Show HN: NotesHub: cross-platform, Markdown-based note-taking app

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

A new cross‑platform Markdown note‑taking app, NotesHub, is drawing interest for its extensive feature set, offline‑first design, Git‑based sync, and low one‑time pricing across iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, and the web. Commenters compare it heavily to incumbents like Obsidian, Apple Notes, Joplin, and others, weighing trade‑offs in openness, plugin ecosystems, storage location, and long‑term portability of notes. Enthusiasm is tempered by concerns over its closed source nature, limited Linux support, lack of end‑to‑end encryption and self‑hosting, and the broader fatigue with yet another Markdown‑centric editor versus richer WYSIWYG approaches.

Markdown vs. Rich Text and Data Longevity

  • Some are fatigued by “yet another Markdown editor” and want true WYSIWYG rich-text with Markdown stored only behind the scenes.
  • Others see Markdown as essential because notes should outlive any single app; plain-text files make migration and multi-app use easy.
  • Concerns raised that Markdown isn’t well standardized; every app has its own dialect and feature set.
  • Several users praise hybrid approaches (WYSIWYG + Markdown view) in apps like Joplin, Obsidian, Bear, etc.

Platform, Filesystem, and iOS

  • Debate over whether iOS “has a filesystem.”
    • Some say iOS’s Files app and provider system now act like a real filesystem, including network shares and third‑party file providers.
    • Others still see it as constrained versus traditional desktop filesystems.
  • Desire for Linux support appears repeatedly; web/PWA is appreciated but seen by some as weaker than a native app.

Comparison with Other Note Apps

  • Obsidian is the main comparison point:
    • NotesHub praised for low one‑time price, app‑store availability, Git sync, and web version.
    • Obsidian favored for plugins, powerful search (with plugins), and ecosystem; its sync and Git integrations have mixed reviews.
    • Licensing differences matter: Obsidian is free for personal use but commercial use requires payment; NotesHub’s free tier reportedly allows work notes.
  • Other comparisons: Apple Notes (great UX but Apple‑only, flaky for some), Joplin, Zettlr (FOSS), iA Writer, Note‑taking via VS Code/Neovim, etc.
  • Some worry about closed‑source lock‑in; others argue Markdown storage mitigates this risk.

Architecture & Cross-Platform Tech

  • Windows app uses Electron but is reported to be relatively light; macOS app is non‑Electron.
  • Mobile apps are hybrid (webview-based) using a React web app without frameworks like Flutter/Capacitor; some dispute calling this “native.”
  • Web version is a PWA with offline capabilities and is positioned as the Linux solution.
  • Marketing copy is critiqued for heavy use of passive voice.

Sync, GitHub, and Privacy/Self-Hosting

  • Git integration is a major draw; users like editing notes in a Git repo and committing from the app.
  • Some are uneasy that the GitHub OAuth flow requests broad permissions; fine‑grained PAT + “generic Git” provider is suggested but reportedly doesn’t always work (unclear if user error or bug).
  • Support for self-hosted GitLab via generic Git is mentioned; full self-hosting of the app is not available.
  • Requests for end‑to‑end encryption and self‑hosted versions are common.

Features, Missing Pieces, and UX Requests

  • Users appreciate Kanban, LaTeX, music notation, Mermaid diagrams, whiteboarding, and Git-backed notebooks.
  • Requests include:
    • Browser clipping/extension (like Evernote/Notion/Joplin).
    • Plugin system (seen as a key Obsidian advantage).
    • Better drawing tools (pen types, zoom behavior), mind‑mapping, themes, HTML export, and custom CSS.
    • LFS support and stronger image/file handling.
  • Overall sentiment: app is impressively polished and featureful for a solo dev, but some hesitate due to closed source, lack of plugins, limited Linux story, and missing crypto/self-hosting.