###Update###

I tried a bit of Notesnook. While it wasnt bad it didnt quite fit the expectation that obsidian created for me for what I want. Maybe it was user error but I honestly can’t say what specific aspect bothered me.
For now I decided to stay with what I have experience witg and bought a year of Obsidian-sync for 1 Remote-Vault

Thanks to everyone that suggested me solutions to my really specific problem. I appreciate that and I love(d) the discouse I seemingly sparked in this post.
Please continue commenting. Maybe someone else still hasnt found their solution yet :)

Original Post:

Hello fellow lemmy users, for the lack of a better fitting community I hope my request for help fits here the best.

I am a bit of a scatter-brain, have some notes in Google Keep, OneNote, Obsidian and in GitHub or other places. This is partially multiplied by splitting my work stuff with my home stuff.

What I like about every app I use so far

  • OneNote: I like the way I can write on something like a canvas. Very useful if the note does fit the general theme of the page but not at the exact position. Also helps by utilizing the big space of a horizontal monitor. Also it now sports a very good mobile editor.
  • Obsidian: So easy to backlink between notes and I love the graph view. I also like the extension “code styler” which lets me format inline code blocks with syntax highlighting (e.g.: `{powershell icon} Get-ChildItem -Path C:\Path\To\Folder -Filter XYZ*`).
    I like to learn scripting but I also use obsidian for RL-stuff and technical non-code like keeping track of configs, settings, wishlists etc.
  • Google Keep: I bastardize the check-box feature to keep track of (online) shop orders. Mostly the only reason is that checked items get hidden in a collapsed section

    Any other program that let’s me to that (even with plugin/extension) is a valid replacement candidate

What I dislike:

  • OneNote:
    • Quite difficult to link between notes (unsupported on mobile)
    • Limited to 1 folder deep notes. Currently work around that by using the horizontal space or multi notes.
    • A bit clunky to edit bigger notes
    • By microsoft.
  • Obsidian:
    • No native way to have everything on a server outside of using the obsidian-sync service for $4 or the community plugin which requires me to use some novel type of db called couch-db (ugh, another service to keep updated/troubleshoot). I can stomach the $4 but am limited to only one vault which I don’t really like.
  • Google Keep:
    • Google
    • No real way to have everything backed up. Only use it for quick notes or for my shipment list. Everything else is probably exported to Obsidian/OneNote if I feel like doing house-keeping.

How I currently manage/store my files:

  • Right now I use
  • OneNote which is stored on OneDrive (I like how Outlook (classic) works and I got 1TB of cloud storage),
  • Obsidian which syncs with the plugin “remotely sync” to my OneDrive folder.
  • Google Keep: Dunno. Probably some account storage on google

What I want:

  • A primarily server-side setup or with a native sync feature that works like on OneNote: The true source is my server or the cloud, the client only streams/caches the data locally. I have no problem with individual markdown files.
    I just dislike the general need to sync them manually with external tools like syncthing.
    I already have a good backup solution on my main server and secondary server (For the curious: Veeam backup and replication that backs my proxmox VMs). No need to manage another set of backups. Another reason I want everything in one spot as I already have everything scattered.
  • A tree view of my notes like obsidian and OneNote does. Plus point if the app can even do sections like OneNote does.
  • (Optional) A way change-log of the edits done. Some apps do it by implementing git or have a very rudimentary way to manage that
  • Mobile/desktop companian app: PWA is okay but I would probably miss out on the caching feature. I would prefer an actual (android) app on my phone. Same for Windows.

What I found so far but have issues so far:

  • silverbullet: Server-side but seems to miss the side bar with the tree view (which can probably be added by another extension). Seems like the best candidate so far
  • Joplin: Seems alright to use but I can’t use callouts which (to me) is mandatory to use with coding/scripting tasks.
  • Obsidian: Fits best of all I found but I dislike the $4. But still miles better as the former option which was (i believe) $15 monthly
  • BookStack: I bit limited how it manages the change-log. Seems okay
  • Outline: No way to sync it without paying beyond manual sync. Didnt try it out much but I like how it looks.
  • Logseq: Same issues as with obsidian: Paid sync. Didnt look much beyond
  • Joplin: Sufficient but no callouts :(
  • Trilium Notes: Maintenance mode. Not a deal-breaker but I don’t want to migrate something that could maybe die :/

Thanks for reading the wall of text and I wish you a good start into the year of 2025. ✌️

    • aesEnglish
      0•4 months ago

      This.

      Also, one of the machines is running the git plugin, so things get saved in my Forgejo as well. I guess I could set it up so they save to hit, but in different branches. 🤔

    • @Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.comOPEnglish
      2•4 months ago

      I think your post was even the one suggested during my post creation. Skimming through your linked posts it seems like joplin and obsidian is used often but I have yet to read about software like notesnook which looked promising.

  • @starshipwinepineapple@programming.devEnglish
    4•4 months ago

    So you dislike external sync options but also don’t want to pay for internal sync options? Additionally you are in a self hosted community so you’re looking for a presumably open source project (some you listed are not), and given internally supported sync services would be one way fund development i think this narrows what your are looking for by quite a bit. You basically would be looking for an open source project that meets all your other criteria and happens to let you sync the files to your own server for free. Why would such a project not just let you take things into your own hands with whatever flavor of sync/backup you prefer? Otherwise if they’re building a sync system it would probably be a monetized cloud service which brings us back to the beginning.

    Maybe such a thing exists, but I haven’t seen such a thing since that is extra development for little to no gain. Most people are happy to either pay for the cloud service to fund development or sync on their own.

    Logseq: Same issues as with obsidian: Paid sync. Didnt look much beyond

    Logseq is open source. Obsidian is not. So yes, both have paid sync but you can also just sync or backup the files on your own. Just be careful of sync services that sync while files/db are in use to avoid conflicts.

