I'm in a constant state of CRIMP...

But I find myself returning to 2 tools when I really need to get stuff done.

1) OPML Outliner. Or any simple, 1 pane outliner.
2) BrainstormSW

Brainstorm fits how my mind works perfectly.

I love splitting panes on the fly and simultaneously working on different sections.
However, I don't like being stuck on a PC and relying on importing/exporting constantly.

What's the closest software to Brainstormsw?
Workflowy looks okay, but doesn't "feel" the same.

Would love to find something with these criteria:

1. Feels like BrainstormSW (hoisting, splitting panels, linking to other sections quickly, etc)

2. Can also feel like an outliner. (Can collapse subsections, instead of hoisting)

3) Saves the files in plaintext if possible. (Like Listacular)

4) Can sync via saving in Dropbox folder.

5) Has a client on different platforms. (PC, iOS, Android, etc)

Lots to ask for!!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

That's a tall order. I think the closest thing to Brainstorm that I can think of is actually Ginko. Just think of it as Brainstorm where you can see the various sub-levels at the same time. Or maybe not. (I'm not sure this is an original idea with me... I think someone else may already have suggested this elsewhere.)

Recently, Manfred Kuhn had an article about replicating Brainstorm's functionality in ConnectedText:

http://takingnotenow.blogspot.com/2014/01/recreating-brainstorms-capabilities-in.html

But even if you like that approach, it doesn't give you the multi-platform app that you're looking for.

Tinderbox maps actually behave like Brainstorm, in that they show one level at a time, but you can drill down to other levels. You can have multiple windows open side by side to switch your work focus. It also behaves like an outliner (in the outline view). But, of course, it is Mac OS only and expensive. (The more I think about this, though, the more I realize I frequently use Tinderbox the way I used to use Brainstorm.)

Wish I could give you better suggestions.

Steve Z.

tradercclee wrote:

What's the closest software to Brainstormsw?
Workflowy looks okay, but doesn't "feel" the same.

Would love to find something with these criteria:

1. Feels like BrainstormSW (hoisting, splitting panels, linking to other
sections quickly, etc)

2. Can also feel like an outliner. (Can collapse subsections, instead of
hoisting)

3) Saves the files in plaintext if possible. (Like Listacular)

4) Can sync via saving in Dropbox folder.

5) Has a client on different platforms. (PC, iOS, Android, etc)

WorkFlowy seems to tick most of those boxes. What is it that you don't like about it? Sure, it's not exactly the same as Brainstorm, but it's pretty close.

Dr Andus wrote:

tradercclee wrote:

WorkFlowy seems to tick most of those boxes. What is it that you don't
like about it? Sure, it's not exactly the same as Brainstorm, but it's
pretty close.

The split panel view in Brainstom is super important to my way of working...
Sometimes I create 3-4 panels on the fly, and then shrink back to 1.

Workflowy isn't designed to work like this.
It does have potential though... Maybe I'll play with it more.

Thanks!

tradercclee wrote:

The split panel view in Brainstom is super important to my way of
working...
Sometimes I create 3-4 panels on the fly, and then shrink back to 1.

I know it probably won't be as fast but you could open multiple browser windows with WorkFlowy and tile them in whatever way you like, so you could emulate a Brainstorm environment (probably a screen positioning utility like WinSplit Revolution could make the window positioning a bit faster).

I know it probably won't be as fast but you could open multiple browser
windows with WorkFlowy and tile them in whatever way you like, so you
could emulate a Brainstorm environment (probably a screen positioning
utility like WinSplit Revolution could make the window positioning a bit
faster).

Just tried this with a couple of tabs.
Doesn't really work, since the tabs aren't being updated in real time.

One of the cool things about Brainstorm is that the all the panels are updated as soon as you make edits.

It really makes me think if there's a market for a Brainstorm-like software that's cross-platform.
Market's probably too small... :)

It really makes me think if there's a market for a Brainstorm-like
software that's cross-platform.
Market's probably too small... :)

Indeed.

I've found myself thinking, some intrepid developer should should set up a Kickstarter for a really good, cross-platform single-pane outliner but then...how many members does this forum have? ...we'd likely be the only backers.

WorkFlowy seems to tick most of those boxes. What is it that you don't
like about it? Sure, it's not exactly the same as Brainstorm, but it's
pretty close.

Isn't WorkFlowy primarily cloud-based/SaaS?

I'm allergic to cloud-garbage, if I want (potentially private or confidential) data on networks it will get there when I put it there.

Joshua Cearley wrote:

WorkFlowy seems to tick most of those boxes. What is it that you don't
>like about it? Sure, it's not exactly the same as Brainstorm, but it's
>pretty close.

Isn't WorkFlowy primarily cloud-based/SaaS?

Yes, it is. But it can be used offline as well, if you use an iOS app or the Chrome Store app on other OS's.

I'm allergic to cloud-garbage, if I want (potentially private or
confidential) data on networks it will get there when I put it there.

Well, if that's a concern, then you'd be better off with Brainstorm or some other offline outliner. To me the cloud aspect of WorkFlowy is a plus, as I can have it synced on all my devices. I can't even imagine how to live completely off the grid now. Pretty much everyone I know uses at least Gmail or Hotmail or Yahoo or Dropbox.

BTW, I'm not saying WF can do everything that Brainstorm can do. The main similarity to me is that it's got the instant hoisting, just like Brainstorm, except that it's optional in WF (added plus).

Dr Andus wrote:

Well, if that's a concern, then you'd be better off with Brainstorm or
some other offline outliner. To me the cloud aspect of WorkFlowy is a
plus, as I can have it synced on all my devices. I can't even imagine
how to live completely off the grid now. Pretty much everyone I know
uses at least Gmail or Hotmail or Yahoo or Dropbox.

There's a world of difference between being completely off the grid, and using cloud services only when it makes sense to do so. Some like e-mail make sense because if GMail went down, using Thunderbird wouldn't help you much (well except for keeping archives of your mail locally...)

What is more disturbing (to me) than trying to concieve how someone lives off the grid, is how many people are comfortable handing away any and all information to data miners or companies with poor privacy and security policies.

(btw. I'd love to see more offline outliners, there really aren't that many good ones for Windows or Linux. Most of them (like CT's) are just basic uses of the Windows tree control, and don't offer the full suite of clone & hoist or tagging.)

Joshua Cearley wrote:

(btw. I'd love to see more offline outliners, there really aren't that
many good ones for Windows or Linux. Most of them (like CT's) are just
basic uses of the Windows tree control, and don't offer the full suite
of clone & hoist or tagging.)

The pros and cons of the "all-in-one" tools vs. "the right tool for the right job" is a recurrent topic on this forum. Is there something specific you are looking for? There are quite a few outliner tools out there even for Windows. This list has hundreds:
http://www.editgrid.com/user/pplandry/List_of_Outliners

As for CT, although its single-pane Outliner tool might appear too basic (it can do hoisting though), it's part of a broader set of tools that allow you to construct more complex (dual-pane etc.) outlining systems that do offer cloning and tagging. Steve's post offers some examples:
http://welcometosherwood.wordpress.com/2012/10/24/outlining-in-connectedtext/

Just to mention that I have asked Oliver (that is now responsible for BrainstormSW) about future developments; this was his answer:

"re. updates, I regret to say there is no plan in place. At this stage, the goal is to support BrainStorm users, redo the website and renew the forum. Fortunately, BrainStorm in its current state remains viable and when funding and resources become available, upgrade its look and feel while maintaining its functionality."

Oliver could open a kickstarter project; I would back it.