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Show HN: Write a private diary using good old email

diaryemail.com

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Re: Show HN: Write a private diary using good old email

#111

Post by jlelse »

kossnocorp wrote: post #70
Dyaz17 wrote: post #59

Great job. Here is what I propose to make it more secure and prevent you from being able to read anyone diary... I propose that each day a link/token is sent to your email. The link then ask for a password that is handled only with client side javascript and does the encryption of the data before sending it do the server. Look at what Blockhain.info or myetherwallet is doing for client side encryption. Maybe also pro…

Thank you! My goal wasn't to create a 100% secure diary. If you need that, you probably should not store your data in the cloud. That's unlikely that I will ever try to make it happen. But even if I would, there're so many ways to screw it over anyway, so I won't ever try to make this promise. However, I will consider open-sourcing it. Also see my comment where I addressed the privacy issue: https://news.ycombinator.…

Open sourcing it (and allowing to self-host it for personal and private use) would be awesome!

Re: Show HN: Write a private diary using good old email

#112

Post by graeme »

graeme wrote: post #103
athenot wrote: post #75

The very humble Notes app on macOS/iOS fulfills this for me. I just start typing, the minimalistic interface gets out of the way. Timestamping is on last modification instead of creation date but I add one manually. That's about my only drawback. Some features I find compelling: - I can start a train of thought on the mac, continue it on the phone and complete it on my mac. - It's not mined by some advertising compan…

My first thought when reading this was “how do you automate it?” as that was part of the spec. But you can actually do that with Shortcuts, which is build into the system. 1. Make a note with a title like “journal” or “daily log” 2. Open shortcuts, go to automations. Make a new one with a time of day trigger. (Or an alternate if you prefer) 3. Actions: “find all notes where” —> filter for notes name. “ask for input”…

How do I make this list be a list without double spacing or making it a code block....there must be a way?

Re: Show HN: Write a private diary using good old email

#113

Post by vi-mode »

PG is a smart mind with a long track record of achievements. Still people shouldn't follow him in a cult-like manner or turn him into a voodoo-kind role model, 'PG tweeted he needs a pink phone, I made him one'.

While the initial email idea is tempting, it's nonsense from a security perspective especially with this use case.

Re: Show HN: Write a private diary using good old email

#114

Post by charlus »

athenot wrote: post #75

The very humble Notes app on macOS/iOS fulfills this for me. I just start typing, the minimalistic interface gets out of the way. Timestamping is on last modification instead of creation date but I add one manually. That's about my only drawback. Some features I find compelling: - I can start a train of thought on the mac, continue it on the phone and complete it on my mac. - It's not mined by some advertising compan…

I agree - after trying many notes and lists apps, I settled on the simplicity of Notes. It's also very fast.

Re: Show HN: Write a private diary using good old email

#115

Post by obiefernandez »

j45 wrote: post #104
obiefernandez wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The OhLife replacement I wrote is called AhhLife and I have maintained it as a personal side project for many years now. https://ahhlife.com

Ahhlife seems pretty capable except it doesn’t seem to handle photo attachments or logins only via gmail.

Any google mail works. I'm thinking maybe replacing the whole login system with email-only authentication like DailyDiary uses.

Re: Show HN: Write a private diary using good old email

#116

Post by ryanjm33 »

DeusExMachina wrote: post #91
athenot wrote: post #75

The very humble Notes app on macOS/iOS fulfills this for me. I just start typing, the minimalistic interface gets out of the way. Timestamping is on last modification instead of creation date but I add one manually. That's about my only drawback. Some features I find compelling: - I can start a train of thought on the mac, continue it on the phone and complete it on my mac. - It's not mined by some advertising compan…

Since macOS Catalina, you can also sort notes by creation date. So the information is there, even though it's kept hidden.

On the Mac, if you click the date, it will flip between creation/updated dates.

Re: Show HN: Write a private diary using good old email

#117

Post by thanatropism »

athenot wrote: post #75

The very humble Notes app on macOS/iOS fulfills this for me. I just start typing, the minimalistic interface gets out of the way. Timestamping is on last modification instead of creation date but I add one manually. That's about my only drawback. Some features I find compelling: - I can start a train of thought on the mac, continue it on the phone and complete it on my mac. - It's not mined by some advertising compan…

An alternative is the voice recording app. It doesn't have search but you can use the recording titles for tags.

Re: Show HN: Write a private diary using good old email

#118

Post by tlackemann »

Alternatively, jrnl.sh. It's tiny, allows you write using your favorite editor, and can be backed up or replicated with simple git. It's even encrypted.

Maybe I'm not the target demographic for services like these but I would never trust my personal thoughts with a service like this.

Re: Show HN: Write a private diary using good old email

#119

Post by obiefernandez »

the_watcher wrote: post #92
obiefernandez wrote: post #81

Hey HN I have exactly this and have maintained it for years as a replacement for OhLife: https://ahhlife.com Thousands of active users. Very (very) slowly enhancing and monetizing with additional features, but it's far down on my priority list.

Have you replied to PG's original tweet? This looks like exactly what he was looking for.

just did, thanks. kicking myself that I didn't think to email him about it sooner.

Re: Show HN: Write a private diary using good old email

#120

Post by mnemonicsloth »

marta_morena wrote: post #89

Cool, so people post their diary to an email service? Interesting. Why not just post on Facebook? It's about as public as it gets.

A lot of people would rather keep their diaries private.

Montaigne wouldn't have been Montaigne if he was writing for other people.

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