Looking for a note-taking app, preferably that I could use straight from a browser. I’m currently using Standard Notes. Not sure if that one is any good, but E2EE and open-source which at least checks those boxes. I don’t store anything too sensitive and I don’t need a whole bunch of features, though I suppose I’d use them if they were available.
I’m honestly not too picky but maybe discussion here could help someone else out who may be looking for the same thing with higher expectations? I’ll switch over to a better option if there’s something considerably better.
Thanks in advance
If you have the time to learn emacs, its really good for note taking. I don’t think any app other than Vim could compete in taking notes in my math class.
I’ve attempted to use emacs with orgmode, but have no programming background. I wanted to go for a vanilla emacs experience that I can add modules to, but have hit a wall. My dream is to replace Vscodium which I use for markdown notes with syncthing and also to manage my NixOS git config files (magit?). It’s probably just time and research, but I wish I could simplify the process a bit. I always seem to destroy the documents I’m attempting to work in and get lost in the emac buffers. Just ranting to see if anyone has any tips or suggestions.
I created my emacs config by going through the awesome-emacs github page and adding any packages that looked useful. If you can’t find your buffers, you should do
m-x ibufferand then hits mto sort buffers by mode, and then you can see all the buffers that are open. Centaur tabs mode is also nice because it adds tabs.Adding packages using
use-packagemakes it easier to remember what stuff you added and makes your config more portable. I just got used to emacs by using it with the default keybinds and a minimal amount of packages to understand how it works.Alternatively if you know how to use vim, theres an apparently pretty good org mode package for it.
Nice, thanks. I will defintely check out the awesome-emacs github. How do you search for functions and keybindings within emacs? I’ve heard it documents everything under the sun, but can’t recall where I read that.
I had used
use-packagewhich I agree is easier, but I think there is an issue either with my OS or more likely me, organizing the config.el in NixOS using org-mode to create sections as it works in the normal config files, but does not work in the org-mode style files with#+BEGIN_SRC #+END_SRCsections.I’m on NixOS also but I’m not using org-mode for my config, so idk how to help with that. If you do
c-h ?you can see all of the help commands, likec-h mfor your current keybinds,c-h vfor variables, etc. It says just the key you have to do after doingc-h. Also if you use the which-key package, there’s a minibuffer that shows ways to complete a command after doing something likec-xin a list of what command happens after you do each possible key after it. Oh yeah I’m using vertico mode which shows all the functions when I hitm-xand is kinda like autocompletion in an ide except form-x.Just wanted to post a quick thank you as this info has really helped me get to a usable / learning state with emacs! Will keep playing and practicing until it becomes second nature.
That’s great! If you need any help in the future, I’m always open.
Thanks again- this is really useful. Navigation and getting the muscle memory is the hardest thing for me right now. I think I will use these commands and try to practice a little each day until I become more comfortable using emacs full time.
Surely the support for LaTeX is the killer feature with your math class, not emacs vs. vim.
Well yeah, but I’m using it in emacs org mode, which is nicer to write than straight up LaTeX. I used to use markdown on vim (which can embed LaTeX if you use pandoc to convert to pdf) but org mode is better.
God mode keybinds and yasnippets makes it comfortable to type.
Good to know! I’m still at the vim+markdown+LaTeX for equations mode, but other than for math stuff I can’t be bothered for LaTeX. I wish collaborators would be open to LaTeX rather than Google Docs or the highway.