Hello everyone, I’d like your recommendations for a note taking app that:
- Can be selfhosted
- Stores the notes as plain text or *.md files, not some SQL database.
- Can use Marddown format.
- Have an android client or at least a mobile optimized web-interface.
- Not a must but it would be nice to have a to-do list option.
I tried:
- Trilium: use an encrypted litesql to store the notes.
- Joplin: does not encrypt the notes, but store them in random named directories, making ot harder finding the notes.
- Logseq: No firefox support, I did not check how it stores itsdatabase.
- Standard note: Need subscriptions to selfhost or to use markdown format.
- Memos: does not store plain files, instead uses a (sqlite probably) database even when setting local filesystem as current object storage.
- CodiMD: use database to store its notes
- Hedgedoc: the same as above
The closest I found so far is Obsidian, which:
- Unfortunately, does not have any selfhosting option.
- Have a client app on every platform and store.
- Can use a custom directory to store it database as plain text files, whuch can be a network mounted directory (on my laptop/desktop) or a directory on my android phone that i will have to keep synchronized using a third party app.
Edit: March-2nd: added memos, codimd, hedgedoc
I’ve fallen deep down the Silverbullet rabbit hole. Self hosted markdown editor but with built in dataview style querying (if you used Obsidian that will be familiar), accessible cross platform and with a progressive web app, and basically endlessly extendable with a scripting language. Really really enjoying it and it’s made me finally move from Obsidian, which I used to evangelize (and pay for the premium sync features). Definitely check it out. Silverbullet.md
That. Looks. Incredible!
Thank you so much for sharing!
It rules
Third vote for Silverbullet here. I’m really enjoying using it.
I’m also on Silverbullet, and from OP’s description it sounds like it could be a good fit. I don’t use any of the fancy template stuff - just a bunch of md files in a directory with links between them.
I hosted it on my home server. It is great for sure, I will need to look into it enhancing its experience with plugins. Any idea about the PWA and how to use it? someone else here mentioned it it is a feature I’d like to have.
Nextcloud with the “Notes” plugin and app.
https://nextcloud.com/blog/nextcloud-notes-secure-note-taking-integrated/
This is also what I use. It ticks all of OPs boxes, but it might be overkill if you just want notes.
Actually, nextcloud is what introduced me to the markdown format. Hiwever, i found myself using NC for its note app only, hence i’m looking for a lightweight alternative.
You sound like me from last month. I strongly recommend silverbullet, check it out on https://silverbullet.md
- Can be selfhosted
Check, even has a simple docker compose
- Stores the notes as plain text or *.md files, not some SQL database.
Check, it does have an SQL database, but it’s used for queries, you can even copy or modify MD files at will
- Can use Marddown format.
Check, it’s a superset of markdown that includes queries for cool stuff like create tables that group data from other pages
- Have an android client or at least a mobile optimized web-interface.
Check, it has a PWA that works offline and syncs when back online. Note that this means that all files will be on your device if you use it like that, but that’s expected.
- Not a must but it would be nice to have a to-do list option.
Check, like I mentioned you can query all tasks on all pages and even do filters based on several factors, like where the task is defined or extra attributes that you set to them, e.g. priority.
Edit: bonus points:
- The main developer is active here https://lemmy.world/post/11816898
- Also he’s very active on discord and always answering questions
- Easily extensible with plugins and simple JavaScript functions, e.g. very easy to write a function to import a section of a page
- You can have multiple instances in sync with syncthing (just exclude the databases from syncing)
PWA that works offline and syncs when back online. Note that this means that all files will be on your device
Someone else mentioned Silverbullet, I hosted on my home server and it looks promising, here are a few thing I will need to explore:
- The PWA sound like a feature I was hoping, i will need to check it out
- Is there any android client rather than using the web-interface that firefox wont let me connect to remotely without a valid certificat.
- While it looks easy to use markup language using
/, I’m wondering is there is a plugin that add a tool bar or a client app that does have it.
Thank you for your comment
Is there any android client rather than using the web-interface that firefox wont let me connect to remotely without a valid certificat.
No, I use the PWA, i.e. access the page on your phone and as long as it’s https it will prompt you to install it. Personally I just used a tailscale network to get past the https authorisation, this also allows me to access it outside of my house so win-win
While it looks easy to use markup language using
/, I’m wondering is there is a plugin that add a tool bar or a client app that does have it.Didn’t understood, this is just a markdown file, you can just type things, no need to have buttons to add text.
+1 for silverbullet. I have it running and is great
Is there a way to embed portions of one page into another page, such that if you edit it on either the change shows up on both, like in logseq?
The documentation is actually pretty good, but i’ve not been able to find that feature, if it exists. That’s probably the last thing keeping me on logseq.
Yes, but you need to hack your way around it, here’s an issue on GitHub explaining how to do it with my own solution there in comments. https://github.com/silverbulletmd/silverbullet/issues/338
Wow, I asked the right person. Thanks for the info!
