> I’d like a command line way to just create a new note in one line that gets stuck somewhere

5 min hackjob that saves my day every day:

    # `note foobar` opens vim on a timestamped foobar file within a folder
    # `note` just opens the same folder in netrw
    # also, using tpope/vim-vinegar and liberal use of `-` to go back and forth
    function note() (
      local title="$1"
      local timestamp="$(date +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z)"
      local dir="${HOME}/Dropbox/Notes"

      mkdir -p "${dir}"
      cd "${dir}"
      if [[ -n $1 ]]; then
        exec vim "$timestamp-$title.md"
      else
        exec vim .
      fi
    )

Thumbs up. I would just add the encryption filter, like gpg to yourself or within the editor automatic decryption and encryption.

You can also add your own file type if necessary.

Good point and easy enough to add, although it does not fit my use case: I want the files to be readable on mobile, plus I only put non-confidential, to-be-public, or already public data in there.

> My problem is that phones are just too slow for me to fire up and start a note

How so? Is your phone really old and slow or something?

On my iPhone X it takes two touches from the home screen to get into the notes app (first touch) and start a new note (second touch), and this takes about two seconds (I measured the time). Not counting the touches or time taken to unlock the phone and to get to the home screen but that time is short too.

Slow in the sense of “idea->Search for app->Open app->new note->type on screen” vs “idea->alt tab to terminal->type on keyboard.”

It’s probably only 2 seconds vs 1 second. Not a huge time amount.

This is a dumb question but have you tried, like, putting your chosen Note App somewhere prominent in your phone? Like, on the first page of the home screen, or in the dock if you’d on iOS?

But whatever works, if you prefer to lose an idea because it’s “faster” to wait until you’re at a keyboard, it’s your life.

Or just keep a physical notebook of some kind with you. That’s faster than any digital method for just capturing an idea.

Thanks for trying to help me debug. This is with notes on front screen in an easily tap able spot.

I currently keep a paper notebook for the reason you give.

> I’d like a command line way to just create a new note in one line that gets stuck somewhere that can be added on or moved around later

On the Mac, I wrote an Alfred workflow that lets me type "c this is a note" in Alfred, hit <enter> and the line is appended to a file called "cap.txt". I then go through that file at the end of the day.

On iOS, I just use Reminders app's quick launch action to create a new Reminder and go through them at the end of the day.

You can use Notes if you have longer texts?

This is kind of what I do. But I would like a better way to sync Notes. It’s nice to go back through every once in a while to transfer to something more permanent but that takes work and messes up the date stamps for figuring out log and timeline.

It's more for todos but might work well for notes too https://taskwarrior.org/ is a command line tool like that.

A friend uses a paper notebook in a pocket.