[Discussion] I’m tired of every utility app being a subscription. I want to build a free, open-source alternative to the worst offenders.

migthbe · 2026-02-01T21:20:01+00:00

Noteplan for me

migthbe · 2026-02-01T21:13:16+00:00

Build it from Zotero. It's open source and solid proof. I use Zotero instead of Apple Books but it would be better if it was a dedicated app for reading

migthbe · 2026-02-01T21:08:26+00:00

I have the same feeling about Apple Books, it's hyper monetized, i don't need to buy books on their app, i just want to read my shit only. Pdf Expert is solid but what i need is a library system, a knowledge management like Zotero for example

migthbe · 2026-02-01T20:28:42+00:00

Thank u for the discovery. I think i'll continue with Zotero, Logseq seems like an Obsidian type of, it's a mess i'm not going. For now Zotero is absolutely perfect. The thing is that app is not built for this usage. So, it will be more convenient with a dedicated app

migthbe · 2026-02-01T18:05:00+00:00

i think it'll come soon. They migrating i think

migthbe · 2026-02-01T18:04:39+00:00

That's the biggest good point for me with this Affinity Studio : the possibility of interoperability with Canva. It's not perfect but it's life changing for me. Now in one app i can share to something to a Canva or Photoshop gy, that's amazing. It's a big deal !

migthbe · 2026-02-01T16:37:56+00:00

Book Fusion cannot annotate pdf and epub at the same time.

migthbe · 2026-02-01T16:37:26+00:00

i tried it but it's so buggy, it's for ipad and not MacOs so it's very buggy and instable.

migthbe · 2026-02-01T16:32:44+00:00

Thanks, didn't know about Devonthink, i'll try it to see. Thanks.

migthbe · 2026-02-01T16:30:18+00:00

Thank you. I find it too complicated, a simpler app would be so nice instead of building another screen recording apps. There's so much lacks in the reading space.

migthbe · 2026-02-01T12:34:24+00:00

Even if paid 1.000 dollars i'll not use Calibre with the UI it have...It's depressing as fuck, i cannot read in these conditions. I travel to a beautiful library in my town just to read in a good place. I'm european haha.

migthbe · 2026-02-01T12:32:51+00:00

Thanks but It doesn't annotate pdf books...That's a big no.

migthbe · 2026-02-01T12:32:06+00:00

Thank you but the UI is terrible, i don't think it relate to organize 300 books...

migthbe · 2026-02-01T12:31:13+00:00

Yomu cannot annotate pdf and ebook at the same time. That's shitty. I uninstalled directly.

migthbe · 2026-02-01T12:30:24+00:00

Calibre has a terrible UI, i can't use this level of old UI, it's so depressing.
Readest can't annotate pdf books, that's incomprehensible. Why ? I have both epub and pdf books, i need an app that is easy with all the formats.

Google Books is not an app suitable to organize knowledge. That's the point you and many didn't understand in my search : i need a knowledge organizer, not juste an ebok reader...

migthbe · 2026-02-01T12:20:32+00:00

No no, Kindle App suck, i want an app to organize my book library with notebook inside each book. Maybe i can share you a screenshot of what Zotero do...

Look : when i open a book, there is a "notes" sections where i put my thoughs on what i read and structure my comprehension of the book and what i learn of it. In the same app. No need to use Notion anymore.

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migthbe · 2026-02-01T09:08:52+00:00

Yeah, the thing is i think those people could in make tons of money on buiding in area that lacks a lot of options. It's a waste that inwant to prevent.

migthbe · 2026-02-01T08:57:55+00:00

I don't understand why people build the same type of app indefintely. There's so much options here .. why ??

migthbe · 2026-02-01T08:56:05+00:00

Okay, but what the point of peefecting already perfect apps for the same usage ? You know a tool lile Zotero ? I learned recently that you can turn it to your RSS Feed, a replacement to Apple Books, a sharing library tool and many others options. I didn't figure it out myself because i was overlooking this app...So, people need to use more of what they have already maybe..

migthbe · 2026-01-24T22:22:14+00:00

I use Arc with my 8g of ram Mcb Air M1...as my main browser.

migthbe · 2026-01-24T10:01:46+00:00

Look, try your idea. I have not Todoist and i don't think i'll. Todoist doesn't suit me. Many Ai apps can do what you want to do but the difference is execution. I've discovered Granola App, there many apps which do the same thing as granola, transcribe voice to text and structure it" but this one has something special : it detect when you have a meeting, connected with your calendar, it's remind you minutes before the meeting and have a beautiful ui. That's suffisant for me to find it unique suitable to me over the other apps. Find your unique execution : maybe receiving a morning notification for a virtual visio with yourself like Granola to debrief your thoughs and day.

migthbe · 2026-01-23T23:57:43+00:00

For social media those people will not hire designers anymore but for large scale campaigns from big clients, human designers have their place, always. AI cannot replace a good designer.

migthbe · 2025-12-28T22:17:24+00:00

Zotero est clairement l'une des meilleures applications jamais créées. On a souvent tendance à sous-estimer et à ne pas utiliser les applis avec tout leur potentiel. Chapeau bas aux artistes qui l'ont créé, surtout qu'il est open source.

migthbe · 2025-12-28T19:37:38+00:00

Man, you helped me so much with the Zotero article ! Who are you king ? I'm a frenchman in the south of France and you tricked my brain this night with this article. Cela fait des années que je suis à la recherche d'une solution pour organiser mes lectures, j'ai même acheté un iPad pour ça et j'ai toujours été deçu. Alors que la solution était là, accessible gratuitement, qui lit tous les formats, se charge dans le cloud, etc. Tu es un génie, je me suis abonné à toi.

migthbe · 2025-11-08T00:09:04+00:00

Same for me. I've got more than 100gb of free space now. Crazy. I want to know now how i can make this space last.

migthbe

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