7 ms·

The local first approach is the primary reason I use Obsidian. I trust that I can _depend_ on Obsidian because of this. On the other hand, this has also caused

The local first approach is the primary reason I use Obsidian. I trust that I can _depend_ on Obsidian because of this. On the other hand, this has also caused some headaches around using it on mobile.. but so far this has been a worthwhile tradeoff. Thanks for all the hard work!

reneberlin 4y ago
Syncthing comes to my mind for that specific need. https://syncthing.net/ https://syncthing.net/
- Macha 4y ago
  Syncthing on mobile is a little clunky because of OS limitations on background processes. Basically the reason I pay for Obsidian's own sync addon
  - rg111 4y ago
    You can always use Mega sync. And it has 15 GB free forever, just like Google Drive. Mega sync has native clients in MacOS, Linux, Windows, iOS, Android.
    - Macha 4y ago
      Does it not ultimately have the same problem? i.e. when you open obsidian, there's no guarantee the files are up to date as Android may have killed the third party sync program. And on iOS, there's no way for the sync program and obsidian to share the same filesystem short of the obsidian devs explicitly integrating
      - jonas-w 4y ago
        Android does have Content Providers [0], basically apps can provide a "filesystem" which isn't locally stored on your phone and act like Network Shares. Caveat is that you need an internet connection. [0] https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/providers/content-providers https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/providers/content...
      - rg111 4y ago
        Good question, because it is indeed the default behavior. But you can always tweak settings to run the 3rd party sync app always in the baclground, and override the battery optimization setting for that particular app.
  - TheCapeGreek 4y ago
    I've turned on the settings to keep the service on in the background and start on system startup, no sync issues for me.
- nine_k 4y ago
  Syncing bytes is easy, many solutions exist (and syncthing / syncthing-fork is good at it). Syncing by merging changes and resolving possible conflicts is a much harder task. Theoretically git has all the right bits, including the pluggable diffing and merging. In practice, I haven't seen it seriously used in this capacity. This is to say nothing about files you only want on one node but not on another (heavy stuff lives on server and laptop, but not mobile, etc.) This is why special-case syncing tools that know how to sync semantically are indispensable.
  - jnk345u8dfg9hjk 4y ago
    > In practice, I haven't seen it seriously used in this capacity. What do you mean? What is preventing you from using git to sync your notes?
    - qbasic_forever 4y ago
      Most apps aren't built to use it, especially on mobile. Think of the use case of your grocery list--you want one tap, open the list, type type type, and done. Anything else--having to tap save, sync, write a commit message, etc... anything, is a fail in my opinion. Git is great to use behind the scenes but I don't want to see it in the UI or slow down my workflow.
      - digdugdirk 4y ago
        Why the need for another step? Just have it auto save/commit/merge/push in the background once you finish typing.
        nine_k 4y ago
        Indeed, this can be done, but usually isn't. And when it is done, it looks like another proprietary syncing protocol. The thing is that you should not expect a user to explicitly host a git repo somewhere to for a grocery list app. Most apps are designed for users who are unwilling to do that, and are actually ready to pay to avoid whatever technical hurdles. OTOH I see a niche for an app geared towards more technical users, chich would, among other things, allow you to point at a git / hg / whatever repo to use as the synchronization point.
- vageli 4y ago
  I use syncthing together with wireguard to keep my vaults synced across devices.
- 1MachineElf 4y ago
  Syncthing works well on Android for photos, music, movies, and downloads. Not so much for notes. You'll end up with conflicts, and there aren't many great ways to merge changes on mobile.
LordDragonfang 4y ago
Some options for syncing on mobile: Obsidian sells a first party syncing solution, which I hear works well: https://obsidian.md/sync https://obsidian.md/sync I do git syncing on Android via termux (It works most of the time, except when git decides to shit itself every now and then on my tablet): https://forum.obsidian.md/t/guide-using-git-to-sync-your-obsidian-vault-on-android-devices/41887 https://forum.obsidian.md/t/guide-using-git-to-sync-your-obs... I can't vouch for it because I don't have any iOS devices new enough to support it, but supposedly you can use Working Copy to sync via git on iOS: https://forum.obsidian.md/t/mobile-setting-up-ios-git-based-syncing-with-mobile-app-using-working-copy/16499 https://forum.obsidian.md/t/mobile-setting-up-ios-git-based-...
- blensor 4y ago
  I went for the paid syncing because I want it to "just work" while still having the futureproof way of storing the data locally in an accessible way. So far it has worked absolutely flawless. If I change a file it's changing on my connected device in seconds. Not exactly like working on a shared google doc but close enough that I would even use it as a hack to quickly share links between my mobile and my desktop
- kevingyori 4y ago
  I’m using Working Copy on iOS with the setup described in the post. It’s working like a charm for me
redrobein 4y ago
It depends on your workflow. I use git to sync my obsidian vault. There's plugins to automate this, but doing it manually isn't that bad either. I use mobile mostly to read notes, and occasionally I'll write down a short line or two which I can sync over and edit and organize on desktop.
bachmeier 4y ago
Obsidian Sync is by no means cheap, but I've never used a better syncing service. I'm on my second year and can't think of a single issue I've had across laptops, desktops, an Android phone, and a Chromebook.
- xmprt 4y ago
  I love Obsidian Sync as well but to be devil's advocate, it doesn't "just work" as a lot of people claim. It's still a bit rough around the edges. For example, it doesn't sync settings or starred files immediately. I've also noticed it dropping some text if I edit the same file on multiple devices simultaneously (or even in quick succession before sync is able to catch up). I'm sure these issues and more would exist with a 3rd party syncing solution but Obsidian sync still needs some work before it's perfect.
  - bachmeier 4y ago
    > I've also noticed it dropping some text if I edit the same file on multiple devices simultaneously I don't think that's the intended use case of Sync or anything they've ever said it could be used for.
    - xmprt 4y ago
      When I say simultaneously I mean typing something on a file on my laptop and then putting that away and making more change on my phone a few seconds later (sometimes the gap is even longer than that). Sync is pretty slow especially since it doesn't sync in the background.
- runjake 4y ago
  I can think of a number of other notes syncing that's better -- probably even Evernote's. As a happily paying Obsidian Sync customer, I'll drop some reality, so new people aren't caught off-guard. - Obsidian Sync is pretty slow. - Obsidian Sync doesn't happen in the background, at present. That means, if you just made a bunch of updates in Obsidian, or you haven't opened the Obsidian mobile app in a while, you're in for a wait. - Obsidian Sync occasionally has sync errors that involve manual interaction. That said, it's fine and the overall Obsidian experience makes it worth it (well, if you can swing a discounted price).
hyperific 4y ago
I just use DropSync and put all my Vaults in one synced Dropbox folder (to get around DropSync's folder limit). Works like a charm.
gocartStatue 4y ago
I use it with Working Copy git client, nice and properly nerdy setup. There are nice ready-made guides for this combo.
gavi 4y ago
I use iCloud Drive as a vault location. The trick is to create it first on the Mobile app and then use the desktop app later to point to that vault. If you are transferring from desktop to mobile, make sure the .obsidian folder inside the vault is copied also
klabb3 4y ago
So simple, they combine the best of all eras: local first, open, published formats and pluggable/byo multi-device sync/backup – Cloud if you wish, but not required. It gives me hope for the future, I wish more software these days followed this model. Caveat: not an obsidian user (although I am a big step closer after this)

