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

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

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.