Well, I've settled for Joplin with their sync server running on Tailscale/Headscale, I like it a lot (except for the search which is atrocious in general and on mobile especially).
But silverbullet.md IS foss. Very similar to Obsidian, but F/OSS. It also stores your files in .md files in a directory hierarchy on the file system - very easy to backup.
Its in a database, but you can have it dump a backup as plain text, though that may require a plug in.
Actually it may be an option. I use Onedrive as the backend for sync on mine, with encryption, and I beleive its all individual notes, (all encryoted).
I should check Joplin again against Obsidian. Just browsed their website and it's a bit sad to see their sponsors mostly doing shady stuff. Buying TikTok likes or getting help writing essays for university aren't quite the fields i would have liked to be associated with as a product
Joplin is solid and gets the job done. I was fine with it as a OneNote alternative but once I tried out Obsidian I understood immediately what all the hype is about Obsidian. Using links instead of the standard folder structure is much more intuitive and functional for me. I highly recommend Obsidian even though it isn’t FOSS, since they have a pretty good ethos on not being locked into specific apps, and all the notes are stored in text files so you could easily migrate in the future if you change your mind about Obsidian or if they as a company do something questionable.
I’ve heard of Logseq as a FOSS alternative to Obsidian and would consider looking into that too.
I have tried to go from Joplin to Obsidian several times because Obsidian seems way more expandable with plug ins etc, and everytime I hate it and go back within a day.
Which is also notable a bit because moving all my notes between the two is a huge chore.
Silverbullet.md is an actual open source note taking application, Obsidian is not (and they're kind of slimy/evasive about it). I haven't used Obsidian myself but a coworker was showing it to me when I was talking about Silverbullet - they're similar.
Fancy meeting you here brother. Ready for our next battle?
-- VIM, in a snowy field, dressed in medieval knight armour, clutching a sword and a half broken shield, with the bodies of both Emacs' and VIM's comrades in arms strewn about
Look at the license file. They are using their own custom license. Being made available on github doesn't make it is open source. Anytype could be considered 'source available'.
(I specified this just because OP asked for open source. I contribute sometimes to foss apps, and it bothers me that the term foss get misinterpreted. It's not you, even most companies don't know the right terms to be considered foss. If you look up anytype on wayback machine, they used to proudly claim they were foss lol)
As others mentioned, Joplin is a solid option (with lots of plugins too). Notesnook too is good (if you're willing to pay a subscription). If you are willing to wait a bit, there's Beaver Notes. Currently they are working on syncing between devices and a new mobile client.
I personally like obsidian because it supports extensions and linking note but its way too convoluted if you're not looking into these features. Its technically proprietary (with an american company behind it) but the extension ecosystem is FOSS. Logseq is a good FOSS alternative tho.
I used Joplin for a while and liked it for literature notes. Currently I use obsidian, but as I also use that for pen&paper notes I am thinking of going back to Joplin for academic stuff.
For me, Logseq does a really good job, but I'm finding it difficult to keep track of ToDos and silverbullet just seems like it's a bit simpler and could do everything I need
I'm also seeing Logseq head towards a database-first version, which I'm not a fan of, so wanted to try other markdown file-first options before / if I have to jump ship
However, Silverbullet's learning curve is much steeper than Logseq's.
Syncthing and anything that can work with plain text / markdown files
I'm using Logseq on 2 laptops, but the Android app slows down when you have several years of daily journal pages linked to hundreds of other content pages, so it's fine for personal stuff (aka graph), but slows down too much for my work stuff (graph)
So for my phone I'm often just using Markor to edit a journal page as it's faster (it doesn't have to find all the links)
56 Comments
jlow@discuss.tchncs.de · 32 pts · 151d
Well, I've settled for Joplin with their sync server running on Tailscale/Headscale, I like it a lot (except for the search which is atrocious in general and on mobile especially).
finalaccountforreal@piefed.social · 8 pts · 151d
Are the notes stored in plain text files or in a database? Is it possible / easy to edit the notes with an external program?
mimavox@piefed.social · 8 pts · 151d
They're stored in a database, which is why I prefer Obsidian instead.