Hahaha, I had that exact doubt and asked on the discord and the main Dev sent me that issue. I strongly recommend joining the Discord, it’s very active and sometimes there are interesting things there.
I should probably figure out discord one of these days. Thanks for letting me know that’s where to go for this project.
Check, it has a PWA that works offline and syncs when back online.
I am either an idiot or that is not working for me on my android phone. I have used PWAs before and I remember you can use them by tapping the “install” in the browser menu.
I installed Silverbullet via docker on my rpi4, but when I connect to it my browsers do not give me the option to install it as a PWA. I tried Mull, DuckDuckGo browser and even (gah!) Chrome.
I can only put a shortcut on my home screen, but that then goes to the IP of my rpi4 and when I am not online I cannot reach it.
Do I need to configure something that I forgot or is the shortcut on the home screen the “PWA”?
Only things served via https can be installed on Android.
Ah dang, had no idea. I see there’s instructions on how to make silver bullet accessible via internet through https. But I only need this locally in my home WiFi, not connected to outside internet. Is there an easy way to enable https for it without exposing it outside my home WiFi?
I use tailscale, that allows me to access it remotely securely and gets https. If you don’t want to do that it’s hard but doable to emit your own certificates, but the tailscale approach is a lot more simple.
Obsidian + Syncthing is what I’ve settled on. Not perfect, but the best I’ve used.
Same combo, can use it on android (and probably iOS), windows, linux; the plugins really extend Obsidian’s abilities.
I’ve used this for more than a year and can confirm it works really well.
This is what I’m using and it’s perfect for my use case. Tried more elaborate setups and it just wasn’t worth it. I also use it with my household over LAN.
I use Obsidian, you have mentioned it and it’s not self hosted, but for me that depends on how you look at it. I use it in a folder that’s synced to Nextcloud, so I consider the data self hosted markdown files. The viewer, i.e. the Obsidian app is not self hosted, but I consider that just a client used to view the data so it doesn’t really bother me.
Obaidian + Syncthing will do the trick.
Obaidian + Syncthing will do the trick.
This will be my backup plan if nothing else work out.
I use logseq. It has an Android app, and also desktop app (the latter being more complex). Also, it’s plain markdown.
But you have to sync the different devices yourself and be careful not to run two instances at the same time.
Yep logseq + syncthing
Obsidian + obsidian git plugin
Obsidian with self hosted live sync plugin also works very well
Logseq has an Android app and clients for the usual desktop platforms. It stores as .md files. It meets your requirements. I’m not sure why you’re focused on Firefox support?
One I have my eye on is Silverbullet.md. the creator recently promoted it here and it has some nice ideas. It’s a web app that you self host. Behind the scenes everything is stored in .md files.
I’m getting a bit concerned with logseq. It’s just kind of backwards to have a web app packaged as a desktop/android app that can be hosted on a server, but you can’t store your files there. I get that they want to monetize sync, but they’re kind of bending over backwards here to not have what’s inherently a pretty reasonable feature in a web based app, and it makes me concerned about what they’re going to do with the project in the future.
Sucks that it doesn’t have any authentication or TLS support
Nextcloud Notes is pretty good. Btw Joplin has an option for End-to-end encryption.
I use Nextcloud Notes too. Simple and ok for my usage.
I use obsidian with obsidian-livesync for selfhosting the notes. Works pretty well across linux, macos, ios so far
Logseq actually does not need to be run in a browser, there are apps for every system. It does not have any sync server to host though (so far) so you have to use syncthing or something to have your notes available between devices. It does store notes in .md format with clearly labelled names so you always have access to them.
It does have a learning curve and android apps still do have some bugs to iron out, but I started to really like it and use it as my bullet journal.
The whole system of linking notes and even singular text blocks works really well in my mind. I can write a quick note about my health in today’s journal file and tag it with #health and when I go to the health file it shows every mention of that tag from everywhere.
+1 on Logseq and Sync Thing.
I’m self-hosting Obsidian as described below and it works really well. The syncing happens automatically in the background and I rarely encounter conflicts. I’d highly recommend it! https://avidandrew.com/elevate-your-note-taking-with-obsidian.html
For the past many years I’ve simply synced my notes across devices (originally from webDAV, currently Syncthing) and open them with my favourite Markdown editor for each platform. On my android phone it’s Markor, and Marktext on desktop.
I’ve tried so many note taking apps but especially Joplin’s weird renaming of my files cooled my enthusiasm for One App To Rule Them All. I do understand the attraction of it, I just prefer a simple setup where I’m not bound by any developer (team)’s whims.
I just prefer a simple setup where I’m not bound by any developer (team)’s whims.
This is my concern, if anything goes wrong with my favorite app I would just move on to another without much fuss.
Honestly I just have a directory with markdown files I sync between my devices using syncthing.
For editing on pc I use neovim and for editing on phone I use markor.
This. This is the answer.
Directory with markdown files and syncthing.
Use whatever editors on whatever device.
