I used to use OneNote with the Microsoft Pen (or is it Stylus? I forget...) to take notes in this fashion. Eventually, though, there are only a few cases, like large diagrams that you need to evolve over time, where a digital solution beats a paper notebook. The need to start and unlock the computer/tablet if it's not already on, to dismiss or ignore notifications, to launch the app, to select the right color or tool and the occasional glitch when writing (pen sometimes not writing, or suddenly jumping to a completely different place, even deleting old lines when drawing new ones, I feel like I've seen it all) add up to more friction than a paper notebook.<p>My notebook, which I use like a Bullet Journal, has no batteries that need recharging, no screen that can crack, no notifications, the pen has an ink capacity of over 2 years of daily writing, with a new recharge costing ~6€, no software updates.<p>There's no search, and occasionally I do flip through the pages longer than I'd like, but it's rare.<p>Nowadays I mostly write in my paper notebook, and if there's something in there worth keeping, I upload a photograph of it in Notion.
I dont use this for general notetaking or anything, but Xournal++ is excellent for editing PDFs. I mean its not exactly a PDF editor but you can use it to add stuff to your PDF like textboxes, drawings, images, etc.
Pretty cool. But all these different note taking software suffer from the same thing: it’s not so much about the actual taking of notes that’s the problem, but organizing all the notes when one needs it.<p>I’m reading a book called “How to Take Smart Notes” which espouses the Zettelkatsen method, and I spent all weekend going down the EMacs + Org-roam rabbit hole to implement what the book espouses. However, it became too complex, and became too burdensome.<p>The real user pain point here is “it’s difficult to remember what I write down,” and “associating thoughts, and notes from disparate sources is too time consuming.” No software has solved these two pain points, I’m afraid.
Alternative with a modern interface: Rnote (<a href="https://github.com/flxzt/rnote" rel="nofollow">https://github.com/flxzt/rnote</a>)
While some sections are TODO, the docs help getting an idea about it without having to install first, which I do like.<p>I wonder though, what if I don't have a pen? I imagine using it with keyboard for typing, and making some drawings/sketches etc. with mouse. Is that a first-class workflow?<p>Also, plugins written in Lua, I like that. Whether one is a fan of Lua or not, at least it is an low-entry bar to writing plugins, which generally is nice.<p>One more question, since the "Config"-part of the docs are very todo - is there some kind of dark mode? All screenshots are light mode, so I wouldn't take that for granted.<p>Mostly I am curious about the audio-record feature, I can imagine well, writing a brief summary and just talk a few additional remarks into my headset instead of typing that down.
I've used this a lot with a Walcom trackpad, mostly for teaching under lockdowns.<p>Note that this is a rewrite of Xournal (a GTK application), and there are still some things Xournal get better, but many things xournalpp do better.<p>It's worth it to try both.
Another user report:<p>I'm a lecturer and used Xournal extensively during COVID to write on slides while lecturing. I had a Wacom on my desk, and switching from slides to handwriting was completely seamless. I think it made the lectures much more engaging. So thanks to the Xournal team!<p>I used the older Xournal, since - if I recall correctly - the rewrite is missing full-screen support.
When I looked at toolbar, I was reminded of GIMP, the UI of which is such a nightmare that I would not use it even if someone pays me to do so. It's just TOO crowded. And the contrast is terrible in the dark mode.<p>Please, launch OneNote or any popular note-taking app on iPad, and just copy whatever they are doing. It's going to be much cleaner and more accessible.
Otherwise known as "That app I can use on Linux to fill PDF forms with, but isn't a PDF editor".<p>Very useful.<p>I would really like it if it had better snapping to lines/boundaries on the underlying PDF.
I haven't seen this before and am frankly delighted that it isn't an electron app. It looks fantastic and I'll be giving it a try today.
I've never used it for note taking.. but it's my go-to tool for annotating PDFs.<p>Mostly when I have to fill out a stupid form and sign it.<p>I've been doing this with xournal for years :)
I had been using Xournal++ for several months, and it was amazing. The only problem is that it cannot select and copy texts from the PDF, but this is scheduled in the next release. Looking forward to it.<p>For hardware, I'm using Wacom 672. It has pretty good Linux drivers.
I'm using Xournal++ regularly on a Thinkpad X390 with one of the better Wacom stylus, mostly for note-taking and sketching of diagrams. Functionality is totally great and smooth, though I'd wish the user interface be more minimal without loosing features.
I use rarely Xournal, but not for notes, just to compile pdfs someone have made without form, demand a signature (handwritten) in etc. Since adding text or images on a pdf is hyper-fast.<p>Not tried other use, nor I have not much idea of the differences with this fork...
I hope this fixes something that ended up being a huge pet peeve of mine when trying to use the original versions of xournal: It would autosave on the main thread so the program would just abruptly freeze sometimes.
I use Xournal regularly for solving puzzles -- what's the motivation for the rewrite / fork? Why use the name? I tried looking on the website but didn't see any obvious answer
I bought a Supernote A5X last year, which is a fantastic e-ink tablet with a stylus. The company behind is very actively developing and enhancing the Supernote's (Android-based) OS and software and people (including myself) love them for it (see /r/supernote). However, I really wish their note file format was also supported by desktop software like Xournal++. Basically, I'm hoping that one day we'll have a standard file format for hand-written notes but of course I'm aware of the usual XKCD…