Originally published on my blog.
Check out my blog for more articles or Github for my free-to-read JavaScript Ebook that covers all the new features from ES6 to 2019
Taking notes is a vital part of learning and as a programmer we have specific needs that software such as Docs or Word can't cover. That's why I compiled this list of my 5 most favorite note taking apps.
In the past couple of years I've used all of them, some of them I still use them, some I've stopped using, but any of these 5 will help you.
You will see that all of them use Markdown (either the standard syntax or a custom one) and that's because I find it the fastest way of taking notes since it allows to quickly create documents with simple formatting and also allows you to add code block with syntax highlight.
Note: these apps are all free or have a free tier so you won't need to fork out a cent to start using them.
1) Notion
Available for: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Web.
This is the app I've used to write this blog post.
It's great because it's not just a markdown text editor, you can do so much more, including tables, kanbans, calendar into your pages.
You can sync your notes across your devices and the fact that it has a Web version means that even if you use Linux, like me, you can still use it.
It has very solid support for code blocks, with highlight and ability to wrap the code.
The free version includes enough space that you should be good for a while.
2) Stackedit
Available for: Web
Stackedit doesn't have a mobile app but you can still use it comfortably from the browser.
It's much simpler than Notion, being a straightforward markdown editor that syncs with your Google Drive.
I use it daily for my work notes whenever I need to write down my thoughts and I want to make sure that I can access them from both my office and my own laptop.
It's completely free and the markdown files are stored in your Google Drive so if you want to migrate them somewhere else it's going to be very straightforward.
The support for code blocks is great, with syntax highlight for any language you need.
3) Typora
Available for: Windows, MacOS, Linux
Simple and clean, Typora is a powerful markdown editor. Unfortunately it doesn't have a mobile version or a web client, but the desktop client is solid and powerful.
I've used it write my first JavaScript ebook and I really liked the integration with Pandoc to export my markdown ebook straight into epub, pdf and doc files.
It has great support for code blocks, using prism for the syntax highlight and it also allows you to create your css file to style the exported PDF files.
4) Quip
Available for: Windows, MacOs, Web, Android, iOS
Quip is the first editor that I've used and albeit I don't use it anymore, it's still a great solution.
The mobile app is not the best, but the web client is solid and powerful allowing you to easily add tables and more.
Some features are paid but overall the free version is good enough.
The support for highlighted code blocks is basic and not on the same level as the others
Bonus: VSCode
Available for: Windows, MacOS, Linux
Despite not being meant for it, vs code is a great note taking app.
When writing the second edition of my ebook I've used vs code to create individual markdown files and a simple node script to join them into a single one.
You can also take advantage of a GitBooks to connect your repo and have your notes published online, available privately or publicly.
Editing on the fly is not the easiest since you can't use vs code on your phone but you can still edit directly the files hosted in the Github repo from apps such as FastHub or similar 3rd party clients.
What is your favorite?
How about you? Do you already use any of these apps? What is your favorite note taking app? Let me know in the comments
Thank you very much for reading. Follow me on DevTo or on my blog at inspiredwebdev for more.
Latest comments (80)
I am also building a notes app specific for software engineers.
Just released the initial beta.
upnotes.io
I don't really use notes per se, if then google keep (not very happy sharing any data with google), but for things that need to stick I use bookmarks.dev to manage my dev bookmarks and code snippets.
VSCode is a great app...
Great article in comparing different note taking solution!
I am also the kind of dev that "take note in VS Code'" because i like the simplicity and the syntax highlight (because some time, i will use it as a temporary space for checking log and server response)
But lack of sync and mobile access really bothering me.
With that concept in mind, I am working on a note taking app for developer. (get.stashany.com)
I would love to hear more feedback from experience note app user like you and hope it can be something that really suitable for developer :)
I discovered boostnote.io just yesterday.
You should check out Tiddlywiki. It is an awesome serverless note taking one-page app. It can run on a server, it has a npm package. It is totally customizable and programmable
Very good, I really needed a tool like that. Currently, I'm using OneNote but it's not being effective.
I love using BoostNote
Notion is an really awesome app
Great list AlbertoM. I'd like to suggest one more tool in your list - ProofHub. It helps you create notes, organize them, collaborate on them, and work smarter. You can create notes, select colors for them, subscribe people to them, keep them private, attach files, collaborate on them smarter, and store them in notebooks at one place. Please visit this link (proofhub.com/features/notes) to know more.
I use VS-Code because I like to write notes using AsciiDoc. I used to use Markdown but I've switched because AsciiDoc is a lot richer. There is an AsciiDoc extension that lets you preview your notes side-by-side. marketplace.visualstudio.com/items...
I love the side-by-side previewer. I like to link my notes together. The Markdown previewer allows you to click links and browse to your other notes within the previewer.
Clicking links in the AsciiDoc previewer doesn't work, so I browse them in Chrome using the AsciiDoc live preview chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/... (also available for FireFox)
Inkdrop!!
You forgot giuspen.com/cherrytree/, which is actually free and open source not unlike the first one on the list. I just clicked the link and saw a 'Pricing' page
I work exclusively on Mac OS-X. My favorite is the built-in Notes app. It syncs across the iPad and phone IOS apps (through the iCloud). It has just enough formatting and the ability to categorize notes. Just enough and not too much.
Our team uses OneNote for pretty much everything, keeping quick notes, meeting minutes, project ideas etc.
It could definitely be better if it supported code formatting, but it does the job.