7 ms·

Show HN: AlephNote – A Simplenote/Standardnote client

44 points by Mikescher 10y ago

joantune 10y ago
Hey! This looks cool for people that might use those backends. What motivated you to do it? What are the benefits of using your client instead of the backends default ones?
- Mikescher 10y ago
  Hi, I have to admit it was mostly because I didn't like the electrum clients. I just felt wrong to have a program always in the background runnning that permanently uses 250MB RAM. Also last time I tested it, it ran pretty slow on my machine. But it could be that this has become better.
Mikescher 10y ago
Hello HN, For the last few weeks I made my own notes client (mainly for [simplenote](https://simplenote.com/) https://simplenote.com/)) because the standard Electrum client felt pretty ... heavy. Multiple backends are supported via plugins. Currently you can use it to access your notes on simplenote, Standard Note, Nectcloud/owncloud or no remote (aka local only). I plan on adding Evernote support (only for plain, unformatted notes) and a better editor with a little bit of markdown highlighting (similiar to [qownnotes](http://www.qownnotes.org) http://www.qownnotes.org)) Tell me what you think and if you have ideas/criticism :D
- andmalc 10y ago
  You might want to indicate somewhere that this is for Windows only. I downloaded the source on my Linux machine and took a while figuring out that it's a MS Visual Studio project.
  - Mikescher 10y ago
    Hmm good point, I will add it to the landing page
    - wjdp 10y ago
      Ran into same issue. Noted you put (Windows) on the download button, just assumed Linux had to be built from source.
- allisterb 10y ago
  I think you could add a UI project using Xamarin without much trouble and make the whole thing cross-platform with Linux, Mac and potentially Android/iOS support. From what I've seen the WPF-specific code is restricted to the AlephNote.App project in the WPF namespace. It should not be difficult to reuse the non-WPF code in a separate UI project. I've been dying for an open-source replacement for Evernote and I've been looking for an opportunity to learn Xamarin so I'm willing to contribute this if you're interested.
  - Mikescher 10y ago
    That sounds - actually - pretty interesting. But isn't Xamarin.Forms only for mobile platforms? I can't find any information about building desktop apps with it (but also my only experience with Xamarin is currently MonoGame).
    - allisterb 10y ago
      Yes you're right, Xamarin Forms seems to be targeted at Windows/iOS/Android portability with a common XAML codebase. For cross-platform desktop apps the best choice seems to be something like [Gtk#](http://www.mono-project.com/docs/gui/gtksharp/ http://www.mono-project.com/docs/gui/gtksharp/] But I think the same principles would apply: the UI projects would utilize the non-platform specific code in AlephNote.App and the plugin framework etc. It would probably be necessary to have a separate Mobile UI project anyway, but it still would reuse a lot of the existing C# code. I'm totally a beginner with Xamarin and Gtk# but I'd be willing to give this a shot. I really like how multiple backends are supported via plugins in AlephNote.
      - Mikescher 10y ago
        I created an issue [0] for this. I'm trying to find time today to organize the project structure for this, so that it shouldn't be too hard to add other UI frontends. You are more than welcome to contribute, especially because I'm also completely unexperienced with GTK# :) [0] https://github.com/Mikescher/AlephNote/issues/1 https://github.com/Mikescher/AlephNote/issues/1
- loudandskittish 10y ago
  How many notes have you tested this with? Similar apps choke pretty hard on large collections of notes (1,000+)
  - Mikescher 10y ago
    Wow, 1000+ notes o.O My max. test case is around 100 notes. I honestly don't know how that many notes would perform, because all notes are always loaded. If there is demand I could look into only lazy loading the actual note content and probabl other tweaks for big collections.
    - geoelectric 10y ago
      As an example, I use these apps for daily journaling, so I'll generate at least 365 notes a year. In practice, it's quite a few more.
divbit 10y ago
Very clean looking. Nice!
dopamean 10y ago
I thought this said AlephOne and had a serious bout of nostalgia.
- Cyph0n 10y ago
  Smashing the stack?
joshstrange 10y ago
Just wanted to throw out there for any macOS users I use nvALT [0] as a client for simple note on my macbook and love using it as a scratch pad for holding data while working on a problem or just a general "I need to make a quick list on the fly here and then copy it into something else later". I have mine set to a hotkey so I can hide/show it quickly and it's great. [0] http://brettterpstra.com/projects/nvalt/ http://brettterpstra.com/projects/nvalt/
- jamesgeck0 10y ago
  nvALT is great. It's lack of synchronization with Standard Notes is the only reason I haven't used that service yet.
  - joshstrange 10y ago
    Huh, I had never heard of Standard Notes before this thread (I saw it mentioned in the OP but ignored it as I am happy with Simple Note) but it looks pretty neat. Yeah, if they had a client that was as fast/easy as nvALT I'd switch.
    - criddell 10y ago
      Not 100% sure, but I think the default Standard Notes client is an Electron application. If battery life is a concern, I'd stick with nvALT. Other note clients can use the Standard Note backend and that seems like a reasonable path, but I would avoid the Standard Notes client.
  - qrbLPHiKpiux 10y ago
    I use it daily. Plain text information, logs, etc. are the easiest to work with and search. No keywords or tags necessary.
  - rahimnathwani 10y ago
    I'd never heard of Standard Notes until today. Is there any reason I should switch to it (from Simplenote), if I'm not interested in self-hosting?
xxdesmus 10y ago
This looks really nice. I like the support for multiple backend storage options. Any plans to port this to Mac or Linux?
- Mikescher 10y ago
  Not when I posted it here :D. But it seems like there is interest [0] and it doesn't look too complicated. So yes, I will try to add an additional frontend with Gtk# for Linux/Mac. [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13806328 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13806328
balladeer 10y ago
When I was on Windows I used this - http://resoph.com/ http://resoph.com/. Looks similar I think. Not sure that app is actively developed anymore (ins't open source). But it used to be good and only decent Simplenote client on Windows. Good to see options there. On Mac I have been using NV so far. Though original NV hasn't seen any development for last 6 years it still just works. The last time I tried its famous fork (nvAlt) either something was broken (was beta or so can't recall) or I just saw that I don't need that at all. For my minimal and simple note taking vanilla NV is still what I need. NV is one app that I don't remember when it last crashed (maybe I don't use it enough).
jclos 10y ago
I don't know if it's bad form to do feature requests on HN but having gone through a lot of these note clients (see list [here](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13642527) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13642527)) the three-ish features that I'd like to see on a note client that can, but does not have to, sync to the cloud and that I couldn't seem to find in a single one are: * Support for LaTeX math notation (like Zim-Wiki) * Support for code (like Quiver) * a good, clean UI if possible with a dark mode so that I can stare at it for long periods of time
- mobitar 10y ago
  Standard Notes has support for code, can theoretically support a LaTeX editor, and has a clean UI (but no dark mode yet). See extensions: https://standardnotes.org/extensions https://standardnotes.org/extensions
- endisukaj 10y ago
  Have you ever tried [org-mode][1]? It's an emacs major mode for taking notes, making to-do lists, building websites, having an agenda, etc... It's quite powerful since it's basically a markup language. It can be exported to multiple formats (including latex) and supports writing code and even executing it inside the same file with [babel][2]. Everything's saved as a plain text file so you can sync them across different devices with Dropbox, Drive or even git (which I use). [^1](http://orgmode.org/ http://orgmode.org/) [^2](http://orgmode.org/worg/org-contrib/babel/ http://orgmode.org/worg/org-contrib/babel/)
  - jclos 10y ago
    I've tried emacs a long time ago but could never get it to stick. With everybody advising me to switch to org-mode I might have to give it another try.