reneberlin 4y ago

Syncthing comes to my mind for that specific need. https://syncthing.net/ https://syncthing.net/

Macha 4y ago
Syncthing on mobile is a little clunky because of OS limitations on background processes. Basically the reason I pay for Obsidian's own sync addon
- rg111 4y ago
  You can always use Mega sync. And it has 15 GB free forever, just like Google Drive. Mega sync has native clients in MacOS, Linux, Windows, iOS, Android.
  - Macha 4y ago
    Does it not ultimately have the same problem? i.e. when you open obsidian, there's no guarantee the files are up to date as Android may have killed the third party sync program. And on iOS, there's no way for the sync program and obsidian to share the same filesystem short of the obsidian devs explicitly integrating
    - jonas-w 4y ago
      Android does have Content Providers [0], basically apps can provide a "filesystem" which isn't locally stored on your phone and act like Network Shares. Caveat is that you need an internet connection. [0] https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/providers/content-providers https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/providers/content...
    - rg111 4y ago
      Good question, because it is indeed the default behavior. But you can always tweak settings to run the 3rd party sync app always in the baclground, and override the battery optimization setting for that particular app.
- TheCapeGreek 4y ago
  I've turned on the settings to keep the service on in the background and start on system startup, no sync issues for me.
nine_k 4y ago
Syncing bytes is easy, many solutions exist (and syncthing / syncthing-fork is good at it). Syncing by merging changes and resolving possible conflicts is a much harder task. Theoretically git has all the right bits, including the pluggable diffing and merging. In practice, I haven't seen it seriously used in this capacity. This is to say nothing about files you only want on one node but not on another (heavy stuff lives on server and laptop, but not mobile, etc.) This is why special-case syncing tools that know how to sync semantically are indispensable.
- jnk345u8dfg9hjk 4y ago
  > In practice, I haven't seen it seriously used in this capacity. What do you mean? What is preventing you from using git to sync your notes?
  - qbasic_forever 4y ago
    Most apps aren't built to use it, especially on mobile. Think of the use case of your grocery list--you want one tap, open the list, type type type, and done. Anything else--having to tap save, sync, write a commit message, etc... anything, is a fail in my opinion. Git is great to use behind the scenes but I don't want to see it in the UI or slow down my workflow.
    - digdugdirk 4y ago
      Why the need for another step? Just have it auto save/commit/merge/push in the background once you finish typing.
      - nine_k 4y ago
        Indeed, this can be done, but usually isn't. And when it is done, it looks like another proprietary syncing protocol. The thing is that you should not expect a user to explicitly host a git repo somewhere to for a grocery list app. Most apps are designed for users who are unwilling to do that, and are actually ready to pay to avoid whatever technical hurdles. OTOH I see a niche for an app geared towards more technical users, chich would, among other things, allow you to point at a git / hg / whatever repo to use as the synchronization point.
vageli 4y ago
I use syncthing together with wireguard to keep my vaults synced across devices.
1MachineElf 4y ago
Syncthing works well on Android for photos, music, movies, and downloads. Not so much for notes. You'll end up with conflicts, and there aren't many great ways to merge changes on mobile.

