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Ask HN: Favorite note-taking software?

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Re: Ask HN: Favorite note-taking software?

#342

Over my last two terms I've invested in using markdown with Pandoc to write any notes in class. I needed a way to be able to take math notes, and be simple to use. After migrating to Linux, OneNote was no longer an option. It's simple to use, as it uses markdown syntax for anything text based, and LaTeX syntax for inlined math formulas. I as of recently also found out that VimWiki exists. I've started to use it becau…

+1 for VimWiki, it's just simple enough for decent note-taking although it's not as highly customizable as org-mode. Btw, I think the internal linking features and others do not work with Markdown syntax of VimWiki after the export, or have you figured out something ?

I haven't had a chance to integrated vimwiki into my school notes just yet. I havent used the export function in vimwiki yet, as I stick with viewing my notes in vim.

I'm not sure if HTML outputs the paths the same way that the vimwiki does, could you possibly use relative links or something? I can't get HTML conversion to work for me right now for some reason. You could also possibly compile all the notes at once, and use sections to refer to certain files. Similar to how LaTeX outputs sections.

Re: Ask HN: Favorite note-taking software?

#343

I've given up on using any sort of branded app for notetaking. At best it's open source and the maintainers will lose interest in a few years. When you write things down, you're investing in your future. It's silly to use software that isn't making that same investment. After trying Evernote, Workflowy, Notion, wikis, org-mode, and essentially everything else I could find, I gave up and tried building my own system f…

What is wrong with org-mode? It is plain text file. I see no major differences compared to markdown.

I find org-mode perfect for this. It's lightweight, the files can be interlinked and over time, expanded, if necessary into larger notes.

I've been using a variant of the zettelkasten method for keeping book summaries and notes on index cards. It's been nice but the indexing method I'm using is cumbersome. I've been toying with the idea of moving just that into something digital.

Another thing that I recently came across is https://www.gnu.org/software/hyperbole/. It's also Emacs based and might be something I can actually use.

Re: Ask HN: Favorite note-taking software?

#345
post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's what I use it for. I've found the " One column of concepts, with one column of articles in each concept" to be a really useful formalism. I found, when using wikis (even just my own) that it wound up being an unorganized mess. I wound up writing a Quiver-alike for the windows/linux world at work.

I like Quiver too, but hate the fact that‘s only on Mac. If your open sourcing your project, i would love to help. Just let us know.

No, alas, I did it at work. Should have done it at home :-(

Re: Ask HN: Favorite note-taking software?

#346
I hate to admit it. I tried everything, maybe except for org-mode. My favorite - which I do a bunch of stuff in real time and which generates money for me is: Microsoft OneNote thick client. Supreme user experience. Second best: tables in Microsoft Excel.

sigh I am supposed to be a die hard open source guy. Well well maybe npt so much at the end of the day. Corporate life is all proprietery high end Oracle, SAS, IBM and Microsoft.

Re: Ask HN: Favorite note-taking software?

#347

Google Docs for long-form notes (meetings, classes), Google Keep for short-form (grocery list, to-do, etc.). Nothing beats the fact I can use it instantly across all devices (not Apple-only) and it's free.

Can access iOS Notes from iCloud on any device. I’d argue the web UI is just as easy to use as the native Keep UI. My issue with Keep is that in my experience, if you aren’t religious with organization, it gets out of hand and unuseable fast.

Can access iOS Notes from iCloud on any device.

iCloud's website does not work on Android devices. You can't even use "Find My iPhone" on a friend's device if you lose yours.

Re: Ask HN: Favorite note-taking software?

#348
I separate notes into two categories "Actionable" and "Reference I may need in the future" For Actionable I use "OK Google, note to self" to send to my email and then use a tool I developed to manage Actionable email/todo/links/files etc. For "Reference I may need in the future" I use Evernote and add keywords I may use for searching

Re: Ask HN: Favorite note-taking software?

#349
post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In that sense markdown is also proprietary, since you need some editor making things easy for you to manipulate and navigate the text document(that's all emacs does; even github renders org docs).

The big difference is that Markdown is way simpler, you can read it reasonably easy with Notepad even, and this is why every reasonable editor can Render it preview it, export it. Even browsers or small apps can show a HTML rendered markdown. There are even standalone Markdown editors, but there is no standalone org-mode editor.

I just use HTML directly if I need formatting. I find it wuch easier to remember its syntax than Markdown.

Re: Ask HN: Favorite note-taking software?

#350
Google Docs for long form stuff.

Apple Notes for the rest.

I honestly didn't realize how much I was using Apple Notes on iOS and Mac, until recently. The ability to create folders, and iCloud sync (after it became useful enough) are amazing.

I only wish Apple Notes would get a lot more features similar to Google Doc, but at that point it'd be an another replacement for Apple Pages.

I was never hooked to Evernote, despite the amount of traction it got. So I'm not sure if Notes on iOS and mac will be a good replacement for Evernote users though.

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