Do you need a new note-taking app?
6 comments
[1] https://2coffee.dev/en/articles/note-taking-app-notas
[2] https://2coffee.dev/en/articles/diary-of-making-notas-first-...
[3] https://2coffee.dev/en/articles/diary-of-working-on-notas-pa...
[2] https://2coffee.dev/en/articles/diary-of-making-notas-first-...
[3] https://2coffee.dev/en/articles/diary-of-working-on-notas-pa...
Thank you and sorry for my unfamiliarity with the HN editor.
Not to discourage you from building your own, but Joplin seems to already tick all or at least most of your boxes -- in fact, I was surprised that it was was not addressed in the first article.
Thank you for your suggestion. In fact, some people have already recommended Joplin to me, but it seems that it was a bit late. Where I am, not many people seem to be familiar with this tool. After being suggested, I tried using Joplin and it turned out to be a good tool. However, you know, I had already started developing Notas a few weeks before, and abandoning it is the saddest part. That's why I initiated this discussion, and you contributed to it.
Until a few weeks ago, while I was struggling to find a new note-taking app for myself, it seemed like everything was not aligning with my preferences (or maybe I was being picky), so I came up with a bold idea: to create my own note-taking app!
But before I explain why I felt the need to do so, please allow me some time to provide some context. I am a web developer and a technical blogger, paying attention to details and emphasizing the user experience of a product. For me, there is no product that is truly perfect because it can only cater to the majority of users. Just imagine if a product only serves 50% of the users, where would the remaining 50% go? Of course, they would look for other alternatives. And I might belong to that remaining 50% when it comes to note-taking apps in the market.
Previously, when both my phone and computer used the Apple ecosystem, I used Apple Notes, which offered excellent synchronization and security, except for lacking markdown support. However, that was acceptable. Until one day, when I decided to switch to a device running the Android operating system... Notes couldn't be used on it anymore. I realized that I couldn't take notes and synchronize them normally anymore.
I started searching for note-taking apps with some "simple" requirements: lightweight, focused on writing (because I love writing), cross-platform, synchronized, and preferably free. Well, I bet you can already think of several names. I did too! I made the effort to find and use many note-taking apps I found. But most of them didn't meet my expectations, were not suitable, too complex, or required payment to use.
With all those reasons, I believe that I can create an app that meets my criteria.
Therefore, the Notas note-taking app (a temporary name I came up with) was created with a focus on being cross-platform, supporting markdown, synchronization, and most importantly, emphasizing security with no cost.
To achieve that, I have written some articles sharing the development process of Notas here for those who are interested (as they are quite long, I'm afraid it would be inconvenient to post them all here).
- [Article 1: Note-taking app Notas](https://2coffee.dev/en/articles/note-taking-app-notas)
- [Article 2: Diary of making Notas - First Week](https://2coffee.dev/en/articles/diary-of-making-notas-first-week)
- [Article 3: Diary of making Notas - Part II](https://2coffee.dev/en/articles/diary-of-working-on-notas-part-ii)
If it only stopped at being a personal product, I could use Notas quite well because it has reached a basic level of completion, and I can use it for writing. In fact, this article is being drafted in Notas itself. But thinking that out there, there might be people like me who are struggling with countless existing note-taking apps, why not provide them with another option?
Therefore, this article aims to explore the reaction of everyone to a new note-taking app. Am I doing the right thing, and will anyone use Notas? I am very open to all opinions and contributions. Thank you!