Show HN: Open source non-linear notepad app • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: Open source non-linear notepad app

#71

Post by gnufied » Sat, Jul 21, 2018, 5:26 PM UTC

Nice app. As someone who uses org-mode for note taking, I tried micropad. Here is a quick feedback:

1. Add support for syntax highligting the code blocks in markdown may be?

2. It is not obvious that full screen will hide the sidebar and how I can bring it back.

3. App has several bugs I think. Trying to create a image note with 1MB image froze the application.

4. Vertical space is a premium these days. A lot of vertical space in the app is wasted. Not sure if this being an electron app.

5. Whats up with app icon? I am using appimage on Fedora.

6. For some reason the note taking does not feel effortless. I do not mean this as massive criticism but as others have pointed out, allow deletion without prompts and allow undo.

Re: Show HN: Open source non-linear notepad app

#72

Post by reitanqild » Sat, Jul 21, 2018, 6:25 PM UTC

wodenokoto wrote: post #48

jjoonathan wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mac: Ctrl+Cmd+Shift+4 to grab a rectangular selection to the clipboard. Does windows have something similar? I've been using PrintScrn and Paint but it's comparably very awkward. I know there are apps, but "working in places where I haven't / can't install apps" is a requirement.

Yes Windows have a snipping tool[1] Although I use it every day, I haven't bothered looking up keyboard shortcuts for it. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snipping_Tool

Win - Shift - S I think

Edit: that might be specific to the OneNote clipping tool though.

Re: Show HN: Open source non-linear notepad app

#73

Post by scott-smith_us » Sat, Jul 21, 2018, 6:30 PM UTC

Thanks for doing this.

SUGGESTION: A video demo link would really help short-attention-span people like me. Something brief that shows it being used and highlights features that make μPad stand out (e.g. "infinite canvas" -- what does that look like)?

Re: Show HN: Open source non-linear notepad app

#74

Post by Sir_Substance » Sat, Jul 21, 2018, 6:35 PM UTC

mholt wrote: post #56

Cool! I like this. A couple suggestions: - Instead of asking "Are you sure" to delete an element, just go ahead and delete it, but make it undoable. This allows for quicker workflow. - If I double-click an empty space, I would like to immediately insert a Text element and start typing, without having to aim the mouse again and click Text. I'll probably be coming back to this when I need some note taking. Thanks for s…

>Instead of asking "Are you sure" to delete an element, just go ahead and delete it, but make it undoable. This allows for quicker workflow.

Counterpoint: this makes it harder to tell that information that you might want to be really sure is deleted (like someone elses credit card number or your passport number) is actually deleted. The deletion workflow is now delete it->check to see if it's in the undo list->really for reals delete it.

That's a way worse UX than a confirm dialog, and more risky for the customer. Remember that your grandmother might be using this to temporarily store her credit card pin.

Re: Show HN: Open source non-linear notepad app

#75

Post by dan-robertson » Sat, Jul 21, 2018, 7:31 PM UTC

Sir_Substance wrote: post #74

mholt wrote: post #56

Cool! I like this. A couple suggestions: - Instead of asking "Are you sure" to delete an element, just go ahead and delete it, but make it undoable. This allows for quicker workflow. - If I double-click an empty space, I would like to immediately insert a Text element and start typing, without having to aim the mouse again and click Text. I'll probably be coming back to this when I need some note taking. Thanks for s…

>Instead of asking "Are you sure" to delete an element, just go ahead and delete it, but make it undoable. This allows for quicker workflow. Counterpoint: this makes it harder to tell that information that you might want to be really sure is deleted (like someone elses credit card number or your passport number) is actually deleted. The deletion workflow is now delete it->check to see if it's in the undo list->really…

I don’t think clicking yes in a confirm dialog implies that anything was “truly deleted.” It might well still be living in the undo history, other indexes, auto save files, backups, and it could certainly live in memory (especially if it was moved by the garbage collector).

It would be very foolish to assume that just because one has clicked “yes, delete” that the data is gone forever.

Re: Show HN: Open source non-linear notepad app

#76

Post by pk78 » Sat, Jul 21, 2018, 7:33 PM UTC

Nice app! I created a similar app a while back. The difference is that you can also connect the boxes(a mind map like concept) you create, otherwise, the click-anywhere-to-add kinda feature is similar. I'd appreciate it if you check it out - it's https://www.mapsofmind.com

Re: Show HN: Open source non-linear notepad app

#77

Post by writepub » Sat, Jul 21, 2018, 7:34 PM UTC

Hello HN. You might like to try a competing offering I developed, http://Write.Pub

Re: Show HN: Open source non-linear notepad app

#78

Post by juancampa » Sat, Jul 21, 2018, 7:36 PM UTC

It's funny that the main thing you do in a note-taking program is create notes but there's no keyboard shortcut for it. Otherwise, cool concept, will keep an eye on it

Re: Show HN: Open source non-linear notepad app

#79

Post by maneesh » Sat, Jul 21, 2018, 7:56 PM UTC

You might really like https://notion.so , which lets you create non-linear notes but with a really cool variety of page styles

Re: Show HN: Open source non-linear notepad app

#80

Post by selimthegrim » Sat, Jul 21, 2018, 8:07 PM UTC

For engineering notes, one might try http://www.blockpad.net, with OLE like ability to link formulas and tables between documents, shared repositories of such, and calculations with units!