44 points by Mikescher 10y ago

Hey! This looks cool for people that might use those backends. What motivated you to do it? What are the benefits of using your client instead of the backends default ones?

Mikescher 10y ago
Hi, I have to admit it was mostly because I didn't like the electrum clients. I just felt wrong to have a program always in the background runnning that permanently uses 250MB RAM. Also last time I tested it, it ran pretty slow on my machine. But it could be that this has become better.

Mikescher 10y ago

Hello HN, For the last few weeks I made my own notes client (mainly for [simplenote](https://simplenote.com/) https://simplenote.com/)) because the standard Electrum client felt pretty ... heavy. Multiple backends are supported via plugins. Currently you can use it to access your notes on simplenote, Standard Note, Nectcloud/owncloud or no remote (aka local only). I plan on adding Evernote support (only for plain, unformatted notes) and a better editor with a little bit of markdown highlighting (similiar to [qownnotes](http://www.qownnotes.org) http://www.qownnotes.org)) Tell me what you think and if you have ideas/criticism :D

andmalc 10y ago
You might want to indicate somewhere that this is for Windows only. I downloaded the source on my Linux machine and took a while figuring out that it's a MS Visual Studio project.
- Mikescher 10y ago
  Hmm good point, I will add it to the landing page
  - wjdp 10y ago
    Ran into same issue. Noted you put (Windows) on the download button, just assumed Linux had to be built from source.
allisterb 10y ago
I think you could add a UI project using Xamarin without much trouble and make the whole thing cross-platform with Linux, Mac and potentially Android/iOS support. From what I've seen the WPF-specific code is restricted to the AlephNote.App project in the WPF namespace. It should not be difficult to reuse the non-WPF code in a separate UI project. I've been dying for an open-source replacement for Evernote and I've been looking for an opportunity to learn Xamarin so I'm willing to contribute this if you're interested.
- Mikescher 10y ago
  That sounds - actually - pretty interesting. But isn't Xamarin.Forms only for mobile platforms? I can't find any information about building desktop apps with it (but also my only experience with Xamarin is currently MonoGame).
  - allisterb 10y ago
    Yes you're right, Xamarin Forms seems to be targeted at Windows/iOS/Android portability with a common XAML codebase. For cross-platform desktop apps the best choice seems to be something like [Gtk#](http://www.mono-project.com/docs/gui/gtksharp/ http://www.mono-project.com/docs/gui/gtksharp/] But I think the same principles would apply: the UI projects would utilize the non-platform specific code in AlephNote.App and the plugin framework etc. It would probably be necessary to have a separate Mobile UI project anyway, but it still would reuse a lot of the existing C# code. I'm totally a beginner with Xamarin and Gtk# but I'd be willing to give this a shot. I really like how multiple backends are supported via plugins in AlephNote.
    - Mikescher 10y ago
      I created an issue [0] for this. I'm trying to find time today to organize the project structure for this, so that it shouldn't be too hard to add other UI frontends. You are more than welcome to contribute, especially because I'm also completely unexperienced with GTK# :) [0] https://github.com/Mikescher/AlephNote/issues/1 https://github.com/Mikescher/AlephNote/issues/1
loudandskittish 10y ago
How many notes have you tested this with? Similar apps choke pretty hard on large collections of notes (1,000+)
- Mikescher 10y ago
  Wow, 1000+ notes o.O My max. test case is around 100 notes. I honestly don't know how that many notes would perform, because all notes are always loaded. If there is demand I could look into only lazy loading the actual note content and probabl other tweaks for big collections.
  - geoelectric 10y ago
    As an example, I use these apps for daily journaling, so I'll generate at least 365 notes a year. In practice, it's quite a few more.

