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Show HN: Write a private diary using good old email

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

#171

Post by dsaavy »

bad_user wrote: post #36

The service that Paul Graham mentioned is probably this one: http://ohlife.com Shutdown announcement: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8345881 I used it and loved it. It was cool while it lasted. Unfortunately it's just one more example for why I don't trust startups. Also you probably don't need a service, personally I can just send email to yourself, PGP encrypted. The only bit that's missing is a periodic remi…

Non-technical users could just use something like Zapier or Automate.io to email them reminders that they can reply to.

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

#172

Post by bob1122 »

newzombie wrote: post #107
kossnocorp wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I addressed it in a comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22045670 > But once the data leaves the browser there is no way to know, wouldn't you consider to partner with Gmail(or others) and appear as an addon to an already trusted company in order to start off the business ? Also, I understand the concern and that Paul most likely will not trust their secrets to anyone. The problem is that's not a business, b…

An idea would be to open source it and make it simple to run an instance.

Agreed.

I respect if it's not what you're looking for but you may be able leverage yourself into a good position (with the community and with PG) as a result of the publicity + traction combo.

Great work getting that ball rolling so quickly!

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

#174

Post by throwaway_tech »

alfonsodev wrote: post #43
kossnocorp wrote: post #2

Yesterday Paul Graham asked for an email diary service ( https://twitter.com/paulg/status/1216714155731890176 ): > Is there an easy way to build, or a startup that offers, something that will email you once a day asking "What's happening?" and then accumulate the replies? I did just that! Let me know what you think.

He also wrote > Unfortunately, though, in this one case I can't promise that if you build it, I'll use it. Unless I know you, I can't trust that you won't read my emails. (I trusted the previous startup that did it because we'd funded them.) How do you solve the "won't read my emails" problem ? I've seen the statement in your website: > Your data stored and transferred securely. No one will ever read or process your…

Yeah nothing like a VC stating the only way he would/could trust and use a product is if they were an investor in the product.

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

#175

Post by penagwin »

giancarlostoro wrote: post #165
penagwin wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Funny I use sublime the same way. It's my go-to tool for when I need to manipulate text (ctrl+d is a godsend) for copying and pasting. It's super powerful, but uses few resources compared to vscode/intellij. Not to mention it can handle massive text files like a champ.

Yeah, I can open my notes up in an instant which is why I use it. I dont use it to dev all the time, but I do enjoy ST. If ST4 becomes a major improvement (LSP?) I may reconsider.

I tried to develop with it (We use primarily python and typescript) but intellij is just so darn good. It's kinda clunkly for one-off files and text editing though, which is why I prefer sublime for a lot of that stuff.

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

#176

Post by crtlaltdel »

bergie wrote: post #82

That's a great idea, can write on any device! In the early 2000s, I had a setup where I could blog by either email or SMS. By default emails would become new posts. SMS would append to the latest entry, or I could create a new one with a keyword (NEWPOST title, I think). This was a nice way to create and update travel journals before mobile internet and smartphones were widespread.

honestly, this feels like a great feature for today, especially with the prevalence of smartphones and the mobile web! now we have devices that are mostly easier to type/compose messages on and the fierce rush to build an app for everything has imo reduced the "cool factor" of a bespoke native app. i hate installing a new app to use a service if the app is buggy and the workflow could be done some other way (even responsive webapp). personally, i really enjoy sms based UX.

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

#178

Post by groovybits »

opmac wrote: post #143
eerrt wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

like Protonmail

Which has its own problems but that's another story.

I would wager any email provider would suffice for a simply diary, if thats how you want to keep it.

I'm assuming you're speaking to higher-level issues, such as privacy or security?

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

#179

Post by oefrha »

tossmeaside1 wrote: post #162
tlackemann wrote: post #118

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.

It is a popular conceit to assume that anyone cares about your thoughts or that they carry some significant, intrinsic value. This happens to me all the time. It takes reflection to realize that most of the crap that people generate is just that, crap. Sure, it may be crap that can incriminate you in a court proceeding or crap that could be developed into patented intellectual property, but it is crap none-the-less.…

No one gives a crap about your nude body. Still, you probably don’t shower in the open.

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

#180

Post by Tomte »

Retr0spectrum wrote: post #144
reikonomusha wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn’t that just an email hack?

No, it's a gmail-specific "feature". Other mail services may also implement it, I guess.

It is supported by most mail servers, I guess, and at some time nerds all over the world were heavily promoting this scheme.

I know someone who constantly complained that web site X or company Y are stupid, because they don't follow the RFCs, don't know the syntax of mail addresses, because mail validation in web forms often rejected anything with a plus sign.

The correct answer would have been "don't do it then" or maybe "how about configuring your Exim so that instead of '+' you're using '-' as a separator, but I suppose the complaining was a big part of the fun.

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