this post was submitted on 14 Jun 2023
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ObsidianMD

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Hi, I love Obsidian. It's part of my daily routine since a year or so, and I use it to store all my work and personal notes for the future. The main reason I use it is because of its note storage method. Instead of relying on a database, it utilizes plain text files written in Markdown, as most of you already know.

However, I have a strange feeling about it not being open source. The recent events with Reddit have only increased this discomfort. My notes are in plain Markdown, so I have the assurance that no one can forbid me from accessing them. I also take precautions by creating multiple backups, which provides additional security against virtual loss if I handle things correctly (which I do).

That being said, I would love to have alternatives like Joplin or LogSeq that adhere to the same philosophy of work as Obsidian.

Joplin is not suitable for me due to its reliance on database storage. I prefer to have total control over my notes. On the other hand, LogSeq is more focused on serving as a diary rather than a personal knowledge manager, and it does not use pure markdown, wich will be a problem in the future when (not if) I'll need to migrate out of LogSeq.

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[–] orosus 6 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Hi! I used Obsidian for several years, but the open source topic is also a concern for me, so 6 months ago, I decided to move to LogSeq.

To be honest, the migration was not that easy, but not due to the different Markdown format, but for the change of methodology of writing notes. In Obsidian I was used to work with folders, but in LogSeq, I added all my notes in the same folder and started working with links. I created a note as a list of constents to link all the other notes, and now I have a nice personal knowledge database. So I don't agree when you say that LogSeq is focus on journaling, because in my personal notetaking process I almost don't use it. But it is true that I use it a lot in my job workflow, it's really useful to start taking notes directly on the current day on the journal section and if you need to expand some topic, you just create a link to a new note using [[double brackets]] as in Obsidian.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I've built my current Obsidian vault as links-based, so basically i can open it now in Logseq and see the same data/structure. the only thing i don't like about logseq, is that you're limited to the bullet-point structure.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thank you for educating me on that!, does LogSeq allow to use standard markdown links name?

[–] orosus 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You're welcome :)

Yes, LogSeq admits standard MD format for links and also their simpler way to do links to notes, which I personally use. But all are supported:

  • Standard MD link to image: ![image name] (../assets/image.jpg)
  • Standard MD link to note: [Note Name] (Note Name.md)
  • Standard MD link to website: [Note Name] (https://website.com)
  • Logseq simpler link to note : [[Note Name]]
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Oh that's sooo great, I'll give it a try for sure, thanks for the info!

[–] Oabeaw 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Open source concerns aside, how would you compare logseq and obsidian? What I gather from your comment, you find journaling in logseq more handy than obsidian for job. What about the knowledge management part of them? Any other pros/cons on logseq vs obsidian?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

it's easier and faster to save and search notes written in small chunks in Logseq than Obsidian IME, but the pain is when you have to write/format an article-like content.