What is the core set of Denote capabilities?

[jarofromel]

Hello,

what do you think is a minimal set of Denote capabilities to have outside of Emacs which should satisfy many of its users? Here is my trial:

1. Flat single Denote directory (without subdirs)
2. Basic ordering of file-names compoments as decribed in manual, chpt. 5, e.g. DATE==SIGNATURE--TITLE__KEYWORDS.EXTENSION
3. Findind Denote files in the Denote directory - if the file starts with DATE (and ends with .org extension it considered as Denote file.

For context. Why I ask:
Sometimes I need to view and edit the Denote files (org-mode) in Android. I use orgro.
Denote files use the org-mode syntax which is wonderful, if the Android app supports org-mode it supports my Denote notes.
With one slight exception, the Denote links. In fact it is not exception it conforms to org-syntax but it is not org-mode built-in (like ID of file type links) and needs it some extra work to have it outside of Emacs.

So I asked for the support of denote links amake/orgro#129 and this question was raised.

[protesilaos]

From: jarofromel ***@***.***> Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2025 05:26:34 -0800 Hello,

Hello there!

what do you think is a minimal set of Denote capabilities to have outside of Emacs which should satisfy many of its users?

The core functionality is to generate a Denote file name given the relevant input. If we have that, then we can create new files with it or rename existing ones. Everything else revolves around this.

Here is my trial: 1) Flat single Denote directory (without subdirs)

This is a matter of preference. Denote does not really care if the listing is flat or not.

2) Basic ordering of file-names compoments as decribed in [manual, chpt. 5](https://protesilaos.com/emacs/denote#h:4e9c7512-84dc-4dfb-9fa9-e15d51178e5d), e.g. `DATE==SIGNATURE--TITLE__KEYWORDS.EXTENSION`

This is a nice extra to have though stick to the default order if alternatives are hard to have.

3) Findind Denote files in the Denote directory - if the file starts with `DATE` (and ends with `.org` extension it considered as Denote file.

The '.org' part is not a requirement because we can name any file Denote-style (e.g. I do it with my videos). We default to Org as the file type for new notes simply because this is the Emacs-y norm. But in a wider context, Denote is just about the file name and not the exact markup in the file.

For context. Why I ask: Sometimes I need to view and edit the Denote files (org-mode) in Android. I use [orgro](https://github.com/amake/orgro). Denote files use the org-mode syntax which is wonderful, if the Android app supports org-mode it supports my Denote notes. With one slight exception, the Denote links. In fact it is not exception it conforms to org-syntax but it is not org-mode built-in (like ID of file type links) and needs it some extra work to have it outside of Emacs. So I asked for the support of denote links amake/orgro#129 and this question was raised.

I see. Maybe it is technically difficult for them to do and I do not have the technical knowledge to help with mobile OS app development.

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-- Protesilaos Stavrou https://protesilaos.com