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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

#251

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…

> How do you solve the "won't read my emails" problem ?

Nobody but a handful of very vocal HN posters care about this. In the marketplace this isn’t a problem.

At the end of the day, you have to trust your data in somebody else’s hands. Unless your print your own circuit boards, make your own CPUs and write your own operating system, you cannot escape trusting a third party.

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

#252

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was thinking -- this morning -- about this type of proactive system that asks questions to stakeholders in a project; especially about their expectations. This is a killer feature that I have never seen in my 18 years as a PM. PM tools still pose high barriers for adoption, in general, since you have to login, navigate, find elements you are related to, analyze them and then feedback. That's a long path if you are…

I've spent 3 years iterating on this idea and it was inspired by the product PG mentioned in his tweet. Any feedback is appreciated! https://www.friday.app

Sounds similar to monday.

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

#253

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…

> How do you solve the "won't read my emails" problem ?

true end-to-end encryption is the only way?

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

#254
post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do your friends read it then?

Encrypt it with a symmetric key, and then encrypt the symmetric key separately with each of your friends' public keys.

But then if just one of your friend's private key is stolen, you lose control of everything you wrote, past or present.

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

#255

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.

It's very polished. I was expecting something much more rougher looking.

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

#256

Why doesn't the guy just write a python script to mail himself that prompt everyday? Sometimes I think if Paul Graham tripped he would start wondering if there was a start-up aiming to put an end to uneven ground.

PG writing a script to email himself every day doesn't create value for anyone but himself, someone deciding to build a company out of it does.

It could be released as free & open source software. That would be valuable.

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

#258

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…

thanks for sharing that article about the verification process, I wasn't aware of that situation.

You're welcome. Yeah, things got ugly.

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

#259

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

How about just open source and allow self hosting...

Maybe someday, but it's a lot of work and not much of a return.

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

#260

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Put the servers in Europe so the company gets to comply with the GDPR.

My company is actually in Europe, so I do comply with the GDPR.
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