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Notion API – public beta

developers.notion.so

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Re: Notion API – public beta

#191

Post by qshaman »

0x5f3759df-i wrote: post #126
TechBro8615 wrote: post #73

Big fan of notion. Not a fan of the data lock-in or haphazard security. For tools like this, SaaS will almost always beat open source just by virtue of elbow grease and a product direction. So I’m willing to forego the open source alternatives. But I really wish Notion gave me more options for how to host my data. AFAICT they offer no “dedicated storage” or “on premise” plan, even if you want to pay for it. In fact I…

This is the reason I use Obsidian. https://obsidian.md/ All of your data is locally stored markdown text files with no lock in. All of the amazing benefits of linked note taking without the downsides.

Obsidian is not a replacement for Notion tho, no databases, a lot of custom configuration, no nice templates, etc... I can't take how slow Notion is, and I'm looking for a self-hosted replacement, but Obsidian is just not there yet, except for the note taking part, that I dont care about.

Re: Notion API – public beta

#194

Post by MattRix »

Spivak wrote: post #130
MattRix wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Along the same lines, the fact that they don’t have any simple inline tables that aren’t “databases” is annoying. Sometimes I don’t want a database or a spreadsheet, just a simple inline table with a few columns.

Kinda confused about this one? Inline tables are ... well inline tables. Why does it matter that they're actually pages/databases? Is it that you want tables in the formatting sense?

Good question! There are a few things. First, you can’t make a table that doesn’t have specifically typed vertical columns, which means a bunch of layouts just aren’t possible (you can kind of fake it with all text columns, but it gets messy. You also can’t hide the column headers.

You’re forced to have a name column, and your table has to have a title (you can make the title a space but that feels like a hack).

There’s just lots of chrome. Even if you lock the table, you still have the lock icon and the new row button that will never go away.

These things may all seem minor, but they really do make tables not look or feel “simple”.

To be clear, I’m absolutely fine with the existing tables for certain purposes, and I don’t want them changed… I just wish there was a “Simple Table” block type as well.

Re: Notion API – public beta

#195

Post by SixFive7 »

freewilly1040 wrote: post #50
awill wrote: post #49

How good is Notion? Is the lock-in worth it? I'm fearful of lock-in, and just use markdown plain text, sync'd with dropbox, and then use different markdown apps on different OSes.

They offer the ability to export to markdown, so I don't think using it would lock you out of reverting to that option

Beware that for us any export has been broken for months with no real answer from Notion support other than: we know.

Re: Notion API – public beta

#196

Post by SixFive7 »

jitl wrote: post #176
ptd wrote: post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you’re the CEO, would you rather have a frustrating but profitable product or a non-frustrating but non-profitable product? I think people forget this part of the math.

(I work at Notion) "Lock in" is not a part of our strategy. We try to offer data portability via import and export; you can export your entire workspace as HTML (most metadata, pages link to each other and can be browsed offline), PDF, or Markdown (most easily editable). Given an HTML export and a few hours of scripting, I think you could migrate to any API-accessible document storage strategy.

Except if the export is broken, as it has been for us for months with no answer from support. Our company account got quite large to about 40 GB. Ever since, all export options just result in "export failed"... and as nothing can really be deleted; I'm scared we'll be locked in permanently.

Don't get me wrong. We love Notion. But we also need our data to be portable and backed up to not be liable.

Re: Notion API – public beta

#197

Post by [deleted] »

SixFive7 wrote: post #196
jitl wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

(I work at Notion) "Lock in" is not a part of our strategy. We try to offer data portability via import and export; you can export your entire workspace as HTML (most metadata, pages link to each other and can be browsed offline), PDF, or Markdown (most easily editable). Given an HTML export and a few hours of scripting, I think you could migrate to any API-accessible document storage strategy.

Except if the export is broken, as it has been for us for months with no answer from support. Our company account got quite large to about 40 GB. Ever since, all export options just result in "export failed"... and as nothing can really be deleted; I'm scared we'll be locked in permanently. Don't get me wrong. We love Notion. But we also need our data to be portable and backed up to not be liable.

[deleted]

Re: Notion API – public beta

#198

Post by thom »

gmjosack wrote: post #182

I've recently started using Notion and I'm surprised at few things that I find incredibly annoying with it so far. Since it seems there are some Notion staff here I'll take this as a change to give some feedback to hopefully improve the product. * No read-only mode. I like to have documents default to a read-only mode so I don't accidentally typo random characters, or delete something when try copying. etc. * No floa…

While we’re making a wish list, the biggest thing for me would be permissions on database tables. It’s very hard to centralise info using tables when you need multiple versions for multiple people (e.g. if I’m tracking job applicants in Notion, I want to be able to store some personal information but not necessarily show that to everyone).

Re: Notion API – public beta

#199

Post by hokumguru »

rattray wrote: post #173
boraoztunc wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Obsidian ( https://obsidian.md ) also offers offline, + for free.

Are either Roam or Obsidian collaborative?

Roam seems to be working on it. I’m unsure the status as I haven’t checked in a few months.

Re: Notion API – public beta

#200

Post by crossroadsguy »

So far the only new note taking app that I found polished enough[1] and worth the time is Bear and sadly it’s very very much a closed walled garden and with its subscription model it makes me very uncomfortable.

Tried FSNotes - extremely immature and it doesn’t seem to have any direction at all - it’s all over, Standard Notes - visibly none native and offers no exportable local storage (by design). Decided to stay away.

Hope to see some solid and simple new native apps around Notion API.

[1] Fast enough, not cluttered, and have native apps (I’ve realised after years of trial and use that my note taking app has to be native and that’s non-negotiable)

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