The argument is valid. While Typora is primarily known as a Markdown editor, upon using it extensively, one can appreciate its capacity to function as a more accessible alternative to Devonthink. By treating folders as databases and limiting the index/documents to Markdown, Typora can serve as a ‘poor-man’s Devonthink.’ This is particularly valuable as Devonthink is exclusive to Mac, limiting accessibility for those using other operating systems. Many individuals face constraints in using or accessing Mac systems. Thus, I posit that Typora offers valuable functionality to assist users in organizing a structure akin to Devonthink’s database.
I want to clarify that I’m not discrediting the merits of Devonthink. Rather, I aim to propose an alternative for situations where access to Devonthink is not available. In an ideal scenario, a robust note-taking and knowledge management system should be accessible from any platform, ensuring flexibility and convenience regardless of the user’s system or location.
In a perfect scenario, we would have Devonthink seamlessly available on Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android, but achieving such universal compatibility is not practical at this moment. Recognizing this limitation, a reasonable tradeoff emerges. By transitioning the knowledge management system to a format based on pure Markdown with links to images and attachments (such as PDFs, DOCX, and Excels), we ensure accessibility from any device and location. This approach facilitates synchronization across devices and harnesses the power of Unix tools, offering a more versatile and widely accessible solution.
It essentially boils down to a tradeoff, serving as a rescue for individuals who wish to manage their knowledge across diverse systems.