If you living in 2 or 3 places, or would like to sync working and home with the same system, sync file would be a possible issue. Additionally, if the operating system also different (Windows, iOS, Linux), that would take some effort to sync all data together. Therefore, I would like to share some of my preparing status and mind setting about file sync. The main goal is to build the operating system that is easy to use and easy to maintain. Hope 10 years after, I can still use this system for the work.
Note: I know this is essential to speed up the research time, but do not waste time on this! Otherwise, I cannot focus on the time!
Requirement
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Easy to build working environment
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Easy to maintain
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Sync files and develop env in both Windows and Linux
Possible solution
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Note-taking software
- Obsidian (IDE for writing the article)
- Dropbox (Sync files)
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Blog system
- Hexo? (Do I have better choices to sync Obsidian and the blog system?)
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Reference system
- Zotero
- Dropbox (option)
Principle: Simpler the better
As all we know, sometimes we may dig into a hole that spending lots of time on preparing the knife but does not actually doing it. Always at the prepare mode. That is a big no. Therefore, leveraging from the simple idea and less effort should be the key to fast focus on the main project/idea. Therefore, taking things with less operation is important.
Note system: Obsidian
To take the personal note, obsidian is a possible great free software right now. It can easily integrate and transform the context into different publicable type like website or even a simple paper! I also like the function that all the markdown file (note) can save locally without any cloud service. However, if we still need a cloud system, Obsidian can still provide the cloud space, or using Obsidian with third party cloud sync function like Google Drive. For me, I personally use Dropbox to sync the information together. I would stick to this method in a short term.
Advantages
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Markdown base
This would be the main idea why I use Obsidian. With the help of the markdown, it is easily to transform to any publicable format for the second usage -
Lots of the add-ons
With a great developer all over the world, Obsidian do have a strong community to support lots of the add-ons. It is similar to the MS Visual Studio and Atoms in the past. However, Obsidian is more focus on the idea collection, organizing and try to only focus on the “output”. -
Free to use
For the student, it is free for everyone to use! If we do not want to waste time for making the sync and website, can just support the development team with under $10 per month! I believe that’s really helpful for the community and the team to service. -
Content and setup are easy to sync between devices and different OS!
For the data in the same vault, it is easy to sync almost everything between the devices. On the other hand, as the vault is set, that will also sync themes, settings, and all the function with different devices together!Drawbacks
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Learning time
need to be familiar with some basic markdown, and the software understanding operating Obsidian with a good shape, that may take some time to learn the tool. Because of my personal background, I do have some understanding in this field, but no need to be deep. This is not a drawback for me but maybe a drawback for others. -
Too many fancy extension
Some people may think having many fancy extensions should be a great advantage, not the drawback, but why I put this as the drawback? I believe that related to the phycology, imaging that we go to the supermarket and do have 2–3 choices for the veges or to the Starbucks to decide the size of the drinks, it is easy to choice one from only limited time. But hold on, if we have hundreds of choices, our brain will stuck their and hard to decide it. That is the case for the Obsidian need to be aware of. Maybe they can have an official suggestions guideline for the beginners to start their journey with different customize settings.
Reference system: Zotero + Dropbox
Strategy for the information collection: leveraging from the Zotero
There’s a limited 300mb for the online storage.
This should be enough for the beginner’s project. Zotero also provides alternative method to store the PDF file. For the wild browsing oriented strategy, we don’t need to use Zotero and save all the PDF file online! Therefore, I should have two ways to save my file. For the large files, like books or the reference that is more important, I’ll directly save to the personal NAS. On the other hand, if I’m just browsing all the information from the internet, Zotero would be my information center.
But, there’s an issue that still cannot be solved: sync between Linux and Windows system. That is a big issue for the file sync. A better solution is that I only spend time doing the related work at the same device instead of the multiple devices. I would like to focus on the writing (that means obsidian should be enough) instead of doing those stuffs.
Summary
This is only my personal understanding in building the writing and reference system for my personal usage, temporary. That does not mean in the future I won’t change this method or change the software. I’ll update how this workflow looks like in the future. Hope I can stick to this workflow for a month at least.