One thing that makes it harder to use TW for actual note-taking is the fact that you can’t pop-up a single note for editing. You can pop-out a single note for viewing, so why not have that for editing as well?
It should support most languages.
for markdown create or modify a tiddler called $:/config/EditorTypeMappings/text/markdown and put uni as it content
markdown tiddlers of type text/markdown should now have a highlighted editor
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Hmm – Probably because no one requested it yet at GitHub. I did a hacky proof of concept and it seems to work. Not sure if there are more nasty side effects, other than listed below. It seems to be possible with enough time.
- The POC does a direct write to a hardcoded
test-edittiddler - It uses a custom edit-template that obviously misses the title
- No keyboard shortcuts to close the window
- Ugly one – The window is not updated if the tiddler is changed in the story river
So there is definitely quite some time needed to iron out the hickups. But it is still interesting.
Long ago I made additional open in new window buttons, to also view and edit in new window, but the same could be done with modals, The point being, it is alredy possible to do these things and people have. Its nothing new, but perhaps people need to know what as already being done by individuals.
- Too me it is all about asking questions and describing the desired outcome and someone can help. If it soulds worthwhile enought people have most likely done it, or would be happy to do it.
- But we need to know the what and the why to even discuss it. What is the compelling reason?
I find I have wanted such features but in practice dont use them when they add a need for more work to use and keep track of them.
Tiddlywiki is not an editing software like VSCode, but rather a publishing platform like WordPress. In other words, TiddlyWiki is an interface for submitting data and displaying content based on a database.
Real-time saving in edit mode is a feature that TiddlyWiki does not currently support.
The interface in TW for taking notes is too big and too cluttered.
When you’re actually taking notes you want to just type in the notes you need, not haul along a whole system of things you don’t need. In particular having to drag around the url bar, the bookmark bar, the extensions, etc. associated being in a browser window is problematic.
Currently when I’m actually taking notes, I’m using notepad or something because TW is just too cumbersome.
I would like to float just a note next to a YT video or in one corner and be able to jot notes without clutter. To put two notes side-by-side to transfer text between them. To arrange a series of notes on the screen to compare and contrast. Position notes about backups next to the terminal where it’s happening. To quickly jot down a new password but keep it upfront where I won’t forget to file it later.
To my mind the question is the other way around – why have it in view mode and not have it in edit mode, where it is much more useful? If you try it in view mode, you are almost immediately struck by how useful it would be to edit the note floating on your page.
I have done something like this, but (1) it made only one instance (not multiple notes) and (2) a lot of screen space was taken up and (3) it didn’t remember the pop-out status between closings.
I can see how these alternate ways of interacting with tiddlywiki may suit you, and others. Whilst I am quite happy with the interface it really is important to know it is easy to adapt.
Within the community we have sidebar editors, full screen editors, interactive forms, previews inside the editor and outside the editor, additional multi-line fields and more. Wether you like using the mouse or only the keyboard, autocomplete and in editor tools, WYSIWIG or section editor. Codemirror with its line numbers and advanced toolbars. Others use editable todo lists, modals or open in new/tab window.
Now other plugins or layouts such as streams, two or three story rivers even free floating tiddlers and Mentat, fit other ways of interacting with tiddlywiki such as kanban or even from a timeline or a calendar as the organising principal.
And then there is the standard text area editor, there have over the years being a range of browser based addons that support text area editing, before Codemirror got so advanced I used a tool that allowed me to edit text areas via my editor of choice Notepad++ and someone recently made one to edit tiddlers through VS Code Editor (untested by me).
What device you are using also has a big influence, mobile, touch, tablet or my common use multi-screen desktop. Each has its wants and needs and from what I have seen every one of these has being done.
Many open source editor projects can be brought into tiddlywiki with a little know how, so we are spoilt for choice.
I think this is why you see people sticking to the default mechanisums, because a lot of invisible design work has led to where tiddlywiki is but diverging from it is possible.
I have a project 95% of the way to full window management from the sidebar or an index window now made possible with new parameters on WidgetMessage: tm-open-window and WidgetMessage: tm-open-external-window if there was sufficent interest and demand I could lead a project to develop it.