Best note taking app that combined with zettelkasten
Hello, I'm new to zettelkasten note taking system, and I used take digital notes. So, suggest some best note taking app that can easily integrate with zettelkasten.
Thank You for your help in advance.
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The Archive
Will Simpson
My peak cognition is behind me. One day soon, I will read my last book, write my last note, eat my last meal, and kiss my sweetie for the last time.
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For windows I can suggest obsidian
I use and love Logseq
but I also very much like The Archive. I feel like Obsidian is too complicated and that one can get lost in figuring out how it works and how to fine tune it, rather than just using it
Why Obsidian is too complicated?
Do you use it on tablet?
it is handwritten note taking app?
What you consider handwriiten or typed notes?
@mindful_soul Please avoid multiposting.
I am a Zettler
No, I use it on a pc
There are several posts on this forum about app recommendations, so you might find them helpful.
Still, here are my recommendations.
I have some criteria when choosing an app:
1. Easy to use
2. No distractions
3. Beautiful modern UI design
4. Minimal functions for writing
5. App shouldn't be slow
6. Not a subscription-based system
7. Supports txt editing (I find Markdown distracting, so I use txt for my writing).
If you're like me, I think my recommendations will be helpful.
1. The Archive
This app was created by @ctietze, co-owner of this site and a Zettelkasten user, so I think it's great for Zettelkasten. (Available only on macOS.)
2. Notepad
While Windows 11 adds Markdown functionality, Notepad is still a txt-based app. Unlike Windows 10, the undo feature has been improved, as has the dragging functionality when using Ctrl + Shift + Left/Right Arrow. It also opens documents quickly. However, you have to use Explorer to search files, which can be solved with software like AstroGrep or Everything.
3. Visual Studio Code
If you're not a programmer, you can simply use VS Code for Zettelkasten. With a few adjustments, you can use it cleanly, as shown below. Full-text search is also supported. Line breaks can be an issue when switching OSes, but VS Code conveniently allows you to switch between CRLF and LF in one go.
4. Gnome Text Editor + Files
I bought a used Acer Aspire 1 A111-31 for about $100 to focus solely on Zettelkasten. It has an 11.6-inch screen (almost A5 size), is fanless, and has low performance, making it perfect for focusing on Zettelkasten. While I could have installed Windows 10, I opted for Fedora Linux Gnome due to speed and storage constraints. I use Files for searching and Gnome Text Editor for editing. It feels similar to The Archive. I'm very satisfied with it.
@iylock could you give me an example of a distraction on an app that turned you away from it? I do appreciate the sense of focus that simple/minimalistic apps give.
@GeoEng51 what is it about the Logseq format that attracts you? As someone who has bounced off it, I was looking online for a good article that describes why people are drawn to that style of note-taking app (bullet point ones). For Logseq do you use any sort of Timestamp IDs, Luhmann IDs, or just strait note titles?
I am in my mid-seventies now and have been a note-taker ever since high school. I've taken handwritten notes, notes using a typewriter and notes using a variety of and progressively better computers, including now smartphones.
I like taking notes both by handwriting and by typing on a computer, but my preference is for the latter. In terms of a Zettelkasten, it's definitely using the latter, as there is so much more flexibility in editing, copying/pasting, etc.
There are a few features that I really like about Logseq:
This is designated as shown in the following example: "71 Sound/01--3.5 mm Connectors". I know from this title that the general subject is electronics (the 70-79 series of numbers), specifically the area designated for "sound" (by the first part of the zettel name) and the specifics by the information in the zettel after the "/". Within Logseq, "71 Sound" is its own page, and then listed are all the associated zettels, one of which is "01--3.5 mm Connectors".
I'm not sure how clear my example is, but the point is that the process of creating a namespace in Logseq, which is done simply by typing a "/", automatically creates a type of structure note. This is as "low friction" as it can be!
I use two methods for coming up with a zettel/file name:
Mostly,I stick with the timestamp/short title file name.
In summary, I like Logseq because it is a very low friction way of capturing and organizing information and because I find bulleting a powerful method of taking and revising notes. I found I can "let go" of the obsession of having to write a perfect zettel, right away, and then know where every zettel is located. Instead, I follow a process which lets me quickly capture ideas and process them into zettels(over time. I just trust my system to find those ideas whenever I want to, no matter where I am in the process and no matter where they are currently located. This latter may be true of ZKs managed with other software, but I've developed a high level of trust that Logseq will allow me to do so easily and quickly.
Logseq is well integrated into my daily life and workflow. It is open and running all the time on my computer and iPhone, and used frequently. And all this is done in its quiet, competent manner, so that its use is almost unconscious. I have even, a few times, dreamed in Logseq (like I was learning a different language).
