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What App to Use for Notes?

10 points by bigbaldhead ↗ HN
hi, I'm looking for an app for notes, E2E and open source, and which has synchronization, do you have any ideas? I now use standardnotes, I found notesnook but until they do an audit I won't use it, I'll keep some scripts inside (python, java and go) as well as things to do. sorry for my english

43 comments

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talldayo
> E2E and open source, and which has synchronization

I think you've set your expectations too high. You should be handling sync and encryption yourself; if anyone asks you to use their server to store your stuff you might as well assume it's not private anymore.

Use Syncthing or Nextcloud for your sync solution, and then use Zim Wiki or Obsidian as your notes app. The paid "all-in-one" solutions are not worth it.

bigbaldhead
to be honest I don't think my expectations are too high, I'm just looking for something similar to standardnotes
dimenoz
Wholeheartedly agree. Have been a happy ZimWiki user for many years now. My use-case is desktop/laptop only, don't care about mobile. ZimWiki makes it easy to export the whole notebook to markdown or html for easy static-hosting for read-only snapshots of your notes on mobile if needed.
eimrine
Use encrypted notes over git or not encrypted notes on always encrypted devices - if you want to use FOSS. Proprietary software never gives safety despite any audits.
bigbaldhead
notesnook is open source. I just finished trying joplin and I didn't like it, I use standardnotes because it has everything I'm looking for, except the ability to create folders, I also use it because it was purchased by proton. I also used obisidian and logseq ( and many others ) but so far SN wins
dann0
I like Joplin. Has the features you've asked for
bigbaldhead
synchronization isn't good for me, it must be cloud, not via third-party software.
guizadillas
all cloud is third party if you are not selfhosting
aprdm
you can pay to synchronize w/ their backend, is what I do
Tomte
Joplin can sync using WebDAV.
dann0
I sync it with my own synology.
nicbou
I use Markdown files plus Syncthing. There are many markdown editors but I like Sublime Text and Obsidian the most.

Plain text files and a dedicated synchronization tool is as trustworthy as it gets.

bigbaldhead
as I already said I have tried them all, I spent hours on reddit, I like Obsidian but I don't like paying to synchronize, I don't like syncthing because I have to have the phone turned on while for standardnotes it takes 1 minute to synchronize without using third parties
gepardi
Thanks for sharing Syncthing!
nicbou
It has been rock solid for me. I use it for everything nowadays.
mystickphoenix
Currently use markdown files + dropbox for sync. I can't seem to stick with a single notes app for any appreciable length of time but having files in plain text makes it easier to switch.

Currently using:

- Obsidian: this one has stuck the longest

- iA Writer: really pretty, seems to be more useful for longform

- NeoVim: I live it in anyway... may as well

- rlg: my own "dump thought to single file w/ timestamp" rust app), very janky, written specifically for my own use-case, standard "there may be dragons here, might eat your computer just for fun, etc" - https://github.com/bryan-lott/rust-lab-log

shrimp_emoji
A text editor with `.txt` files in VeraCrypt volumes in Dropbox
screamingninja
Logseq + Syncthing has been working quite well. Logseq is well maintained, has a fully functional Android app, and a thriving plug-in ecosystem. I have been using the combination for a year and it's an excellent long term solution.
bigbaldhead
syncthing is not good for me, I don't like using third parties
talldayo
Syncthing is one of the only sync solutions suggested here that doesn't use third-parties.
barlog
I've been using Simplenote both iPhone and PC for many years.

https://app.simplenote.com/

bigbaldhead
yes I know it, I immediately thought it was connected to simplelogin but it isn't, nice app but it's not good
barlog
This is the ideal UX on the device side (below).

Launch the notes app, the keyboard comes up with focus on the new note and you can write immediately. When close note app, it syncs.

barlog
The push app (e.g. push bullet) used to covert the memo synchronization.

It's no longer available at every turn due to too many restrictions.

aristofun
Apple notes and txt/md files on dropbox
bigbaldhead
im on android, windows,linux= no apple
aristofun
In that case txt+dropbox would suffice for me
mikewarot
Once I had an offline PC that I wanted to keep in sync, via "sneakernet"

I used GIT, and it worked quite well, for keeping the 3 copies in sync... offline PC, thumbdrive copy, and copy at home.

MaxGripe
„Offline PC” sounds interesting. Is it for security reasons?
mikewarot
No, it wasn't near an LAN drops in a rather spread out factory. It's possible there were no LAN drops near it to keep others from surfing the net instead of working. (In the days before ubiquitous smartphones)
Turboblack
You can write a message to yourself in a telegram, and then, if necessary, send it anywhere you like

Many instant messengers have this feature.

pillefitz
Not exactly what you asked, but: Since introducing a GTD-like system using MS To-Do (any similar app suffices) I noticed my note taking to decline steeply. These days I use OneNote for meetings notes at work and a physical notebook for reflections.
Yawrehto
https://www.protectedtext.com/. It's free, encrypted, no login, privacy-protecting, and generally an awesome resource. It does use plain text though so if you need more advanced formatting than it's probably not for you, but if not it's amazing, highly recommend.
ariosto
I love Obsidian my only problem is syncing things from iOS - haven't been able to find a solution.
hgyjnbdet
I have used many open source notes taking apps. My goto used to be Zim Desktop Wiki [0] but its just a desktop app and the was no built in sync solution. On mobile I used Markor [1] which understood Zims syntax, as well as markdown.

Due to lack of mobile client and built in sync options I moved to Joplin [2]. Its markdown, cross platform, and i can sync with WebDav. People don't like that its SQLite based, but honestly worse com to worse your notes are an export away, or you can just open the database yourself. Im happy with it.

I always recommend Treesheets [3] though, excellent for brainstorming/rapid note taking.

[0] https://zim-wiki.org/

[1] https://f-droid.org/packages/net.gsantner.markor/

[2] https://joplinapp.org/

[3] https://strlen.com/treesheets/

ofalkaed
I just email myself. With a little thought you can use filters and subject to get your client to file everything in the right folder for you.
MaxGripe
I mostly use .txt file with Sublime Text (I don’t sync notes), GitHub’s „project” (set to private) and sometimes I also message myself on Signal.