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0 pointsafturner3y ago0 comments

The local first approach is the primary reason I use Obsidian. I trust that I can _depend_ on Obsidian because of this.

On the other hand, this has also caused some headaches around using it on mobile.. but so far this has been a worthwhile tradeoff. Thanks for all the hard work!

0 comments

19 comments · 8 top-level

bachmeier3y ago· 9 in thread

Obsidian Sync is by no means cheap, but I've never used a better syncing service. I'm on my second year and can't think of a single issue I've had across laptops, desktops, an Android phone, and a Chromebook.

runjake3y ago

I can think of a number of other notes syncing that's better -- probably even Evernote's. As a happily paying Obsidian Sync customer, I'll drop some reality, so new people aren't caught off-guard.

- Obsidian Sync is pretty slow.

- Obsidian Sync doesn't happen in the background, at present. That means, if you just made a bunch of updates in Obsidian, or you haven't opened the Obsidian mobile app in a while, you're in for a wait.

- Obsidian Sync occasionally has sync errors that involve manual interaction.

That said, it's fine and the overall Obsidian experience makes it worth it (well, if you can swing a discounted price).

AB19083y ago

What's faster than Obs sync? Genuinely curious since I thought I tried most of the options out there apart from syncthing.

D13Fd3y ago

I use Microsoft Word’s multi-editing feature at work. The sync is essentially real-time (setting aside other opinions in Microsoft Office). You can see every change that your co-editors make as they make it. You can work on one file on two different devices at the same time. That is the kind of sync that I’d like.

More realistically, I used to use a custom sync setup with a WebDAV server I set up and Goodsync software. You can set it to sync in file change, and it was fast, with changes replicating in a few seconds.

As it is, the Obsidian sync takes a few minutes. And if you edit the file on another device before sync goes through, you’ll lose the changes from one device or the other.

2 more replies

selykg3y ago

1Password sync is definitely the fastest sync I’ve ever used.

D13Fd3y ago

Totally agreed. Obsidian sync is pretty disappointing, honestly. I still use it, but I would call it just barely good enough.

wj3y ago

It significantly improved for me a few months ago. The syncing seems to start much more quickly after I open the app. Not perfect but much better than it had been when I had to keep the app open by constantly touching my screen and hoping it would even start the syncing process.

xmprt3y ago

I love Obsidian Sync as well but to be devil's advocate, it doesn't "just work" as a lot of people claim. It's still a bit rough around the edges. For example, it doesn't sync settings or starred files immediately. I've also noticed it dropping some text if I edit the same file on multiple devices simultaneously (or even in quick succession before sync is able to catch up). I'm sure these issues and more would exist with a 3rd party syncing solution but Obsidian sync still needs some work before it's perfect.

bachmeier3y ago

> I've also noticed it dropping some text if I edit the same file on multiple devices simultaneously

I don't think that's the intended use case of Sync or anything they've ever said it could be used for.

xmprt3y ago

When I say simultaneously I mean typing something on a file on my laptop and then putting that away and making more change on my phone a few seconds later (sometimes the gap is even longer than that). Sync is pretty slow especially since it doesn't sync in the background.

LordDragonfang3y ago· 2 in thread

Some options for syncing on mobile:

Obsidian sells a first party syncing solution, which I hear works well:

https://obsidian.md/sync

I do git syncing on Android via termux (It works most of the time, except when git decides to shit itself every now and then on my tablet):

https://forum.obsidian.md/t/guide-using-git-to-sync-your-obs...

I can't vouch for it because I don't have any iOS devices new enough to support it, but supposedly you can use Working Copy to sync via git on iOS:

https://forum.obsidian.md/t/mobile-setting-up-ios-git-based-...

blensor3y ago

I went for the paid syncing because I want it to "just work" while still having the futureproof way of storing the data locally in an accessible way.

