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Software Request: Open Source Personal Content Repository
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Posted by MadaboutDana
Sep 21, 2018 at 12:44 PM
Agreed with the personal Google thing. It’s why I still use FoxTrot Pro on my Mac - vastly more powerful (and useful) than Spotlight, and allows me to build as many categories as I like. Or search on all of them, with hits clearly highlighted in documents, various ranking options, etc.
Posted by MadaboutDana
Sep 21, 2018 at 12:44 PM
Agreed with the personal Google thing. It’s why I still use FoxTrot Pro on my Mac - vastly more powerful (and useful) than Spotlight, and allows me to build as many categories as I like. Or search on all of them, with hits clearly highlighted in documents, various ranking options, etc.
Posted by Stephen Zeoli
Sep 21, 2018 at 06:18 PM
I feel like a broken record, but I think you should look at TheBrain. No, it isn’t open source, but it has a 20-year track record. It is similar to a wiki in that you can create as many links as you want among the “thoughts” in your brain. You can attach any type of file to your thoughts, so stick with RTF and plain text attachments and you’re future proof. All the files are stored in their original format and are searchable from within TheBrain. Internal searches are fast.
The file attachments are stored in Brain folders, which are just like any other folders on your computer. Desktop searches will find them, so they will be there even if TheBrain suddenly disappears.
No, TheBrain isn’t cheap, but if you’re organizing your whole business with it, the cost is reasonable—in my view.
Just my two cents.
Steve Z.
Posted by thouqht
Sep 21, 2018 at 07:00 PM
For anyone interested, I’ve decided to go with org-mode (via spacemacs) combined with github & dropbox. Big ol’ learning & configuration investment, but since I have a programming background and am already a heavy vim user this makes sense.
In terms of future proof text file manipulation, I don’t think anything else offers a more robust setup.
Pros:
- replaces a large number of other tools
- best in-class text input & manipulation
- locate and open anything extremely rapidly (helm projectile is amazing)
- powerful export options
- open source with large community
- super powerful version control via git/github
- completely customizable
- allows for easy interface with advanced text tools (grep, awk, sed etc.) should I ever need them
Cons:
- Very big upfront configuration & learning process (*extremely* big if you don’t have a background in this side of the world)
- Wiki & crosslinking ability is less robust than dedicated wiki software or things like The Brain
- Not for teams (unless they are programmers)
- Not as smooth for handling lots of non-text attachments
And for those who are interested org-mode basically does:
- Outlining
- Time tracking
- Todo list / project management software (as long as you are working solo)
- distraction free writing
- high level writing (can act a lot like scrivener)
- Basic spreadsheets
- Journal
- Slides & presentation
- Calendar and even email (if you want it to)
From where I stand, long-term ability to massively simplify and future proof my workflow outweighs the learning and customization.
I’m slowly making the transition, moving one piece over bit by bit. Is working well and is honestly quite fun.
Shoutout to Jan S. for the recommendation as I wasn’t even thinking of this because my past attempt to do this was too overwhelming.
Posted by Paul Korm
Sep 22, 2018 at 11:37 AM
It’s nice to see a report like this when someone reaches the end of the quest and takes the time to post info about the hows and whys of their decision.
Thanks for this—may the CRIMP be with you :-)
thought wrote:
>For anyone interested, I’ve decided to go with org-mode (via spacemacs) combined with github & dropbox. Big ol’ learning & configuration investment, but since I have a programming background and am already a heavy vim user this makes sense.