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Recomendation for a note taking app

Hello everyone, I'd like your recommendations for a note taking app that:

  • Can be selfhosted
  • Stores the notes as plain text or *.md files, not some SQL database.
  • Can use Marddown format.
  • Have an android client or at least a mobile optimized web-interface.
  • Not a must but it would be nice to have a to-do list option.

I tried:

  • Trilium: use an encrypted litesql to store the notes.
  • Joplin: does not encrypt the notes, but store them in random named directories, making ot harder finding the notes.
  • Logseq: No firefox support, I did not check how it stores itsdatabase.
  • Standard note: Needs subscription to selfhost or to even use markdown format, otherwise it is a heavy text editor.
  • Memos: does not store plain files, instead uses a (sqlite probably) database even when setting local filesystem as current object storage.
  • CodiMD: use database to store its notes
  • Hedgedoc: the same as above
  • Silverbulet.md: This is what I will end up using if Obsidian + syncthing was not for me,It is minimal without losing much features and can be enhanced with plug-ins.
    . It does need a bit of getting used to and it does not have an android app but can it can be run as PWA that runs offline. The only downside is it does clutter your note directory with a bunch of dot files (if you decided to install plug-ins).

The closest I found so far is Obsidian, which:

  • Unfortunately, does not have any selfhosting option.
  • Have a client app on every platform and store.
  • Can use a custom directory to store it database as plain text files, which can be a network mounted directory (on my laptop/desktop) or a directory on my android phone that i will have to keep synchronized using a third party app.
  • I used "Remotely Save by fyears" which allows you to synchronize local obsidian note directory with a cloud directory (onedrive, dropbox, webdav...), It requires webdav for self-hosted options, kinda forcing you to use a 3th party service to run a 3rd party plug-in so you can use Obsidian with your home server directory. On top of that It can only use a folder on the root of the webdave server (say /notes instead of /documents/notes).
  • I used syncthing initially to sync my Notes directory but I ended up using it to keep a buch of directories in sync across all my devices. Leaving you to use whatever app you like on any device, not just Obsidian.

Edit: March-2nd: added memos, codimd, hedgedoc
Edit: March-9th, It has been a busy week and I could not do much. I added silverbullet and both syncthing adn remotly-save for obsidian. I'm using now Silverbullet and Obsidian+syncthing until I decide on one.
Thank you everyone who helped me choosing.

Eideen ,
@Eideen@lemmy.world avatar

Privat gitea server.

lascapi ,
@lascapi@jlai.lu avatar

Do you have a markdown editor include with gitea?

Eideen ,
@Eideen@lemmy.world avatar

It can show Markdown and have preview of markdown.

It have highlighting of Markdown, but is not editor similar to Sync for lemmy.

lascapi ,
@lascapi@jlai.lu avatar

OK, thank you 😊

Hule ,

I use logseq. It has an Android app, and also desktop app (the latter being more complex). Also, it's plain markdown.

But you have to sync the different devices yourself and be careful not to run two instances at the same time.

d13 ,

Logseq has an Android app and clients for the usual desktop platforms. It stores as .md files. It meets your requirements. I'm not sure why you're focused on Firefox support?

One I have my eye on is Silverbullet.md. the creator recently promoted it here and it has some nice ideas. It's a web app that you self host. Behind the scenes everything is stored in .md files.

ryannathans ,

Sucks that it doesn't have any authentication or TLS support

constantokra ,

I'm getting a bit concerned with logseq. It's just kind of backwards to have a web app packaged as a desktop/android app that can be hosted on a server, but you can't store your files there. I get that they want to monetize sync, but they're kind of bending over backwards here to not have what's inherently a pretty reasonable feature in a web based app, and it makes me concerned about what they're going to do with the project in the future.

customley ,

Logseq actually does not need to be run in a browser, there are apps for every system. It does not have any sync server to host though (so far) so you have to use syncthing or something to have your notes available between devices. It does store notes in .md format with clearly labelled names so you always have access to them.

It does have a learning curve and android apps still do have some bugs to iron out, but I started to really like it and use it as my bullet journal.

The whole system of linking notes and even singular text blocks works really well in my mind. I can write a quick note about my health in today's journal file and tag it with and when I go to the health file it shows every mention of that tag from everywhere.

stgermain77 ,

+1 on Logseq and Sync Thing.

Gutless2615 ,

I’ve fallen deep down the Silverbullet rabbit hole. Self hosted markdown editor but with built in dataview style querying (if you used Obsidian that will be familiar), accessible cross platform and with a progressive web app, and basically endlessly extendable with a scripting language. Really really enjoying it and it’s made me finally move from Obsidian, which I used to evangelize (and pay for the premium sync features). Definitely check it out. Silverbullet.md

makingStuffForFun ,
@makingStuffForFun@lemmy.ml avatar

That. Looks. Incredible!