divbit 10y ago

Very clean looking. Nice!

dopamean 10y ago

I thought this said AlephOne and had a serious bout of nostalgia.

Cyph0n 10y ago
Smashing the stack?

joshstrange 10y ago

Just wanted to throw out there for any macOS users I use nvALT [0] as a client for simple note on my macbook and love using it as a scratch pad for holding data while working on a problem or just a general "I need to make a quick list on the fly here and then copy it into something else later". I have mine set to a hotkey so I can hide/show it quickly and it's great. [0] http://brettterpstra.com/projects/nvalt/ http://brettterpstra.com/projects/nvalt/

jamesgeck0 10y ago
nvALT is great. It's lack of synchronization with Standard Notes is the only reason I haven't used that service yet.
- joshstrange 10y ago
  Huh, I had never heard of Standard Notes before this thread (I saw it mentioned in the OP but ignored it as I am happy with Simple Note) but it looks pretty neat. Yeah, if they had a client that was as fast/easy as nvALT I'd switch.
  - criddell 10y ago
    Not 100% sure, but I think the default Standard Notes client is an Electron application. If battery life is a concern, I'd stick with nvALT. Other note clients can use the Standard Note backend and that seems like a reasonable path, but I would avoid the Standard Notes client.
- qrbLPHiKpiux 10y ago
  I use it daily. Plain text information, logs, etc. are the easiest to work with and search. No keywords or tags necessary.
- rahimnathwani 10y ago
  I'd never heard of Standard Notes until today. Is there any reason I should switch to it (from Simplenote), if I'm not interested in self-hosting?

xxdesmus 10y ago

This looks really nice. I like the support for multiple backend storage options. Any plans to port this to Mac or Linux?

Mikescher 10y ago
Not when I posted it here :D. But it seems like there is interest [0] and it doesn't look too complicated. So yes, I will try to add an additional frontend with Gtk# for Linux/Mac. [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13806328 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13806328

balladeer 10y ago

When I was on Windows I used this - http://resoph.com/ http://resoph.com/. Looks similar I think. Not sure that app is actively developed anymore (ins't open source). But it used to be good and only decent Simplenote client on Windows. Good to see options there. On Mac I have been using NV so far. Though original NV hasn't seen any development for last 6 years it still just works. The last time I tried its famous fork (nvAlt) either something was broken (was beta or so can't recall) or I just saw that I don't need that at all. For my minimal and simple note taking vanilla NV is still what I need. NV is one app that I don't remember when it last crashed (maybe I don't use it enough).

jclos 10y ago

I don't know if it's bad form to do feature requests on HN but having gone through a lot of these note clients (see list [here](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13642527) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13642527)) the three-ish features that I'd like to see on a note client that can, but does not have to, sync to the cloud and that I couldn't seem to find in a single one are: * Support for LaTeX math notation (like Zim-Wiki) * Support for code (like Quiver) * a good, clean UI if possible with a dark mode so that I can stare at it for long periods of time

mobitar 10y ago
Standard Notes has support for code, can theoretically support a LaTeX editor, and has a clean UI (but no dark mode yet). See extensions: https://standardnotes.org/extensions https://standardnotes.org/extensions
endisukaj 10y ago
Have you ever tried [org-mode][1]? It's an emacs major mode for taking notes, making to-do lists, building websites, having an agenda, etc... It's quite powerful since it's basically a markup language. It can be exported to multiple formats (including latex) and supports writing code and even executing it inside the same file with [babel][2]. Everything's saved as a plain text file so you can sync them across different devices with Dropbox, Drive or even git (which I use). [^1](http://orgmode.org/ http://orgmode.org/) [^2](http://orgmode.org/worg/org-contrib/babel/ http://orgmode.org/worg/org-contrib/babel/)
- jclos 10y ago
  I've tried emacs a long time ago but could never get it to stick. With everybody advising me to switch to org-mode I might have to give it another try.