So far it has worked absolutely flawless. If I change a file it's changing on my connected device in seconds. Not exactly like working on a shared google doc but close enough that I would even use it as a hack to quickly share links between my mobile and my desktop

kevingyori3y ago

I’m using Working Copy on iOS with the setup described in the post. It’s working like a charm for me

gavi3y ago

I use iCloud Drive as a vault location. The trick is to create it first on the Mobile app and then use the desktop app later to point to that vault.

If you are transferring from desktop to mobile, make sure the .obsidian folder inside the vault is copied also

reneberlin3y ago

Syncthing comes to my mind for that specific need. https://syncthing.net/

4 more replies

redrobein3y ago

It depends on your workflow. I use git to sync my obsidian vault. There's plugins to automate this, but doing it manually isn't that bad either. I use mobile mostly to read notes, and occasionally I'll write down a short line or two which I can sync over and edit and organize on desktop.

hyperific3y ago

I just use DropSync and put all my Vaults in one synced Dropbox folder (to get around DropSync's folder limit). Works like a charm.

gocartStatue3y ago

I use it with Working Copy git client, nice and properly nerdy setup. There are nice ready-made guides for this combo.

klabb33y ago

So simple, they combine the best of all eras: local first, open, published formats and pluggable/byo multi-device sync/backup – Cloud if you wish, but not required. It gives me hope for the future, I wish more software these days followed this model.

Caveat: not an obsidian user (although I am a big step closer after this)

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

19 comments · 8 top-level

bachmeier3y ago· 9 in thread

runjake3y ago

I can think of a number of other notes syncing that's better -- probably even Evernote's. As a happily paying Obsidian Sync customer, I'll drop some reality, so new people aren't caught off-guard.

- Obsidian Sync is pretty slow.

- Obsidian Sync occasionally has sync errors that involve manual interaction.

That said, it's fine and the overall Obsidian experience makes it worth it (well, if you can swing a discounted price).

AB19083y ago

What's faster than Obs sync? Genuinely curious since I thought I tried most of the options out there apart from syncthing.

D13Fd3y ago

As it is, the Obsidian sync takes a few minutes. And if you edit the file on another device before sync goes through, you’ll lose the changes from one device or the other.

2 more replies

selykg3y ago

1Password sync is definitely the fastest sync I’ve ever used.

D13Fd3y ago

Totally agreed. Obsidian sync is pretty disappointing, honestly. I still use it, but I would call it just barely good enough.

wj3y ago

xmprt3y ago

bachmeier3y ago

> I've also noticed it dropping some text if I edit the same file on multiple devices simultaneously

I don't think that's the intended use case of Sync or anything they've ever said it could be used for.

xmprt3y ago

LordDragonfang3y ago· 2 in thread

Some options for syncing on mobile:

Obsidian sells a first party syncing solution, which I hear works well:

https://obsidian.md/sync

I do git syncing on Android via termux (It works most of the time, except when git decides to shit itself every now and then on my tablet):

https://forum.obsidian.md/t/guide-using-git-to-sync-your-obs...

I can't vouch for it because I don't have any iOS devices new enough to support it, but supposedly you can use Working Copy to sync via git on iOS:

https://forum.obsidian.md/t/mobile-setting-up-ios-git-based-...

blensor3y ago

I went for the paid syncing because I want it to "just work" while still having the futureproof way of storing the data locally in an accessible way.

kevingyori3y ago

I’m using Working Copy on iOS with the setup described in the post. It’s working like a charm for me

gavi3y ago

I use iCloud Drive as a vault location. The trick is to create it first on the Mobile app and then use the desktop app later to point to that vault.

If you are transferring from desktop to mobile, make sure the .obsidian folder inside the vault is copied also

reneberlin3y ago

Syncthing comes to my mind for that specific need. https://syncthing.net/

4 more replies

redrobein3y ago

hyperific3y ago

I just use DropSync and put all my Vaults in one synced Dropbox folder (to get around DropSync's folder limit). Works like a charm.

gocartStatue3y ago

I use it with Working Copy git client, nice and properly nerdy setup. There are nice ready-made guides for this combo.

klabb33y ago

Caveat: not an obsidian user (although I am a big step closer after this)

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse