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The biggest hurdle with these systems is the underlying data storage format/mechanism MUST be usable beyond the life of the application. If someone is to invest

The biggest hurdle with these systems is the underlying data storage format/mechanism MUST be usable beyond the life of the application. If someone is to invest heavily into using this product they have much to lose if the app stops being supported and is closed source. I am extremely impressed at how much functionality tools like Obsidian are able to achieve with just plain text markdown + plugins.

examplary_cable 4y ago
If you want to quickly check out, I'm working on a tool that works using a "generic" filesystem/files/folders to build a note-taking app, so even if you stop using the app, your stuff is still there in a normal format that can be extended with something like vim, Emacs, Sublime, VSCode, ??? etc. https://github.com/ilse-langnar/notebook https://github.com/ilse-langnar/notebook
- ta988 4y ago
  Sounds intriguing but the demo is a gray screen on Firefox Android.
john_harrold 4y ago
Curio stores assets as files within the project by default. It's browsable and pretty readable. You can also configure it to leave the assets in place on the file system and just point to them so you can manage those yourself if you want. You can export the project as HTML if you want and walk through the project in a web browser with the underlying assets available. If you have something better in mind in terms of exporting or data storage you can request that. I've emailed the main developer (George, george _at_ zengobi dot com) and he responds personally pretty quickly.
NeutralForest 4y ago
That's why I use Emacs and org-mode, it's been there in the open for 40 years. I expect it to be there for 40 more.
techdragon 4y ago
This is the exact reason why I have settled on Obsidian. I just cannot feel comfortable with investing my intellectual life's work into a system that has no clean exit path. This is also why I'm looking forward to trying to use the Digital Marketplaces Act to demand API/Docs for the content of my Apple Notes. Its very easy to use on my devices, but the format lock in is unacceptable. I want to be able to just sketch some random written thoughts before incorporating them into Obsidian later, but the new format is pretty obtuse and makes this pretty hard. I actively avoid using it due to the data lock in, which is a shame since it works so well with the pencil on the iPad.
- gtsnexp 4y ago
  Clean exit path, excellent way of looking at it!
1123581321 4y ago
This risk assessment is a bit off. It would be very difficult for Curio or supported hardware to disappear. The curio project format has the information and isn’t user-hostile, if it did happen. It is understandable to have the opinion that a plain-text-based app has just as much utility, especially as a heavy user of Obsidian and light user of more specialized and deeply developed apps.
- sogen 4y ago
  Also, the app has been updated for about 2 decades, so it’s more certain to continue being developed.

examplary_cable 4y ago

If you want to quickly check out, I'm working on a tool that works using a "generic" filesystem/files/folders to build a note-taking app, so even if you stop using the app, your stuff is still there in a normal format that can be extended with something like vim, Emacs, Sublime, VSCode, ??? etc. https://github.com/ilse-langnar/notebook https://github.com/ilse-langnar/notebook

ta988 4y ago
Sounds intriguing but the demo is a gray screen on Firefox Android.

john_harrold 4y ago

Curio stores assets as files within the project by default. It's browsable and pretty readable. You can also configure it to leave the assets in place on the file system and just point to them so you can manage those yourself if you want. You can export the project as HTML if you want and walk through the project in a web browser with the underlying assets available. If you have something better in mind in terms of exporting or data storage you can request that. I've emailed the main developer (George, george _at_ zengobi dot com) and he responds personally pretty quickly.

NeutralForest 4y ago

That's why I use Emacs and org-mode, it's been there in the open for 40 years. I expect it to be there for 40 more.

techdragon 4y ago

This is the exact reason why I have settled on Obsidian. I just cannot feel comfortable with investing my intellectual life's work into a system that has no clean exit path. This is also why I'm looking forward to trying to use the Digital Marketplaces Act to demand API/Docs for the content of my Apple Notes. Its very easy to use on my devices, but the format lock in is unacceptable. I want to be able to just sketch some random written thoughts before incorporating them into Obsidian later, but the new format is pretty obtuse and makes this pretty hard. I actively avoid using it due to the data lock in, which is a shame since it works so well with the pencil on the iPad.

gtsnexp 4y ago
Clean exit path, excellent way of looking at it!

1123581321 4y ago

This risk assessment is a bit off. It would be very difficult for Curio or supported hardware to disappear. The curio project format has the information and isn’t user-hostile, if it did happen. It is understandable to have the opinion that a plain-text-based app has just as much utility, especially as a heavy user of Obsidian and light user of more specialized and deeply developed apps.

sogen 4y ago
Also, the app has been updated for about 2 decades, so it’s more certain to continue being developed.