices

    Buy one seat per computer that runs Sylva. You can unbind a device online when you switch computers.

  2. 2
    Contact us on WeChat or email

    Tell us how many devices you need and we'll send payment details. Payment is currently handled manually.

  3. 3
    Activate your license

    Enter the license code in Sylva under Settings › License, and every feature unlocks right away.

The license doesn't cover AI model usage, which your chosen provider bills by usage. Local models via Ollama or LM Studio cost nothing.

Free trial

14-day free trial

WeChat QR code: scan to add Cizai_ as a contact
  1. Scan with WeChat and add us as a contact
  2. Send “Sylva trial” to get a 14-day trial code (1 device)
  3. Activate the code in Sylva under Settings › License

No WeChat? Email eversince1019@gmail.com with “Sylva trial” and we'll reply with payment details and your code.

Most of what you'd want to know before downloading. Pick a topic.

Which systems does Sylva run on?

macOS (Apple silicon) and Windows (x64). On a Mac, drag the app into Applications; on Windows, run the installer. The database and document converter are built in, so there's nothing else to install.

Is the app available in English?

The app's interface is currently in Chinese. Your documents, questions and answers can be in any language your chosen model understands, and English is fully supported.

Which file formats are supported?

PDF, Word (.doc .docx .docm), PowerPoint, Excel (.xls .xlsx .xlsm .xlsb), OpenDocument, RTF, EPUB, CSV and Markdown. Import single files or a whole folder with its structure kept intact.

Can it read scanned PDFs?

Yes. Scanned pages go to a multimodal model for text recognition; text in screenshots is extracted and photos and charts get descriptions. You can also choose text only or images only when importing.

How accurate are the answers, and how do I check them?

Every answer comes with sources. Click a citation and the original file opens on the right with the quote highlighted: down to the region of a PDF page, the row of an Excel sheet or the paragraph of a Word file. You can also open the file in its native app.

Do I have to maintain the knowledge pages myself?

No. After importing, click “Build knowledge” and Sylva extracts concepts, entities and relationships into linked knowledge pages and a graph. When a source file changes, Sylva tells you which pages need recompiling.

Do I need my own AI model?

Yes. Add an API key in Settings and pick models for chat, multimodal (scans and images) and embeddings (semantic search). 30 providers are supported, plus local models through Ollama and LM Studio. Model usage is billed by your provider.

Are my documents uploaded anywhere?

Originals, text, indexes and chat history all stay on your computer. When building knowledge, document text is sent to the model provider you configured; when you ask a question, only the relevant passages are sent. Use local models for all three roles and nothing leaves your machine.

How much does Sylva cost?

Sylva is a one-time purchase per device: $9.9 for 1 device, $16.9 for 2 devices, $23.9 for 3 devices. It's yours forever and includes updates released within 12 months. You can also start with a 14-day free trial; see Pricing above. The license doesn't cover AI model usage.

Does it work offline?

Your library runs locally, so browsing, searching and opening files need no network. Answering questions needs your model provider (unless you use local models). The license checks in online periodically and works offline for 30 days after each check.

Import, compile, ask, verify. One desktop app does it all, and your documents never leave your computer.

Download for macOS

v1.2.3 · macOS · Apple silicon