Lepton
What it is
Lepton is a free desktop code snippet manager that stores and syncs snippets through GitHub Gist. It supports unlimited public and secret snippets, unlimited tags, and language groups, with editing for Markdown and Jupyter Notebook snippets. Search covers filenames, languages, descriptions, tags, IDs, and downloaded file contents; searching all snippet contents globally requires enabling `snippet.downloadAll` before syncing. Users can sign in with GitHub OAuth or a personal access token with the `gist` scope, and Lepton also supports GitHub Enterprise. The project says it has no separate sync service: data is stored locally in the app or remotely in GitHub Gist. Packaged builds use Electron safeStorage for cached tokens when available, with a legacy plaintext-file fallback otherwise. Settings in `.leptonrc` include themes, editor options, proxy, shortcuts, notifications, and language. Desktop releases are available for Linux, macOS, and Windows, including AppImage and Snap packages for Linux. The macOS app may require a Security settings change to install because it is not signed with a paid Apple developer account.
For and against
For
- Unlimited public and secret snippets.
- Organizes snippets with unlimited tags and language groups.
- Supports Markdown and Jupyter Notebook snippets.
- Search includes tags, IDs, and downloaded file contents.
- Works with GitHub Enterprise.
Against
- Global content search requires `snippet.downloadAll` before syncing.
- macOS installation may require changing Security settings.
- No IDE integration or browser extension.
The verdict
Lepton combines snippet organization and search with GitHub Gist storage and sync. Its global content search has an extra setup requirement, and packaged builds may use a plaintext token fallback when safeStorage is unavailable.
Who it suits
Lepton suits people who want to organize code snippets across a desktop app and GitHub Gist. It is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Plans and prices
Free
Unlimited public/secret snippets · Unlimited tags
Read 29 Sep 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Authentication
- Users can sign in with GitHub OAuth or a GitHub personal access token with the `gist` scope.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Customization
- Users can configure themes, editor settings, proxy, shortcuts, notifications, language, and other options in `.leptonrc`.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Data handling
- Lepton says it has no separate sync service and stores data locally in the app or remotely in GitHub Gist.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Distribution
- The project provides desktop releases for macOS, Windows, and Linux, including AppImage and Snap packages for Linux.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Editing
- It supports Markdown and Jupyter Notebook snippets.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Integration
- Lepton stores and syncs snippets with GitHub Gist and supports GitHub Enterprise.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- License
- The project is licensed under the MIT License.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- macOS installation note
- The maker says the macOS app is not signed with a paid Apple developer account and may need to be enabled in Security settings to install.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- Lepton is a lean code snippet manager powered by GitHub Gist.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Search
- Search can cover snippet filenames, languages, descriptions, tags, IDs, and downloaded snippet file content.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Search limit
- Complete global search across snippet contents requires enabling `snippet.downloadAll` before syncing.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Snippet organization
- It supports unlimited public and secret snippets, unlimited tags, and language groups.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Support
- The project directs users to open issues and feature requests on GitHub.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Token storage
- Packaged builds use Electron safeStorage for cached tokens when available, with a legacy plaintext-file fallback if safeStorage is unavailable.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
