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I like trying out new pieces of software, and saw a new Mac note-taking application promoted on /r/MacApps recently. I thought I would give it a go, as it had many features that appealed to me - here are my thoughts!
What Is It?
Octarine is a MarkDown focused, local file, internal linking, folder based, template using, and Rust and Tauri written, note-taking application currently only available on MacOS. All of this appealed to me for different reasons.
Firstly, since coming across it, I’ve become fully converted to using MarkDown as much as I can in my everyday life. Secondly, I’m quite sensitive about where my notes are and how easily I can access them. I’ve tried applications before, usually self-hosted, I found that my notes are locked away in a database which is complicated to backup and difficult to migrate elsewhere. By having .md files easily accessible in Finder, I can not only simply back them up with SyncThing to other devices, but MarkDown’s .md files can be used in other applications.
Although internal linking is something I’ve been interested in, particularly how it related to digital gardens, it is admittedly something I have yet to use extensively while taking notes - but maybe having the option here might make me try using more? I liked how I had that option, but also how I can just stick to a more traditional way of navigating my notes, by creating folders and assigning my notes accordingly.
Similarly, although templates are not a feature I regularly use, I like how the option is there as it could could be a fast and simple way to input data in a standardised mechanism, and may become very useful in the future.
Lastly, I have noticed how some applications on my Mac do run a bit sluggish, so was really intrigued by how this was not an Electron wrapped application, how much better would it perform?
How Is It?
Features
One of the features I like the most is the “Daily Desk”. While journal features, where a new dated page is created every day, can be found in Obsidian and Logseq, I really liked the simplicity that the calendar on the left sidebar was just solely for these daily entries and not for other notes, as well as how any tasks unfinished from the day before can be carried over to the next day with just one click. As such, I tend to now start my day by opening Octarine, migrating my previous tasks to the new day, and then add or remove throughout the day when tasks or ideas pop into my head, so it’s become a mini to-do list of sorts.
Octarine has the option to create different workspaces, so you can neatly separate notes into various different parts of your life, such as personal, work, a side project or whatever, and it’s pretty quick to switch between them. This is again similar to how Obsidian and Logseq function with vaults and graphs, but I found it a smoother experience the jump between my workspaces.
Additionally, I also like how you can insert code blocks with full syntax support, so I can store all my Docker Compose scripts, and the application is fast at updating files and folders if I have edited them or moved them around in Finder. The button to quickly see Recently Viewed files is handy to have, and although I have yet to properly link my notes together, having the graph as a visual means to view my notes is also quite neat.
Sidebars
In UpNote, I really liked how favourite notes can be pinned for quick access, and Octarine also has this feature, with the left sidebar being organised as such, from top-to-bottom:
- Workspace switcher
- Search
- Notes
- Daily Desk
- Templates
- Graph
- Attachments
- Settings
- A toolbar to organise the file tree below, buttons to create a new file and new folder, a button to refresh the workspace and another to collapse the file tree.
- Pinned notes individually listed
- File tree
The right sidebar has three sections. The first states when the file you’re viewing was created, when it was late updated, its reading time, word count, and then lists both the incoming and outgoing links (including all internal links, creating a sort of bidirectional linking system). The second section acts as a “Table Of Contents” where the headers are listed and can be clicked on to jump to a section within the file. Lastly, there is a Tags section, where all the tags in your Workspace are found, and can again be clicked on to list all files which have a certain tag within them.
If it all sounds a bit much, the right sidebar can be hidden entirely, and the left sidebar can be compressed down to just show the icons. Though I actually want more, and wish the file tree in the left sidebar could be toggled to expand, alongside its current ability to collapse, or better yet a way to select which folder stay expanded while others stay closed until opened.
Feature Requests
Speaking of feature requests, I would love it if I could customise the folder icons to better differentiate between them, if some sort of web clipper could be created to quickly add content to my workspace, and a faster way to add hyperlinks - other MarkDown applications use command + K over highlighted text to add in a URL stored in the clipboard, but this just brings up a command bar with all sorts of options, though none to create a hyperlink.
Other in demand features are on the horizon for the developer, such as applications for Windows, Linux and on mobile devices, theming and syncing.
For syncing, the developer has stated that they do not want to store our files on their server, and so is looking into iCloud and Drive syncs, and there is a BETA feature to use Git Sync with GitHub and GitLab currently supported as means to back-up your files as well as access them elsewhere. However, as I use SyncThing, I wouldn’t have an issue accessing my files outside my Mac as they would be an every device I have the application on. Though as there currently aren’t Linux or Android versions, but use of Octarine is limited to my Mac. However, because the files are just .md they can be at least viewed in other applications, and am currently using Markor on my phone to read and do basic edits. Nonetheless, a fully featured Android application with all the lovely features would be highly appreciated.
Conclusion
Looking forward, the developer has stated that everything we currently have in the application will remain free along with a few more additional features, though hopes to be financially supported through a Pro license which would contain custom theming, integration with other applications and services, automations and publishing. Of those features, custom theming, and hopefully the option to choose whichever font we want (Rosé Pine and Atkinson Hyperlegible please!), appeal to me the most, though would be reluctant to participate in a subscription based system, especially as I would not be using features which would incur ongoing costs.
Overall, I am really enjoying my experience with Octarine. The clean and simple interface is powerful enough to do what I want, without becoming too overwhelming as Obsidian or Logseq can become. I’ve made comparisons to these throughout my post because they all base themselves on a system of having local files, but using a program to enhance how we read and write them. While it is indisputable that Obsidian and Logseq are the more advanced and customisable choices, I’m really quite content with what Octarine is setting out to do because although the application is still in its infancy, and there are many features I would like added, so it may be too underdeveloped for some out there, I am very excited about the progress made so far.
Tags: WeblogPoMo2024 Applications Mac Productivity