Good point, the thing is… if you do have MarkDown files in a flat directory, as suggested here, then your CLI tools become your extensions. That also includes any programming language, e.g. invoking a Python script on said files. Might not sound like much but it’s a LOT.
So… I’d argue maybe not necessarily extensions themselves but the curation of extensions, namely their discoverability because they are all in one neat spot, with comments from users, etc whereas CLI commands are… all over.
That assumes the person using obsidian is a software dev or a sysadmin. Most users aren’t going to want the extra hassle, or they might be unable to do these things.
IMHO note taking systems are precisely about empowerment. The whole point is to learn… so even if they are not a dev or sysadmin, they can try and scaffold their knowledge, initially typing commands they don’t understand, copy/pasting from the Web, then discover they can write their own, add that knowledge to their system, etc. I’d argue for most people that might be at least as valuable as their own content.
You only have to consider the plugin developers. Most of them would have the technical ability to do what you mention, but they prefer to use Obsidian instead. Clearly there’s a reason for that.
How can you tell? I imagine you have stats on how many plugin developers exist and are active but I don’t know how you can know how many people rely on a file system with CLI tools approach.
One of the benefits of Obsidian is that it stores its data in a format where you CAN use cli tools and python etc. That’s one of the reasons I’m using it myself.
utopiah@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Good point, the thing is… if you do have MarkDown files in a flat directory, as suggested here, then your CLI tools become your extensions. That also includes any programming language, e.g. invoking a Python script on said files. Might not sound like much but it’s a LOT.
So… I’d argue maybe not necessarily extensions themselves but the curation of extensions, namely their discoverability because they are all in one neat spot, with comments from users, etc whereas CLI commands are… all over.
thequickben@lemm.ee 2 weeks ago
That assumes the person using obsidian is a software dev or a sysadmin. Most users aren’t going to want the extra hassle, or they might be unable to do these things.
utopiah@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
IMHO note taking systems are precisely about empowerment. The whole point is to learn… so even if they are not a dev or sysadmin, they can try and scaffold their knowledge, initially typing commands they don’t understand, copy/pasting from the Web, then discover they can write their own, add that knowledge to their system, etc. I’d argue for most people that might be at least as valuable as their own content.
asap@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
You only have to consider the plugin developers. Most of them would have the technical ability to do what you mention, but they prefer to use Obsidian instead. Clearly there’s a reason for that.
utopiah@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
How can you tell? I imagine you have stats on how many plugin developers exist and are active but I don’t know how you can know how many people rely on a file system with CLI tools approach.
asap@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
One of the benefits of Obsidian is that it stores its data in a format where you CAN use cli tools and python etc. That’s one of the reasons I’m using it myself.
asap@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
To answer your other question, actively using and maintaining my PIM since 2009.