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So I'm testing #markdown #apps for #Android, looking for something that will allow me to write freely.
So far one of my criteria is not met, and that's a selector that can give a word count. That is, only the word count of the selected text and not the entire document.
I want to be able to write threads in a more constructive way, so if you have a recommendation (preferably from #fdroid) that does what I need, I'd be much obliged.
So far my favorite contender within #Android #Markdown editors is #OpenNote (version 1.5.95, com.yangdai.opennote) because of its simple design and good use of screen real estate.
It's modern #Material #design (if I'm not mistaken) becomes more apparent in the settings screen, which illustrates what the various settings do quite nicely.
It's important to me that the editor doesn't take me out of the writing process. The editor is not WYSIWYG, but I still feel it works.
#OpenNote has some serious backup options, and even security options password protection.
All of the notes are contained inside a database and have to be exported, but this just adds to the effectiveness of the app.
Rather than relying on a flat file system, what you get is faster access to your notes.
That they are periodically backed up is nice. That the synchronization feature is #CalDAV kind of rules, because you have options in your providers.
It doesn't really matter which app you use or what methods you use to #write. What's important is how effectively that tool gets you to write.
If you're at home with a quill and parchment, then so be it. If you prefer the clatter of a typewriter or a #keyboard, have at it. If your thumbs are the fastest guns in the west, shoot your shot. There is no one way.
There was a new form of #book keeping discovered, from an ancient society no less. A form of book keeping written in knots of a rope.
For me, aesthetics is everything. I know some may buy #moleskine #notebooks to feel, hear and smell the graphite being crushed to paper.
But given you have a stylus and a screen, what would you like it to look like? For me, light mode is in my day - and dark mode by night.
But with light mode, I still want a muted, docile kind of background and foreground instead of the blinding, sharp and sterilizing look of white.
Give me an experience as soft as paper, even if it is on a glossy screen.
#QuillPad is a note takers note taker - with #Markdown! This is great if you're a #developer who sponge off your notes to fill personal wikis to get information and discoveries consolidated quickly.
It's also a neat replacement for #GoogleKeep on #Android, as one of it's features is to tie notes with reminders.
#quillpad also comes with #NextCloud integration out of the box - which is great.
Independent infrastructure (away from #AI scrapers) is good - for independent #writers who want to keep their style away from AI scrapers.
Sweet heavens #Quillpad looks good when I make it not only follow system color mode, but it can also follow the system color scheme - which is a fairly new feature of #Android.
Again, if the developers are reading this, I would LOVE a character counter.
You could put one for the entire document at the bottom, in the footer with the date and time.
If the user could then select text and that could be shown somewhere, then this would be the ticket.
It's so far a symbolic runner up.
What can I say about #SimpleMarkdown? It's simply... #markdown. No #editor bar or gestures to make text bold, underline, etc. Readability is obviously not a priority.
It does what it needs to do, and that's letting the user do everything - no guard rails, no organization, just "do it yourself" as a design principle. It could easily be someone's pick for #stock #Android apps.
#Markor is a mainstay for #Android #Markdown editors. It bridges the gap between document writer and note taker by separation of concerns.
As an editor, it has some fairly complex features, like making custom tables to illustrate data.
But it's also old in design and usability. Had to bump up the text size for my own convenience, but still doesn't out compete any of the other editors (like #OpenNote) in that regard.
#PrintNotes is a weird one. It's made in "traditional" #material #design, which is a bit outdated to today's standards.
There aren't any on screen distractions, unlike with Markor - but it's toolset is pragmatic and should get you editing quickly. This is a middle ground between #SimpleMarkdown and #Markor.
So we've widdled down this #app #showdown between #Markdown #editors for #Android.
In the end I'm prioritizing ease of use, design and aesthetics. But you can't ignore what's pragmatic. Between #QuillPad and #OpenNote, I'd want QuillPad - but I need Open Note.
QuillPad has tags, which is a nice to have - but not really all that important to me.
In the end Open Note wins out, because of its info screen that counts words used - but also, the document outline.
For now, I think this is it.
@hopland Have you also tried Joplin? How does it compare with the other options you've listed here?
I'm pretty happy with it, but I'm combining its filesystem sync with Syncthing, and that's not really working very well. Syncs *very* slowly on my tablet.
@bammerlaan as a #markdown #note taker and #editor, #joplinapp seems fine, but with a few caveats.
There are no readily available undo and redo buttons, the image note taking took a long time to save and the first thing I saw when opening a note was a request for location data... that kind of rubs me the wrong way.
But it's got notebooks and it's got tags - and weirdly enough, a plugin system? Like if they redo this app in modern design with optimization, it'll definitely be a contender.
@bammerlaan note though, I'm looking for a markdown editor for writers - that is creative and constructive writing that allows someone to write effectively, creatively and productively.
Certain things that prohibit the flow of thought or the free writing process instantly deducts some points.
But as a note taker, it's aight.
@hopland I forgot to mention it before, but another reason for me to use Joplin is that it works on desktops, too. Is that something you use, too? One Joplin plugin I use allows for making templates, which is pretty convenient. Didn't work on Android last I tried it, though.
@bammerlaan @hopland I use Joplin for several years, mainly on the Desktop.
On my Android device, it is also quite fast.
The Android draw function has an undo Option, but you are right for the Android mobile Text Editor there is an undo feature missing.
In the note history, there you can disable the geographical option, so the app will not ask for.
@tuxfanmatze @bammerlaan you know, when I use my #GNOME laptop - I have a nvim markdown layout with a keyboard shortcuts, but to me #apostrophe is my go to #desktop #app for #markdown.
Anything "distractionless" and I'm there.
I want to be just me and the keyboard. Full-screen that bugger, draw some tea and let the brain bleed. For creative writing it's the bees knees.
@hopland @tuxfanmatze Would it work to synchronize those with android using Syncthing, you think? I think I should start looking for another note solution myself, since the syncing of Joplin just isn't doing what it want.
@bammerlaan @tuxfanmatze with Apostrophe it's largely just md files (or txt files) that you maintain in your own folder hierarchy.
In regards to #QuillPad and #OpenNote, both maintain their files inside a database that you'll have to export from. So you sort of need the app to get at the content it makes.
You could however synchronize OpenNote with NextCloud and QuillPad with FileDAV.
@hopland @tuxfanmatze Maybe using my own folder hierarchy isn't so bad—That's how I've been organising my music collection for years.
Oh, but then, searching for stuff within notes will work less well 
I'll have to give this some more thought
@hopland @bammerlaan Several Android Keyboards have an undo option, google keyboard works well here
@tuxfanmatze @bammerlaan that's nice :) but not what I asked for.
@hopland Have you tried Standard Notes? I can't find a way to show word count, but it is possible to install plugins (also custom plugins with entering a URL). The app is really solid, and it is available on both phones and desktop (including web browser).
@Luuni so, here's the thing. What we're seeing is the Apple Swift UI - or a lookalike - and for me, that's generally a no go because I sort of need app aesthetics to match - for peace of mind.
That aside, having note history is neat for revisionists, and it is fairly clean - takes up most of the screen real estate.
But it harshens my buzz when you have a paywall for sync and rich text, plus the whole #SaaS vibe attached to the user account needed. The preview didn't work for me either.
