Note Tool Comparison 2022

@2022-02-15
bidirectional links: Also called backlink. I don't like the idea it's not a true markdown spec and make refactoring / organizing notes harder. Maybe we can use 1. add it to the front-matter 2. a back-matter like front-matter to specify the bidirectional links.
Block based: also called block-styled. E.g. Notion, EditorJS. Create block with markdown syntax like ## for H2, and render markdown in every block. Can export to markdown. I don't category this into "real markdown"
One common objective for notes: gather information from read history. Three main functionalities :
1. Collect and search
2. Process and organize structural system
3. Review and form new ideas

No bidirectional links.
Not block based.
Expandable(ke kuo zhan xing, I don't know how to translate), better based on VSCode.
Ideally Open-source. So I can PR the functionality I need.
Procedures: 1. markdown/text file; 2. Generate static HTML; 3. Deploy on website. Sometime I call (2)+(3) as "publish".

How to choose the right note-taking app recommended some note apps, based on architect/gardener/librarian type.

We can use all these in VSCode
Foam: Next one to test.
- Has a top-tier community which allows #other-cool-apps in their discord server.
- Also recommended by Ben Holmes, who has a fancy personal website advertising "UX freak".
- Nice workflow
The Archive from Zettel Kasten: It's naming rule seems complicated(although mentioned by Obsidian, SuperNotes, Foam).
GitHub Wiki: Supports backlink [[]] syntax, free, with any editor, easy to publish, and version control with git. But less automation when edited locally, I don't know which link can be parsed because the URL scheme is different than the file name.

nb: Command line and local web note-taking, bookmarking, archiving, and knowledge base application. Also seems powerful.
Gardener: Out of maintenance. I don't see what's special.

Markless: I like the idea of this extension. Created two issues in their repo.
Markdown Paste: Enable one of my favorite functionality of Obsidian.
markdown-kit: Contains "Markdown Paste" and Split Markdown files. Same author as "Markdown Memo"
Markdown Memo: Bidirectional link with renaming. Same author as "markdown-kit"
Dendron: Dendron is an open-source, local-first, markdown-based, note-taking tool. Seems very alike to Foam / Obsidian with markdown. On my top testing list. Repo: dendronhq/dendron. Recommendation
vscode-markdown-markmap and markmap-vscode: Visualize Markdown as Mindmap.
md-graph: A Visual Studio Code extension to visualize your markdown files as a network graph.
vscode-markdown-notes
Markdown Writer Theme: A VSCode theme. I use only Markless.

RoamResearch: Too expensive. But this is where I really started to take markdown notes. Before I note everything in .docx file.
AthensResearch: Free version of RoamResearch. But I don't want the [[]] syntax. Same as GitHub Wiki.
CrossNote: Editor with graph, online, no folder. Available in China and Chinese language. Not actively maintained.
nota: A markdown editor. Maybe good for non-VSCode users.
glow: A markdown editor with CLI.
QuickNote: A markdown editor with CLI.
Geek's Diary: A markdown editor with Electron.
collected notes: A markdown editor on iOS, supports Apple pencil, FaceID, Apple hands-off, with Publisher + API,
EditorJS repo: Open source markdown editor with block style(like notion). This can be implemented into any web.
notable:The Markdown-based note-taking app. Obsidian without graph viz. Open source.
Zoho Notebook: Not going to test for not-clear business model, ZOHO logo, and UI. "collected notes" is (strictly) better than this.
TotalLib: Didn't test. Markdown editor with GPT-3 AI. I have copilot.
Bear App with GomScope(Sunset): Didn't test. Maybe good for iPad. No free-plan.
Org Mode: Heard this before when exploring alternative to RoamResearch, but I used Obsidian in the end because I'm not good with Emacs.
Agora: Wiki Note with social network. Maybe we can do something with it with web3/blockchain.

"Ready-to-publish" means the article is formatted like a traditional blog/webpage. Should have a good responsive design.
Notion: Most advertized block based app.
coda like notion but for building a doc (for team) but I think it's overpriced.
SuperNotes: Block based. Idea is good: Keep things atomic by having a 1200 chars / note limit.
Craft: Only allows 1k blocks for free tier.
RemNote: Like notion, and supports Anki/Quizlet card.
walling: Like notion, less functionality.
Semi Lattice: Block based. I didn't see anything more special. Notion is better than this.

Memex: Search across all the text in the website.(I had the same idea before)- Weava: Pdf marker. I tested before. Not using it because the extension always pops up even when not needed.
Obsidian Clipper: Paste text with markdown format with origin and link.