My note-taking journey

It has always been my dream to transition fully to a digital lifestyle, driven by the convenience of searchability and practicality. However, achieving this goal proved to be very challenging.
In this article, I would like to share my extensive journey in search of the ideal note-taking method. So, sit back and enjoy this lengthy read!

Back in 2008

Back in 2008, as I embarked on my journey into computer science, I recognized the need to digitize all my class notes. I attempted to consistently transfer my handwritten notes into Word documents. But my efforts didn’t last long. I lacked the patience and discipline required to do so. Plus, using a computer for note-taking was not particularly convenient at that time; I wanted something that was always with me and accessible at any moment.

As a result, I continued to rely on paper for my notes, often misplacing them, restarting my efforts, and losing them again.

2013 : Notepad++

After College, I sought an offline option—not out of a security obsession, but because I was poor and couldn’t afford to pay the internet bill 😅!
I used Notepad++ and the Sticky Notes app for all my work-related notes. I didn’t take personal notes.

2015 : OneNote Mobile App

In 2015, my corporate employer provided me with a Nokia Lumia phone, which came bundled with the OneNote app. This was a fantastic development for me. I now had a tool that allowed me to jot down notes or record voice memos during those rare moments of inspiration. The app’s syncing feature meant that my data was accessible from any web browser whenever I was online. I no longer feared losing my notes, even if my phone were to break or be lost.

2017: Typora

In 2018, I discovered the beta version of Typora, and it quickly became my go-to tool. Its lightweight design and seamless editing experience captivated me. This was my first serious walk into note-taking at work. I used it extensively for my work notes and technical documentation. However, I still had to manage backups manually.

2021: Obsidian

I began using Obsidian in early 2021. Although I was initially skeptical about its visual aspects and certain limitations, I recognized the true potential of Markdown and backlinks.
Obsidian allowed me to create a customized workflow, which was appealing. However, after a few months, I realized that my productivity had suffered. I found myself spending too much time experimenting with different methods and adopting workflows from others, rather than focusing on my writing. Despite trying various systems, including the PARA method, none of them proved sustainable in the long run for me.

2021: Spacemacs

Dissatisfied with Obsidian’s closed-source nature, I began searching for alternatives and stumbled upon Spacemacs, a distribution of Emacs. Emacs resonated with me as a fully customizable, free, and open-source tool, and its org-mode feature was particularly appealing. However, the steep learning curve of Emacs proved to be a significant barrier. At that time, I couldn’t afford to invest the necessary time, and my interest waned.

2021: Logseq

I briefly experimented with Logseq as an open-source alternative but didn’t give it a fair chance initially. The outlining format (bullet points) deterred me, leading me to hesitate in investing more time.

2021: OneNote Again

During a challenging period, OneNote became my closest ally. Its visual appeal and handy features, particularly the voice recording capability, were invaluable. The ability to timestamp voice recordings while typing allowed me to jump directly to specific moments in the recording by clicking on the corresponding text. This feature was a lifesaver, especially when I was tasked with taking extensive meeting notes.

I relied heavily on OneNote for an entire year; at that time, it was the ultimate note-taking tool for me.

2022: Obsidian again

I changed job, and my use of OneNote stopped. My focus shifted to writing more code rather than meeting. I found myself revisiting my old Obsidian notes, trying to make sense of my tags and backlog links.
I tried to establish my workflow but the same issue happened again: I was spending too much time trying different workflow without doing meaningful work.

2023: Logseq again

In February 2023, I decided to give Logseq a fair trial and delve into its features. Initially, I used both Logseq and Obsidian in parallel. Then, after a few weeks, I found myself gravitating more toward Logseq. Its journal-oriented workflow was a significant factor in this switch.

Initially, I was put off by the outlining approach, but over time, I discovered its advantages for note-taking. Compared to my experience with Obsidian, I noticed several benefits:

• My notes became more structured and organized.
• I shifted from writing lengthy notes to capturing only the essentials.
• I’m no longer worried about where to store my notes, as Logseq naturally managed organization.

2024 : Vanilla Emacs

So, why did I return to Emacs, knowing the learning curve would be steep?
It’s because I’ve never delve deeper into Emacs before, just like with Logseq. I don’t know much about the took.
So I asked myself “What if …?”
From there, I started exploring Emacs from scratch, not any pre-configured distributions, trying to not compare it to any other existing tool.
Then, I realized it is actually a true masterpiece! There is simply nothing else like it. It is just that good of a software.
And it is very adaptable to any kind of workflow.
I don’t need any distribution of Emacs at all to do what I need! I can explore and add new features as my needs evolve over time.

So, what about now?

As for now, Logseq is still my primary note-taking tool, accounting for the majority of my time. I find its journal-oriented workflow and outlining format to be highly effective for organizing my thoughts and capturing essential information.
But, if I were to replace Logseq in the future then it will be with Emacs. Emacs because of its adaptability and introspectability. It has the ability to grow and adapt alongside me, providing a future-proof solution for my note-taking needs.
Obsidian and Notepad++ still have their place, but they occupy a smaller portion of my time. Obsidian because it still holds my old notes (I do need check them from time to time). And Notepad++ serves as a lightweight option for quick notes or code snippets at work.

If I were to distribute my time across note-taking apps, I would say I spend:

• 80% on Logseq
• 10% on Emacs
• 5% on Obsidian
• 5% on Notepad++

PS: Other tools like Notion never was an option for me because they rely too much on the internet.