Ghoelian@piefed.social · 7 pts · 151d
Obsidian isn't foss unfortunately
Evilschnuff@feddit.org · 2 pts · 150d
But at least not US made, it’s Canadian.
clif@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 150d
But silverbullet.md IS foss. Very similar to Obsidian, but F/OSS. It also stores your files in .md files in a directory hierarchy on the file system - very easy to backup.
RamenJunkie@midwest.social · 2 pts · 151d
Its in a database, but you can have it dump a backup as plain text, though that may require a plug in.
Actually it may be an option. I use Onedrive as the backend for sync on mine, with encryption, and I beleive its all individual notes, (all encryoted).
Opisek@piefed.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 151d
You can do both iirc
BurgerBaron@piefed.social · 5 pts · 151d
+1 for Joplin, you can sync with self hosted stuff too:
4shtonButcher@discuss.tchncs.de · 0 pts · 151d
I should check Joplin again against Obsidian. Just browsed their website and it's a bit sad to see their sponsors mostly doing shady stuff. Buying TikTok likes or getting help writing essays for university aren't quite the fields i would have liked to be associated with as a product
reddit_sux@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 151d
I use joplin with nextcloud.
Nautilus@piefed.ca · 14 pts · 151d
Joplin is solid and gets the job done. I was fine with it as a OneNote alternative but once I tried out Obsidian I understood immediately what all the hype is about Obsidian. Using links instead of the standard folder structure is much more intuitive and functional for me. I highly recommend Obsidian even though it isn’t FOSS, since they have a pretty good ethos on not being locked into specific apps, and all the notes are stored in text files so you could easily migrate in the future if you change your mind about Obsidian or if they as a company do something questionable.
I’ve heard of Logseq as a FOSS alternative to Obsidian and would consider looking into that too.
RamenJunkie@midwest.social · 5 pts · 151d
I have tried to go from Joplin to Obsidian several times because Obsidian seems way more expandable with plug ins etc, and everytime I hate it and go back within a day.
Which is also notable a bit because moving all my notes between the two is a huge chore.
I just hate the Obsidian interface a lot.
clif@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 150d
Silverbullet.md is an actual open source note taking application, Obsidian is not (and they're kind of slimy/evasive about it). I haven't used Obsidian myself but a coworker was showing it to me when I was talking about Silverbullet - they're similar.
datendefekt@feddit.org · 10 pts · 151d
I am all in on Logseq. Takes a bit of getting used to, but it regularly saves my butt.
Cyber@feddit.uk · 3 pts · 151d
Yep, me too.
When I stepped into my current job Logseq literally saved me from going mad / burnout.
A few years in though and the (lack of) Todo management is causing me trouble as the tasks still slip through my fingers...
hanrahan@slrpnk.net · 10 pts · 151d
i use Joplin via nextcloud. It can also use Dropbox.
i also agree with another poster, search kinda sucks
Nebulous_Keito@thelemmy.club · 9 pts · 151d
Joplin
iForgotSpells@sopuli.xyz · 7 pts · 151d
If you want cross platform, Joplin might be best option right now. But I am keeping an eye on Beaver Notes.
JanUwU42@discuss.tchncs.de · 7 pts · 151d
I like AnyType Its like Notion but Open Source, E2EE, P2P & Local first.
Logseq is also pretty cool. FOSS Alternative to Obsidian.
It you want very simple notes like Google Keep and you are into Selfhosting checkout Anchor (https://github.com/ZhFahim/anchor)
jnod4@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 151d
P2p? N00b here, why does a notes app need peers, ELI5?
JanUwU42@discuss.tchncs.de · 2 pts · 151d
It you decide you dont want their Servers for sync, your Devices will sync to each other directly peer to peer :)
ChronicEntertainment@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 150d
AnyType seems like a fun app, although its Amplitude tracker is a bit less desirable. Thanks for the recommendations!
bremen15@piefed.social · 7 pts · 151d
Emacs.
promitheas@programming.dev · 3 pts · 151d
Fancy meeting you here brother. Ready for our next battle?
-- VIM, in a snowy field, dressed in medieval knight armour, clutching a sword and a half broken shield, with the bodies of both Emacs' and VIM's comrades in arms strewn about
robador51@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 150d
No need to fight, go evil
irate944@piefed.social · 6 pts · 151d
There’s Anytype, which is similar to Notion.
You can set it up to sync over lan only, with your own server, or with their servers. It’s E2E encryption
iForgotSpells@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 151d
Anytype isn't 'open source'.