Outside of the information on the Logseq web site, I found the course offered by Dario da Silva to be very useful. I share it here receiving no benefit from doing so outside of wanting to share where you can find some quality information on how to use Logseq:
Dario da Silva; Logseq Mastery
No distractions means anything that distracts me. So it can overlap with (3) and (4).
And when I say "(4) Minimal functions for writing", I mean it lacks decorative features like fonts and paragraph formatting, or styles, like those found in MS Word. In other words, I want to work only with plain text. Those features would distract from writing.
1. Features
Any feature that asks me to make a choice can be a distraction. Having a feature means I have more options, which means more choices to make. I want to avoid the act of choosing as much as possible and focus solely on the Zettelkasten experience.
Cloud syncing
Cloud syncing is a distraction and a waste of time for me. First of all, cloud syncing requires an internet connection, and even just being connected to the internet makes me nervous because I subconsciously consider the possibility of being connected. I completely disconnected the internet from my Zettelkasten laptop. Also, because I'm moving around, I fork Zettelkasten on another digital device, work on it locally(no cloud), and then merge it back together. Sometimes, I edit both the original and forked Zettelkasten simultaneously. I also frequently change the title while keeping the UID intact. This wouldn't be a problem if version control was properly implemented, like Git. However, changing the title (since I'm working locally, not in the cloud) means double-checking files, requiring me to edit or delete each file individually. In my (long-ago) experience, cloud syncing has caused file corruption due to overwriting, and I'm concerned that this could happen in the future. I just want to be in complete control. I prefer to back up to my hard drive and then merge them myself. But when you do cloud, you have to consider this in the forked Zettelkasten, which is a distraction from your concentration.
Auto-save feature
The auto-save feature is also a distraction. I prefer to manually press Ctrl + S to save, because the auto-save feature makes it impossible to tell whether a save has been made or not. In the past, when using Obsidian, I've had instances where my work didn't save, or where I needed to revert while editing a draft, but accidentally quit the file, leaving it unsaved, and the file became corrupted. This is a real distraction.
Auto-spell check
I prefer to be able to turn off the auto-spell check feature, because it forces me to focus on grammatical accuracy rather than the ideas themselves. I can learn spelling through regular practice, and I can use a spell checker while I'm writing, not in Zettelkasten.
Panels or Bars
Any panels or information windows other than those for writing text on the screen are distracting. For me, the file list, tag, and backlink panels aren't really necessary when working with Zettelkasten itself (I don't use tags; I just work with structure notes). Also, I don't want to see how many words I've written in the status bar at the bottom, especially if my writing isn't intended for publication.
Folding
The ability to fold into outlines is great, but I don't use it most of the time because it makes me feel like my thoughts are being torn apart when folded.
Markdown Live Preview
The Markdown live preview feature is a distraction for me. The # function (the "h1" function in HTML) is a prime example. I'm perfectly happy with a simple color-based preview, like The Archive. However, text that changes size, like Obsidian or Typora, is distracting. So, if I use Markdown, I prefer to view it in source code view.
Obsidian Graph View
Obsidian Graph View are distracting. I honestly really like the design. It's like watching an exploration RPG. However, it doesn't help me directly connect my knowledge at all. I say I'm looking at it to see "Where does this note connect?", but I'm actually distracted by the visual aesthetic. In my experience, I simply find the search function simpler and better. Full-text search also allows you to search backlinks. As you know, The Archive already offers this feature.
Link Style
Obsidian requires you to reference the full file name when linking, as it's a hyperlink rather than a searchable link like The Archive. However, this is quite cumbersome for me, who only uses UIDs to create link context. I agree with the thread on this forum that you should check the content first and then decide whether to follow the link, so I usually write with "content + [[UID]]". However, Obsidian interferes with this. If you only use the UID, clicking on it will automatically create a new file, which is a hassle.
That is, when I do Zettelkasten, I want to minimize the number of non-primary tasks.
2. Design
If the letter spacing, line spacing, or margin settings are too tight, the app becomes quite uncomfortable to use. It's jarring every time I look at it. Furthermore, if the background and text colors aren't well coordinated, it can be quite annoying when working for extended periods of time. If customization isn't possible, it's also a distraction for me.
A beautiful UI is simply a personal pleasure, not a necessary component of distraction reduction. However, most well-crafted UI designs eliminate a significant portion of distraction.
In that sense, "(2) No distractions" is a more comprehensive concept that encompasses not only (3) and (4), but also other factors. I simply want to remove everything that's distracting.