We have chosen to utilize plain-text files due to their numerous advantages:
- Portability: Plain-text files are highly portable, meaning they can be easily opened and read on different platforms and devices without compatibility issues. They can be moved between operating systems (Mac, Linux, Windows, etc.) and still be accessible.
- Future-Proof: Plain-text files are built on universal standards, ensuring they remain readable and usable indefinitely. Unlike proprietary formats that may become unsupported over time, plain-text ensures your data is accessible across generations of software and devices, protecting your work from technological obsolescence.
- Ease of Editing: Plain-text files offer unparalleled flexibility, allowing you to edit them with anything from basic notepad apps to advanced text editors. Their universal format ensures you can make quick changes or updates with ease, no matter what device or software you’re using, giving you total control over your content at any time.
- Lightweight: Plain-text files are extremely compact, containing only text without the overhead of embedded media or complex formatting. Their minimal size makes them perfect for storing vast amounts of data while using minimal storage space, ensuring efficient performance and easy handling, even for large collections of files.
- Flexibility: Plain-text files offer unmatched versatility, seamlessly integrating with hundreds of applications, from simple editors to advanced command-line tools. Their universal format ensures compatibility across diverse environments, making them the most adaptable file type for any workflow, whether you’re using a graphical interface or working in a terminal.
- Interoperability: Plain-text files excel in compatibility, effortlessly integrating with a wide range of software and systems. Whether imported into databases, processed by programming languages, or used for text analysis and manipulation, plain-text files adapt seamlessly to various workflows, making them a powerful tool for diverse applications.
- No Dependencies: Plain-text files eliminate reliance on specific software tools like Word, Evernote, or Notion. You can work on any device with just a basic text editor, fostering peace and focus by reducing dependency on additional tools.
- Offline Capability: Plain-text files are completely independent of an internet connection, allowing you to work seamlessly in any location or situation. Their offline accessibility boosts productivity and focus by providing uninterrupted access to your writing, free from the distractions or limitations of online reliance.
- Trackable: Plain-text files are highly trackable. Using tools like Git, a common code management system, you can track changes in your notes, projects, and manuscripts. This allows you to see daily changes in topics, word counts, and the evolution of your work.
- Easiest to Convert: Plain-text files can be easily converted into various formats such as HTML, Markdown, JSON, and LaTeX. This flexibility makes plain-text a versatile choice for writing and publishing.
- Un-Commercial: Plain-text files liberate you from the constraints of commercial software and subscriptions. Unlike proprietary formats tied to specific companies, plain-text ensures your work remains accessible no matter what happens to the business behind other software. Free and open-source tools for reading and editing text files will always be available, guaranteeing the long-term independence and accessibility of your writing.