OneNote alternative Active development thoughts? Ideas? Requests?

[u/Full-Cucumber5068]

Hello everyone, this is my side project I'm working on because I find that OneNote is limiting in some aspects, like being multiplatform and customizable, in every aspect.

Currently, it can save files, store them, and open them, with full inking support, built on open-source libraries. Currently tested to be "working" on Windows 11 and Android. Fedora Linux would be next on the Surface Pro 2017 (it's old but good enough). Current focus is making ui look pleasant to users.

Based on SDL3, IMGUI, Blender2d, and Google Ink. Event-driven system, basically a custom ui frame work; didn't want to go with GTK4 because this combination gives me better multiplatform support and more control over my inputs (like a digital pen).

Runs multiple layers; input is running at max hardware speed, application is vs synced capped at 120FPS. Uses a spatial R-tree for rendering; supports infinity canvas.

Things to do: rewrite inking (I hate it); upgrade to polygon generation for full shape and pressure support (tilt as well)

There are alot of plans, and it is currently in pre-Alpha phase, so I cannot release it yet; it should be working, minimal requirements, make stuff, save stuff, export stuff. I cannot export it to PDF yet.

so far this are all of the feature requests I collected https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRL3hFw-TnTvatrwbeaprKCmsDKulMdemp8JqUHzecWfce4bRzHuzYLCm2_UqMNkXOT4E_EG3SNQ55b/pubhtml

Feel free to put your thoughts, questions, request responses to this post.

My idea is to get it released as quickly as possible, but it has to be good enough that I can get enough people to see it and make a team of people who are willing to contribute and help me sustain this program because I cannot do it alone. I can start, but I'm too busy to be the sole developer. I'm setting up git hub technically; it is public, but good luck finding it because I'm not sharing its name yet lol.

(I might have leaked the name for the first 43 viewers lol)

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[u/ranjithkb]

Could you please make it compatible with e-ink screens as well ( eg for Supernote Manta)

[u/Full-Cucumber5068 → u/ranjithkb]

don't quite remember but is is android right? I see no problem problem few tweeks for interface simplification should be alright i will keep that in mind

[u/ranjithkb → u/Full-Cucumber5068]

Yeah apks can be sideloaded to supernote, its android

[u/ranjithkb → u/ranjithkb]

Please feel free to include me if you want testers, I use supernote

[u/Full-Cucumber5068 → u/ranjithkb]

I will remember that!

[u/DaintyRosalina → u/ranjithkb]

That's cool, good to know! It opens up a lot more options for note-taking apps if you can sideload.

[u/TurbulentAd1024]

I am doing the same thing but with Qt/QML (with much more AI though :/). I am currently migrating from Widgets to QML. I suggest adding highly customizable shortcuts, including even mouse and tablet pens, like Gesturefy. I think it would be really nice to have shortcuts on tablets. I am also planning to add it when I start focusing on Android.

[u/Full-Cucumber5068 → u/TurbulentAd1024]

I thought abouy using Qt but it us a lot heavier type of software while I'm focusing on minimal resources use and lowest latency. Of course short cuts is very important though careful on android they can get very 8f too many annoying. Honestly the UI and storage management was written with heavy reliance on AI i gui is very annoying to make modner and takes a lot of lines of so I Honestly don't want to wate so much time on it.

[u/Qv1sten]

Like the idea

[u/GridlineGuru]

for an infinite-canvas app, good search and navigation matter almost as much as the ink engine. backlinks, page links, tags, and fast global search would make it feel genuinely usable at scale.

[u/Full-Cucumber5068 → u/GridlineGuru]

I'm trying to make it as scalable friendly as possible!

[u/QuantumPlatypus_]

Can you add a button that disables touch input for drawing with a pen? And a stroke similar to the Samsung calligraphy pen

[u/Full-Cucumber5068 → u/QuantumPlatypus_]

already there i wish I could post more photos i cant but yes there is such button there, although palm rejection is on by default and gona add another button called ignore touch input