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Show HN: Files.md – Open-source alternative to Obsidian

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Re: Show HN: Files.md – Open-source alternative to Obsidian

#251

Post by Barrin92 »

appplication wrote: post #97
trvz wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And the developers get compensated for their work how?

I don’t mean to be condescending but it feels like if this were an important question it would have halted OSS development decades ago.

>but it feels like if this were an important question it would have halted OSS development decades ago

no because the people who maintain the nuts and bolts of the open source world, like the often individual or handful contributors to projects like ffmpeg or xz-utils have been passionately doing that and at times burning out (which in case of the latter caused pretty prominent problems).

Does the world look to you like it's in a state where important questions and problems don't go unanswered? The reason this stuff works is because there's random guys in a basement in Kentucky somewhere who thanklessly work their asses off and nobody cares. They simply keep doing it because half of the internet would fall apart otherwise.

Re: Show HN: Files.md – Open-source alternative to Obsidian

#252

Post by inopinatus »

falcor84 wrote: post #133
bachmeier wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The data is open and stored in markdown format. Plugins are open source. The core product is not open source, but it's also just an electron app. I've always viewed Obsidian as the inverse of an open core product.

> I've always viewed Obsidian as the inverse of an open core product. I'd like to hereby propose the "open shell" development model.

We don’t need a special term for interoperable.

Re: Show HN: Files.md – Open-source alternative to Obsidian

#253

Post by bastijn »

jedimastert wrote: post #56
zakirullin wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> When I read "an alternative", I assumed feature-parity and API compatibility. But what I found out was entirely different and much more interesting. Thanks for a good observation! Indeed, I don't position it as Obsidian alternative. I don't know a better pitch for it just yet. For me that's something about: simplicity, lazy flow of adding things, readiness to use out of the box. To focus on what works, and not what…

I would say "open source markdown knowledge-base similar to Obsidian" but I'm not a marketing guy

Your markdown notes without the circus.

The boringly simple knowledge base.

Re: Show HN: Files.md – Open-source alternative to Obsidian

#255

Post by tsurba »

Joplin is open source, syncing setup between devices is one login to Dropbox, works for free, with native apps on Windows/OSX/Linux/iOS/Android. It has a bunch of plugins too. If you just need markdown files with syncing, use it rather than paying for Obsidian sync.

The 2GB free quota on Dropbox is plenty enough for text (and some screenshots). Or you could self-host obviously. Git while lovely for source code is a hassle for notes.

Re: Show HN: Files.md – Open-source alternative to Obsidian

#256

Post by dakolli »

Off topic, but telegram bot integration for tools/projects is very under rated. I try to incorporate telegram bots for all my personal projects. There's almost always a great quality of life feature opportunities that require minimal effort to implement.

I particularly like having a tg bots for observability, certain errors and certain events will get sent to a dedicated bot for my project. Highly recommend.

Re: Show HN: Files.md – Open-source alternative to Obsidian

#257

Post by thegagne »

arde wrote: post #201
thegagne wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not all software needs to be for-profit. Simple utility stuff I believe should fit in this category. Things like a text editor. The profit comes from elsewhere, larger more complex systems. Of course someone can TRY to profit off a text editor, but unless it solves complex enough problems (like a full blown IDE, but even then...). The issue is there is intense demand for it, and ALSO easy supply. If someone attempts…

Hello, fellow Dendron user. I haven't found good-enough alternatives either.

Hm, maybe we should go make one.

I am not a power user for Dendron, I mostly just use it for journaling, keeping track of who is who and what is what, and organizing architecture / ideas before they find a home somewhere else. Mostly a journal.

I do like that it’s in VS Code and I can leverage those tools and now, AI, to help.

The main functionality I use is the new daily journal from template feature. Do you use more surface area from it? What is the most useful features for you?

Re: Show HN: Files.md – Open-source alternative to Obsidian

#258

Post by vovavili »

HDMI_Cable wrote: post #163
flexagoon wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair, Obsidian is an Electron app with no obfuscation, so it's pretty easy to get its code. I think I even remember the official Obsidian team telling people to do that on their support forum if they distrusted the app.

Which really begs the question: why not have it open-source at that point? Obsidian isn't making money from things hidden in the code, but rather their Sync service. Might as well open-source it (and perhaps get more people helping with the development), keep the Sync service, and stem competitor projects like these in the bud.

Two-faced signalling:

- "We have nothing to hide";

- "We are willing to take you to court for taking advantage of our trust".

Re: Show HN: Files.md – Open-source alternative to Obsidian

#259

Post by desireco42 »

tsurba wrote: post #255

Joplin is open source, syncing setup between devices is one login to Dropbox, works for free, with native apps on Windows/OSX/Linux/iOS/Android. It has a bunch of plugins too. If you just need markdown files with syncing, use it rather than paying for Obsidian sync. The 2GB free quota on Dropbox is plenty enough for text (and some screenshots). Or you could self-host obviously. Git while lovely for source code is a h…

I stopped using Dropbox, but this is pleasant news that they have this much space.

I use git and it works well and gives me security my notes will not dissapear.

On mobile used to be more difficult so I used specialized app before but now Obsidian git works well enough.

It can be better but overall it works well enough for me. I would dictate things to my phone in daily note and later process those more in desktop.

Re: Show HN: Files.md – Open-source alternative to Obsidian

#260

Post by vovavili »

kepano wrote: post #237
andix wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because then someone might fork it into a new product with their own sync service.

Obsidian has an entire plugin category for syncing, and recommended alternatives to the official Sync service. https://community.obsidian.md/search?type=plugin&categories=... https://obsidian.md/help/sync-notes

As an Obsidian LiveSync user, there is no way I would recommend using it or other third-party alternatives to my non-technical friends. The initial setup and fly.io setup was worth me saving ~50 Euro/year, but I doubt that holds for my less technically inclined peers.
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