Hello all!

On my android phone I have basically been using google keep to store my notes. Do yall recommend any FOSS alternatives? Preferably one that has a desktop version that can be synced.

  • lckdscl [they/them]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    9
    edit-2
    10 months ago

    Interfacing markdown:

    • Joplin (pretty popular, haven’t used)
    • Standard Notes (same as above)
    • Markor (feature-packed, a bit outdated)
    • BeautyXT (maybe a bit too minimal almost, but gets the job done if you just want text based editing)

    Interfacing orgmode:

    • Orgzly (beautiful simple app that uses a superior syntax when compared to Markdown due to its built-in agenda and to-do structure)

    Syncing flat files (might not be compatible with all of the above)

    • Their own hosted server if available (easy but not private, some provide E2EE)
    • Syncthing (easy and private)
    • WebDav or an SFTP server (hard if self-hosted or otherwise easy through some providers)
    • Termux + a Git server (pain)
    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      110 months ago

      I’ve never heard of BeautyXT, seems new considering the material 3 design. I’ve never heard of the Accrescent app store either.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    710 months ago

    I finally got fed up with Evernote’s increasingly aggressive paid upgrade requests. It would flash an “upgrade special” every time it opened and a followup, “Are you sure? You won’t be able to get back to this offer”. Like, please, let me not get back to the offer ever again.

    I have been using Joplin with Dropbox sync. The UI is pretty good on Android and windows. Markdown input is easy to manage, it does checklists well (you can check and uncheck the boxes without going in to edit the note). The folder structure for organizing notes is good.

    Not being able to share notes with other users is the main limitation. My wife and I have solved this by syncing with one dropbox account on with phones and computers and just having a folder for each or our personal notes plus the shared notes. But really it is all shared. I don’t consider this ideal, but it’s workable for now.

    The dropbox sync is kind of slow / not very good if multiple people are making edits in real time, but I had this problem with Evernote too.

    I think you can get more functionality out of the Joplin cloud sync, but I am already paying for Dropbox.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      110 months ago

      The ownership and workers (of Evernote) changed somewhat recently, so that’s probably what happened.

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          110 months ago

          I’m using a selfhosted Joplin server instance for syncing between devices and sharing with other users. But I’m not sure if this feature depends on the server type, I would have guessed it is possible with Dropbox as well.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    710 months ago

    I use Markor on android, plus a self-hosted instance of codeserver for editing online. Synced via syncthing. Sometimes i use Obsidian with the same synced folder.

  • thejevans
    link
    fedilink
    4
    edit-2
    10 months ago

    If you have a nextcloud instance, and you don’t need Keep’s collaboration features, Carnet is FOSS and is a decent solution

    • MentalEdge
      link
      fedilink
      210 months ago

      Another option is simply Nextcloud Notes, which now does markdown checklists that can be interacted with on both desktop and mobile, so I’ve finally been able to switch to that.

  • ᓰᕵᕵᓍ
    link
    fedilink
    3
    edit-2
    10 months ago

    Together with the other suggestions jtx board is also a new addition Developed from the davx5 team , tasks,calendars,journals and NOTES.

    The good: Easy sync of notes with any caldav provider . No extra servers and apps for tasks,cakendars,journals. Mtls support ( davx5 supports it ) for extra security if you selfhost

    The bad: No desktop client

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    210 months ago

    Standard notes or Joplin have apps with versions for both phone and the desktop.

    Other options:

    1. Markor (Android) - Syncthing - Zim (desktop)
    2. Orgzly (Android) - Syncthing - Emacs orgmode

    If you have a Nextcloud instance, you can use QOwnNotes (desktop) and Nextcloud Notes (Android). You can also access notes on the web.

  • myrmidex
    link
    fedilink
    2
    edit-2
    10 months ago

    Even though it has more a journaling/daybook feel, I use LogSeq for this. Their paid version offers cloud sync which is perfect (and easy enough) for me

  • darcy
    link
    1
    edit-2
    10 months ago

    im using QuillPad currently. it seems to have Nextcloud support, though i havent set it up personally. nice ui and markdown syntax