The author explains their extensive use of Org Mode, an Emacs extension, as a powerful, all-encompassing tool beyond simple note-taking. They highlight its flexibility for managing writing projects, from initial brainstorming and outlining to drafting, editing, and publishing. Org Mode's structured format, using plain text and simple markup, facilitates easy reorganization, version control with Git, and export to various formats like HTML and PDF. The author demonstrates how features like tags, links, and the ability to embed code and results directly into documents make it ideal for technical writing, literate programming, and project management, ultimately creating a unified system for knowledge creation and organization.
This blog post by Alex Harsányi details their extensive and evolving usage of Org Mode, an Emacs extension, for a variety of tasks, focusing primarily on writing and knowledge management. Harsányi portrays Org Mode not simply as a tool, but as a central system for organizing their digital life, emphasizing its flexibility and extensibility as key advantages.
The post begins by outlining the author's journey with note-taking and writing tools, explaining their transition from proprietary software like Notion and Bear to Org Mode. They articulate a desire for open standards, longevity of data, and deep customizability as the driving forces behind this shift. The plain text nature of Org files is highlighted as a significant benefit, ensuring future accessibility and preventing vendor lock-in.
Harsányi then delves into the specific ways they utilize Org Mode. A major use case is writing, specifically for their blog, using Org Mode's structured markup language for drafting, organizing, and exporting posts to HTML. The ability to easily embed code blocks, images, and links is discussed, as is the utility of Org Mode's exporting capabilities for generating different output formats. Furthermore, the author elucidates their workflow for managing bibliographies and citations within Org Mode documents, leveraging external tools and libraries for a streamlined academic writing process.
Beyond writing, the post explores other applications of Org Mode in the author's workflow. These include task management and project planning, utilizing Org Mode's hierarchical structure and tagging system to track progress and organize to-do lists. Note-taking is also discussed, with the author explaining how they capture ideas, meeting notes, and research materials within Org Mode files, leveraging its linking and tagging capabilities to create a interconnected web of knowledge. Furthermore, the post touches on the use of Org Mode for literate programming, highlighting its capacity for weaving code and documentation seamlessly.
The author emphasizes the iterative nature of their Org Mode setup, explaining that their configuration and usage have evolved over time through experimentation and refinement. They advocate for learning Org Mode incrementally, starting with basic features and progressively incorporating more advanced functionalities as needed. The post concludes by highlighting the robust community surrounding Org Mode and the wealth of available resources for learning and troubleshooting. The author encourages readers to explore and experiment with Org Mode, suggesting that its flexibility allows it to be adapted to a wide range of individual workflows and needs. They also emphasize the long-term benefits of using a plain-text, future-proof system for managing information and creative output.
Summary of Comments ( 30 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43157672
Hacker News users generally praised the article for its clear explanation of Org Mode's benefits and the author's workflow. Several commenters shared their own experiences and tips for using Org Mode, highlighting its versatility for tasks beyond writing, such as project management and note-taking. Some discussed the learning curve associated with Org Mode, acknowledging its initial complexity but emphasizing the long-term payoff. A few users mentioned alternative tools, but the overall sentiment leaned towards appreciating Org Mode's powerful features and extensibility. The discussion also touched upon the advantages of plain text and the philosophical appeal of owning your data.
The Hacker News post titled "Why and How I use "Org Mode" for my writing and more" (linking to an article on evalapply.org) generated a moderate discussion with several insightful comments.
Many commenters echoed the author's sentiments about Org Mode's power and flexibility. One user praised its plain text nature, emphasizing the longevity and portability of such files, contrasting it with proprietary formats that can become obsolete. This commenter also appreciated the ability to export to various formats, highlighting its utility for different publishing needs.
Another commenter delved into specific Org Mode features they found beneficial, such as the agenda view for task management and the ability to embed source code blocks with execution capabilities. They noted that these features combine to create a powerful environment for reproducible research. This aligns with a separate comment highlighting Org Mode's utility for academic work, especially in technical fields where literate programming is valuable.
A few commenters discussed the learning curve associated with Org Mode. While acknowledging its initial complexity, they argued that the investment is worthwhile due to the long-term productivity gains. One user described it as a "steep but rewarding climb," suggesting that while it takes effort to master, the payoff is substantial.
The discussion also touched upon alternative tools and workflows. Some users mentioned other note-taking applications, comparing their features and limitations with Org Mode. One comment specifically mentioned using Markdown for simpler writing tasks but reserving Org Mode for more complex projects requiring sophisticated organization and features like embedded code blocks.
A couple of commenters expressed their long-standing appreciation for Org Mode, having used it for several years. They shared anecdotes about how it has become integral to their daily workflow and how it has helped them manage complex projects.
Finally, one commenter requested information about resources for learning Org Mode, demonstrating the continued interest in adopting and mastering this tool. This led to another user sharing a link to a helpful tutorial, contributing to the community-driven support surrounding Org Mode.