    • @Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.comOPEnglish
      2•4 months ago

      Maybe it’s just how I conveyed the idea.
      Basically something like obsidian (or any other KB solution with markdown) but it can also support self-hosted sync-servers preferably natively.
      Obsidian has it to some degree with a community plugin (totally valid. I just dislike having to use an external DB rather than bare files).
      The alternative is using a separate app/program like syncthing but then I’d have to keep both open and one continuously open. My preference would be an all-in-one edit and sync. This way the program would also be aware of the content sync and could close in the background once synced

      • @Stitch0815@feddit.orgEnglish
        1•4 months ago

        I love logseq and was quite annoyed with the syncing as well, however I have now figured it out. I use nextcloud and the nextcloud sync client for all my PCs and laptops and folder sync on my phone since logseq does not accept the virtual environement of nextcloud on android. With this setup I love it. Same as the guy before: Be carefull not to edit to files at the same time otherwise you are golden.

  • @GoMati@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3•4 months ago

    Tried couple of them but still came back to Obsidian with remotely-save (for me it’s S3 but doesn’t matter) for last 2 years. The sheer simplicity plus the fact that I don’t have to synchronize every second (it’s only my notes, no collaboration) beats every other solution.

    If you’d like an alternative, see Trillium Next (community driven fork) but despite the fact that it’s great it doesn’t beat my current setup (yet 😉)

    Affine is good too, but it is a bit more complicated with the benefit of more features.

  • @TCB13@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1•4 months ago

    Joplin: Sufficient but no callouts :(

    Can you give an example of those “callouts”? Joplin has many plugins, many you can find that in there.

    My only complaint about Joplin is that there’s no production / real WebUI for it yet.

  • @Father_Redbeard@lemmy.mlEnglish
    1•4 months ago

    Honestly it seems like Obsidian is the one matching most of your criteria. $4/mo isn’t bad for a bullet proof sync solution with version history, imo. I also have my vault backed up on each client locally for extra protection.

    I’d love to suggest Logseq because FOSS, but man does the android app suck.

    That said, I find Obsidian really lacks in the simple to-do/checklist function. So I use Quillpad synced to my Nextcloud server for Google Keep-like functionality. Everything else goes into Obsidian.

    • @Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.comOPEnglish
      1•4 months ago

      Am I blind or is it mobile only? Would probably create issues if I use 3rd party plugin features in other apps if I don’t stay markdown-only Also it seems like I have to manually sync the file?

  • ᗪᗩᗰᑎEnglish
    3•4 months ago

    Checkout Notesnook. I’ve tried most of the ones you’ve listed and have been really enjoying how well it works compared to the competition considering its end-to-end encrypted.

    A few features:

    • Clients and server are open source.
    • End-to-end encrypted note syncing.
    • You can publish public notes.
    • You can publish privates notes that require a password to view.
    • You can self-host the sync server.
    • You can self-host the publishing server.
    • Full offline mode.
    • At rest encryption.
    • Multi-platform clients with feature parity (Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, MacOS, Web).
    • Most if not all of the general features you’d expect from a notes taking application.

    One thing I really like about the project is how open they are about what they’re doing, why they’re doing it and what the future holds. It’s been great seeing their roadmap (https://notesnook.com/roadmap/) and seeing promised features land with new ones being added, and I’ve only been using it for less than a year now!

  • @alphabethunter@lemmy.worldEnglish
    11•4 months ago

    I just use Obsidian + Syncthing + MEGA. My obsidian folders are on my mega synced folder on my pc, and they are set up to use syncthing to push updates to all my other devices (2 phones and a tablet), but you can have as many devices as you want. It’s all free as well, and the cloud service can be any that you like.

  • Guenther_Amanita 🍄English
    8•4 months ago

    I can still recommend you Logseq and Obsidian.

    They store their database mostly as plain markdown, so you can just use your sync app of choice (Nextcloud, Syncthing, etc.) to sync everything between devices.

    Maybe Logseq offers their sync as self hostable service too, I don’t know.

    I find Logseq extremely awesome and would recommend it to you.

    • SayCyberOnceMoreEnglish
      3•4 months ago

      +1 for logseq & syncthing. I use it across Windows, Linux and Android to my NAS.

      synthing has versioning so I don’t lose edits - kinda like OneNote

  • snrklEnglish
    4•4 months ago

    I hear you on the obsidian vault costs, but for what it saves me in hassle I ended up going the full license, with 10 vaults… I have one for home, one for work, one for testing obsidian plugins/new tricks, and my also kid uses one for school…

    So far, bulletproof, and individual crypto keys for vaults means separation between church/state/school is maintained…

    The sync handles simultaneous editing on phone/laptop so that’s golden.

    I alsu use nebo for handwritten notes on my android tablet, and export text to my daily note. (Just wish it exported MD properly! 🫤)

    • @Father_Redbeard@lemmy.mlEnglish
      1•4 months ago

      I have used Nebo as well and instead of exporting I did a select all, copy and paste. Not very elegant but it did work to sort of “convert” to markdown.

      • snrklEnglish
        2•4 months ago

        If you want to push them for Obsidian support, take 5 mins and put that into their user survey…

        https://ux.myscript.com/

        I just put it into all the “what apps do you use for” sections that were appropriate, and I think there was also a free text section where I put “better MD export support” into, from memory…

  • @hertg@infosec.pubEnglish
    0•4 months ago

    I use Obsidian and pay for Sync. You are not limited to one vault, I have multiple vaults synced, don’t know where you got that information?

    Can recommend doing this, vault is E2E encrypted and the people behind Obsidian seem decent. They are very much opposed to taking VC money and the growth at all cost mindset. See the blog of their CEO to get a vibe check: https://stephango.com/