KenLin@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 150d
Pretty sure it is
https://github.com/anyproto
iForgotSpells@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 148d
Look at the license file. They are using their own custom license. Being made available on github doesn't make it is open source. Anytype could be considered 'source available'.
(I specified this just because OP asked for open source. I contribute sometimes to foss apps, and it bothers me that the term foss get misinterpreted. It's not you, even most companies don't know the right terms to be considered foss. If you look up anytype on wayback machine, they used to proudly claim they were foss lol)
state_electrician@discuss.tchncs.de · 6 pts · 151d
Nextcloud Notes covers all my needs.
justlemmyin@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 151d
I used this too. Saves as a .md file which is synced to all my devices.
ZkhqrD5o@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 150d
Joplin.
lena@gregtech.eu · 4 pts · 150d
Notesnook
BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 150d
I also endorse Notesnook. Setting up your own server is fussy, but it works great.
ace_garp@piefed.world · 4 pts · 151d
Neutrinote is solid.
Bananskal@nord.pub · 2 pts · 151d
Definitely got that pre-Android 6.0 vibe.
ace_garp@piefed.world · 1 pts · 104d
Indeed, plenty of dev time sunk into it.
Bananskal@nord.pub · 1 pts · 103d
I'm not a fan but to each their own.
Coldgoron@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 150d
Don’t know if this find a lot of people or if it is still the greatest choice but I use Notesnook.
qyron@sopuli.xyz · 3 pts · 151d
Quillpad
It is supposed to have a sync option but I don't care about that.
clif@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 150d
Silverbullet.md for actual notes with formatting and such.
Quillpad for checklists.
iForgotSpells@sopuli.xyz · 3 pts · 148d
As others mentioned, Joplin is a solid option (with lots of plugins too). Notesnook too is good (if you're willing to pay a subscription). If you are willing to wait a bit, there's Beaver Notes. Currently they are working on syncing between devices and a new mobile client.
timestatic@feddit.org · 3 pts · 151d
I personally like obsidian because it supports extensions and linking note but its way too convoluted if you're not looking into these features. Its technically proprietary (with an american company behind it) but the extension ecosystem is FOSS. Logseq is a good FOSS alternative tho.
lazynooblet@lazysoci.al · 3 pts · 151d
It's probably better for documentation but I use bookstack for everything
littleomid@feddit.org · 3 pts · 151d
Emacs with org-mode. Use beorg, android emacs client or any text editor to sync.
frankenswine@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 151d
beorg does not seem to be on F-Droid, though?
littleomid@feddit.org · 2 pts · 151d
No but there’s definitely a good Android alternative.
Zweieck@lemmy.org · 2 pts · 151d
I used Joplin for a while and liked it for literature notes. Currently I use obsidian, but as I also use that for pen&paper notes I am thinking of going back to Joplin for academic stuff.
leriotdelac@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 151d
Logseq, Joplin, both synced via Filen.
Also still use Obsidian at work.
I'm a fan of all of them.
Cyber@feddit.uk · 2 pts · 151d
Tried silverbullet?
I'm slooowwwllllyyy trying to transition from Logseq, but, yeah... not sure
leriotdelac@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 150d
I'll check it out, thanks! Why are you transitioning from Logseq?
Cyber@feddit.uk · 2 pts · 150d
For me, Logseq does a really good job, but I'm finding it difficult to keep track of ToDos and silverbullet just seems like it's a bit simpler and could do everything I need
I'm also seeing Logseq head towards a database-first version, which I'm not a fan of, so wanted to try other markdown file-first options before / if I have to jump ship
However, Silverbullet's learning curve is much steeper than Logseq's.
leriotdelac@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 150d
Thank you!
Zeiram@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 150d
I use Quilpad.
Cyber@feddit.uk · 1 pts · 151d
Syncthing and anything that can work with plain text / markdown files
I'm using Logseq on 2 laptops, but the Android app slows down when you have several years of daily journal pages linked to hundreds of other content pages, so it's fine for personal stuff (aka graph), but slows down too much for my work stuff (graph)
So for my phone I'm often just using Markor to edit a journal page as it's faster (it doesn't have to find all the links)
nul9o9@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 151d
Paranoidfactoid@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 151d