Thank you so much for sharing!

Gutless2615 ,

It rules

thirdBreakfast ,

I'm also on Silverbullet, and from OP's description it sounds like it could be a good fit. I don't use any of the fancy template stuff - just a bunch of md files in a directory with links between them.

myfavouritename ,

Third vote for Silverbullet here. I'm really enjoying using it.

mhz OP ,
@mhz@lemm.ee avatar

I hosted it on my home server. It is great for sure, I will need to look into it enhancing its experience with plugins.
Any idea about the PWA and how to use it? someone else here mentioned it it is a feature I'd like to have.

Gutless2615 ,

So on iOS it’s a matter of clicking the share button on Safari and selecting “add to homepage”. I think it’s similar on Android but I can’t confirm.

degen ,

If you like obsidian, synching works well to at least selfhost your data.

dust_accelerator ,
Strit ,
@Strit@lemmy.linuxuserspace.show avatar

This is also what I use. It ticks all of OPs boxes, but it might be overkill if you just want notes.

mhz OP ,
@mhz@lemm.ee avatar

Actually, nextcloud is what introduced me to the markdown format. Hiwever, i found myself using NC for its note app only, hence i'm looking for a lightweight alternative.

crony , (edited )
@crony@lemmy.cronyakatsuki.xyz avatar

Honestly I just have a directory with markdown files I sync between my devices using syncthing.

For editing on pc I use neovim and for editing on phone I use markor.

fine_sandy_bottom ,

This. This is the answer.

Directory with markdown files and syncthing.

Use whatever editors on whatever device.

ryannathans ,

Silverbullet but you have to do your own authentication and TLS

OddFed ,
@OddFed@feddit.de avatar

MD Files with git

Decronym Bot , (edited )

Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:

Fewer Letters More Letters
Git Popular version control system, primarily for code
IP Internet Protocol
NAS Network-Attached Storage
SSL Secure Sockets Layer, for transparent encryption
TLS Transport Layer Security, supersedes SSL

4 acronyms in this thread; the most compressed thread commented on today has 10 acronyms.

[Thread for this sub, first seen 1st Mar 2024, 09:05]
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halm ,
@halm@leminal.space avatar

For the past many years I've simply synced my notes across devices (originally from webDAV, currently Syncthing) and open them with my favourite Markdown editor for each platform. On my android phone it's Markor, and Marktext on desktop.

I've tried so many note taking apps but especially Joplin's weird renaming of my files cooled my enthusiasm for One App To Rule Them All. I do understand the attraction of it, I just prefer a simple setup where I'm not bound by any developer (team)’s whims.

mhz OP ,
@mhz@lemm.ee avatar

I just prefer a simple setup where I’m not bound by any developer (team)’s whims.

This is my concern, if anything goes wrong with my favorite app I would just move on to another without much fuss.

fart_pickle ,

Obaidian + Syncthing will do the trick.

mhz OP ,
@mhz@lemm.ee avatar

Obaidian + Syncthing will do the trick.

This will be my backup plan if nothing else work out.

unlimitedbacon ,
@unlimitedbacon@kbin.social avatar

Check out SiYuan. It's an open source, self hostabole version of Obsidian.

It uses a database on the backend but editing is done in Markdown and it can import / export Markdown files.

ebits21 ,
@ebits21@lemmy.ca avatar

Obsidian + Syncthing is what I’ve settled on. Not perfect, but the best I’ve used.

isles ,

Same combo, can use it on android (and probably iOS), windows, linux; the plugins really extend Obsidian's abilities.

Gutless2615 ,

Can not really use on iOS unfortunately. iOS is awful about allowing other apps to sync in the background.

ebits21 , (edited )
@ebits21@lemmy.ca avatar

I do with Mobius and it’s usable. I have a Synology NAS always there at home to sync to though. (Mobius syncs 1-2 hours per day in the background but it’s dynamic and not predictable thanks to Apple).

If I didn’t syncing between iOS devices would probably not work very well.

Yes instant syncing with iOS requires you to open the app if you can’t wait. I’ll often open Mobius if I’m working back and forth to make sure it syncs instantly.

brilokuloj ,

This is what I'm using and it's perfect for my use case. Tried more elaborate setups and it just wasn't worth it. I also use it with my household over LAN.

PlexSheep ,
@PlexSheep@feddit.de avatar

I've used this for more than a year and can confirm it works really well.

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