LordDragonfang 4y ago

Some options for syncing on mobile: Obsidian sells a first party syncing solution, which I hear works well: https://obsidian.md/sync https://obsidian.md/sync I do git syncing on Android via termux (It works most of the time, except when git decides to shit itself every now and then on my tablet): https://forum.obsidian.md/t/guide-using-git-to-sync-your-obsidian-vault-on-android-devices/41887 https://forum.obsidian.md/t/guide-using-git-to-sync-your-obs... I can't vouch for it because I don't have any iOS devices new enough to support it, but supposedly you can use Working Copy to sync via git on iOS: https://forum.obsidian.md/t/mobile-setting-up-ios-git-based-syncing-with-mobile-app-using-working-copy/16499 https://forum.obsidian.md/t/mobile-setting-up-ios-git-based-...

blensor 4y ago
I went for the paid syncing because I want it to "just work" while still having the futureproof way of storing the data locally in an accessible way. So far it has worked absolutely flawless. If I change a file it's changing on my connected device in seconds. Not exactly like working on a shared google doc but close enough that I would even use it as a hack to quickly share links between my mobile and my desktop
kevingyori 4y ago
I’m using Working Copy on iOS with the setup described in the post. It’s working like a charm for me

redrobein 4y ago

It depends on your workflow. I use git to sync my obsidian vault. There's plugins to automate this, but doing it manually isn't that bad either. I use mobile mostly to read notes, and occasionally I'll write down a short line or two which I can sync over and edit and organize on desktop.

bachmeier 4y ago

Obsidian Sync is by no means cheap, but I've never used a better syncing service. I'm on my second year and can't think of a single issue I've had across laptops, desktops, an Android phone, and a Chromebook.

xmprt 4y ago
I love Obsidian Sync as well but to be devil's advocate, it doesn't "just work" as a lot of people claim. It's still a bit rough around the edges. For example, it doesn't sync settings or starred files immediately. I've also noticed it dropping some text if I edit the same file on multiple devices simultaneously (or even in quick succession before sync is able to catch up). I'm sure these issues and more would exist with a 3rd party syncing solution but Obsidian sync still needs some work before it's perfect.
- bachmeier 4y ago
  > I've also noticed it dropping some text if I edit the same file on multiple devices simultaneously I don't think that's the intended use case of Sync or anything they've ever said it could be used for.
  - xmprt 4y ago
    When I say simultaneously I mean typing something on a file on my laptop and then putting that away and making more change on my phone a few seconds later (sometimes the gap is even longer than that). Sync is pretty slow especially since it doesn't sync in the background.
runjake 4y ago
I can think of a number of other notes syncing that's better -- probably even Evernote's. As a happily paying Obsidian Sync customer, I'll drop some reality, so new people aren't caught off-guard. - Obsidian Sync is pretty slow. - Obsidian Sync doesn't happen in the background, at present. That means, if you just made a bunch of updates in Obsidian, or you haven't opened the Obsidian mobile app in a while, you're in for a wait. - Obsidian Sync occasionally has sync errors that involve manual interaction. That said, it's fine and the overall Obsidian experience makes it worth it (well, if you can swing a discounted price).

hyperific 4y ago

I just use DropSync and put all my Vaults in one synced Dropbox folder (to get around DropSync's folder limit). Works like a charm.

gocartStatue 4y ago

I use it with Working Copy git client, nice and properly nerdy setup. There are nice ready-made guides for this combo.

gavi 4y ago

I use iCloud Drive as a vault location. The trick is to create it first on the Mobile app and then use the desktop app later to point to that vault. If you are transferring from desktop to mobile, make sure the .obsidian folder inside the vault is copied also

klabb3 4y ago

So simple, they combine the best of all eras: local first, open, published formats and pluggable/byo multi-device sync/backup – Cloud if you wish, but not required. It gives me hope for the future, I wish more software these days followed this model. Caveat: not an obsidian user (although I am a big step closer after this)