LWN's review explores Joplin, an open-source note-taking application that aims to be a robust Evernote alternative. It supports a variety of features, including Markdown editing, synchronization across devices using various services (Nextcloud, Dropbox, WebDAV, etc.), end-to-end encryption, and importing from Evernote. The review highlights Joplin's strengths, such as its offline functionality, extensive features, and active development, while also pointing out some UI/UX quirks and occasional performance issues. Overall, Joplin is presented as a compelling option for users seeking a powerful, privacy-respecting, and flexible note-taking solution.
The Linux Weekly News article, "Taking Notes with Joplin," provides an exhaustive exploration of the open-source note-taking application, Joplin. The author meticulously details Joplin's features and functionalities, highlighting its cross-platform compatibility across Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS, emphasizing its ability to synchronize notes seamlessly between devices using various cloud services like Nextcloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, and WebDAV, or locally with a file system directory.
The article delves into Joplin's support for Markdown markup language, enabling users to format text with rich styling, including headings, lists, links, and images. It elucidates the process of importing notes from other note-taking applications, such as Evernote, facilitating a smooth transition for users migrating from different platforms. Further expanding on the import functionality, the article specifies support for ENEX files, a common export format utilized by Evernote.
Beyond basic note-taking, the piece elaborates on Joplin's sophisticated organizational capabilities. This encompasses the utilization of notebooks to categorize notes, the implementation of tags for further classification and cross-referencing, and a robust search feature that allows users to quickly locate specific information within their extensive note collection. The article also highlights the application's ability to create to-do lists within notes, enhancing its utility for task management.
The piece meticulously outlines the installation process for Joplin on various Linux distributions, providing clear instructions for different package managers. Furthermore, it underscores the application's end-to-end encryption capabilities, ensuring the privacy and security of user data. This encryption feature is presented as a critical advantage for users concerned about data protection.
Finally, the article discusses the plugin ecosystem surrounding Joplin, explaining how users can extend the application's functionality with community-developed plugins. It also touches upon the availability of a command-line interface, offering an alternative method of interaction for users comfortable with terminal-based applications. The piece concludes by praising Joplin as a powerful and versatile note-taking solution, particularly appealing to users prioritizing open-source software and cross-platform accessibility. It positions Joplin as a compelling alternative to proprietary note-taking applications.
Summary of Comments ( 23 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43734732
Hacker News users discuss Joplin's strengths as a note-taking application, particularly its open-source nature, end-to-end encryption, Markdown support, and cross-platform availability. Several commenters appreciate its ability to handle code snippets effectively. Some compare it favorably to other note-taking apps like Obsidian, Standard Notes, and Evernote, highlighting its speed and offline functionality as advantages. Concerns mentioned include the interface being less polished than commercial alternatives and the reliance on Electron. One commenter raises a security concern related to the use of Electron, while another suggests alternative synchronization methods for improved privacy. A few users share their positive experiences with Joplin and its extensibility.
The Hacker News post "Taking Notes with Joplin" spawned a lively discussion with several compelling comments about the note-taking application. Many users shared their experiences and opinions on Joplin, comparing it to other popular alternatives and highlighting its strengths and weaknesses.
A recurring theme is Joplin's strong support for Markdown and its flexible synchronization capabilities. Several commenters praised its ability to sync with various cloud services like Nextcloud, Dropbox, and WebDAV, giving users control over their data. This is contrasted with proprietary solutions like Evernote, which lock users into their ecosystem. One user specifically mentions switching from Evernote due to privacy concerns and appreciating Joplin's open-source nature and end-to-end encryption.
The cross-platform availability of Joplin across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS is also frequently mentioned as a significant advantage. Users appreciate having a consistent note-taking experience across their devices.
However, the discussion isn't without criticisms of Joplin. Some users find the user interface to be less polished than commercial alternatives, and the mobile experience is described as "functional but not great" by one commenter. Another user points out the lack of a WYSIWYG editor, which might deter some users. The learning curve associated with Markdown is also mentioned as a potential barrier to entry.
A few comments delve into specific features, such as the web clipper and the ability to attach files to notes. One user expresses their satisfaction with the web clipper, while another suggests improvements to the handling of PDF attachments.
The discussion also touches upon alternative note-taking applications like Standard Notes, Obsidian, and Zettlr, with users comparing their features and functionalities to Joplin. Some users recommend specific combinations of software, like using Joplin with Syncthing for synchronization.
Overall, the comments paint a picture of Joplin as a powerful and versatile, albeit slightly rough-around-the-edges, note-taking application. Its open-source nature, robust synchronization options, and cross-platform availability are highly praised, while its user interface and mobile experience are identified as areas for potential improvement. The discussion provides valuable insights for anyone considering Joplin as their note-taking solution.