I use Obsidian for my notes and use SyncThing instead of their paid syncing option.
this post was submitted on 05 Sep 2023
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Logseq is better than Obsidian and open source
It's on F-Droid? Can't find it
Obsidian is not FOSS, I still use it because I find it to be the most complete note taking app. You can download it from the Aurora Store and disable the network permission, same on linux downloading it from Flathub and disable the network permission using Flatseal
Try Logseq its amazing
Logseq for notes
Not very intuitive but seems like something interesting to play with.
Edit: It feels very unresponsive on my phone. At the moment I'm using KeePassDX for notes also (as suggested by another user) and it works very well!
Keepsssdx also. Synced across 5 devices. Perfect
I also sync my dcim folders on my devices. So all my photos appear on all my devices. Delete on one, delete on all. Love it
Same with my documents folders, and more.
One of the coolest thing about using KeePassDX this way: you can even sync OTP and use these on deskop without a phone.
I use it for emulator saves between my phone and laptop also just use it for moving videos etc between them.
These are the ones I actively use with syncthing
- Markor - for quick note taking and todo's
- Librera reader - ebook reader
- Seeneva - smart comic reader
- Voice - Audiobook player
- Simple music player
- KeeepassDx - also
Markor seems the most syncthing friendly but I don't like the UI. :(
Are you able to set up Syncthing to synchronize Librera reading progress across devices? How would you go about that?
Haven't tried it, since I only sync with my PC and cloud server. But I just checked up and Librera has an option to save progress and profiles to a custom directory, so I guess that would be the way.
I have the following apps backing up to a syncthing share
- Aegis
- OpenScale
- Gadgetbridge
- OpenTracks
- Signal
all of them were set and forget, except for Gadget bridge who would randomly loose access to the shared
The following apps allow to manually backup to a file, but not automatically.
- AntennaPod
- Catima
- Birday
- Tickmate
I found syncthing acted weird with signal backups. It would error out the first time signal changed the backup. Did you have to change anything?
No, never had an issue with Signal backups.
Orgzly if you use Emacs' org-mode.
Ahhh ok. I use Joplin and sync with syncthing. I use the file system storage setting in joplin, and my notes sync across my tablet, phone, desktop, and laptop.
Does your method use cloud storage? If not, can you please explain to me just how it works across multiple devices?
Good question. I have a simple home server that runs all the time. Syncthing runs on that as a sort of cache, or my own little "cloud".
So devices, when they turn on, check the server, as well as whatever devices are online, and get the new changes.
We do this at work also, so we have our own simple "shared folders" using Syncthing.
That sounds really cool. I currently sync obsidian via a hosted solution on Hetzner using webdav. I'm wondering if I might be able to utilise it somehow as you have - maybe I won't need to intervene as much.
Thanks for the advice.
It's super simple to setup on home server. Then you're not paying for cloud hosting. But, you need a home server running all the time. Which I do anyway, so may as well use it for syncthing
Just to clarify then: you use a home server - are you running Syncthing on Linux?
So, if I have an old laptop (win10) would I need to learn linux to use it as an home server - and could it use minimal power when it's always on? The power thing is an issue here in UK.
I have a nvidia shield for the tv, is that a possibility for a server - I go run plex on it?
These might sound to you like daft questions, but I'm just learning stuff. Thanks.
You don't need a server at all. Syncthing is peer to peer between devices. So you can just have it sync between two phones, or a phone and a laptop. They don't always have to be online either.
Interesting, would you mind explaining how I could use it to connect 2 (or more) android devices together? Where would it have to be run 'from' or installed 'to' ? From what I've gathered, it appears that it just runs from a central point - ie a server and that it keeps clients updated. Is that not correct?
If it's possible to run Syncthing between multiple devices that would be great, but, I'm not sure - in my head, how this functions between devices. Consider me a novice - could you please explain?
Many thanks for your reply.
You just install it on both devices, and then add the devices together using the QR code's.
You then add the folder you want to share, and select the device you want to share it with. On thr device you've chosen to share it with, you will get a prompt. You press accept and select the target folder.
The devices will now sync that folder.
Excellent! Got it installed now and it seems to work. It was the prompt bit I was getting confused with - I thought that I'd need to have both folders under the same structure on both machines. This is a brilliant app. Thanks for the detailed explanation.
Hey there!
I do run a linux home server indeed. You can indeed use an old laptop, and many do, as they don't use a lot of power usually.
I am not sure about the nvidea shield, that would be cool. https://forum.syncthing.net/t/syncthing-on-nvidia-shield-tv-pro/20020 shows someone has done it. I'd be asking in those syncthing forums, people are very friendly there. That would be a great way to do it if it can handle it.
I hope that helps. If you want to get a handle on linux, run a virtualbox virtual machine first. I killed about 20 linux installs in virtualbox playing around before I went live on a real machine. It's a great way to find a distro you like also. I recommend pure Debian personally.
If you have further questions, I'll help as I can.
Simple notes has a file based option that may be worth a shot. I also backup my contacts ".vcf" file, my AntennaPod database, and my Feeder RSS feed list with Syncthing.
Well, since you love KeePassDX as me, I started to use KeePassDX as a "database of notes".
Under Root, you can create categories by adding 'Group's.
Inside each group, you can add an 'Entry' (a note).
each Note, will have a sub Category (Title), subject of note (User name), url and the note itself (note).
you can also add tags to your notes.
Give it a go, you'll be surprised how well this works, finding/searching for whatever is there.
I actually tried too! It works, just not very comfy for me. Maybe I'll give it another try.
Edit: It's actually very usable! I love these categories you can create. No markdown but ok.
Try logseq it's better
A text file in a syncthing folder, then open the text file with a text editor you like?
Maybe a text editor that can keep files open and auto updates changes?
Not an easy step to find a text editor I like. I've tested pretty much all the ones I can find, the most decent UI is probably Orgzly but I had sync issues in the past, and it's just a decent UI.
Not sure if this will help you stick with orgzly, but it synced very well with Nextcloud. Must admit Nextcloud was easy, so didn't need to manually sync it any other way.
Hope you find what you're looking for though.