[canistel]

If there is one tool (if I can call it that) that changed my life, it is Org Mode. I was a Vim guy who in a desperate attempt to get digitally organised was forced to give Org Mode a try and got sucked into Emacs. I now live better organised, with far less anxiety and remain unfazed at the multi-tasking demands of the corporate world, all thanks to this major mode.

[noufalibrahim]

I've been an Emacs user since 2000 or so. Got introduced to org when it first came out and it (along with ledger for accounts) have taken over my life.

The phone did make it a little challenging but before that I used a notebook and dumped it into org at the end of the day. I've been doing something similar with my phone now.

A lot of people refer to org-mode as the gateway drug for Emacs and it truly is that.

[wild_egg]

I keep hearing anecdotes like this and truly want to give Emacs a shot. Do you use it exclusively on a PC?

My big blocker is that a significant portion of my time is on a phone rather than a computer these days and I have to think that all the chording with Emacs would get impossibly cumbersome.

Anyone here have a good way to leverage Emacs on the go?

[regularfry]

I've had a stab at this. My requirements are pretty much:

- Actual emacs as a client strongly preferred; don't assume anything else can correctly parse org-mode - Sync between Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android - Don't force me to remember to sync, so `git commit`/`git pull` or `rsync` isn't viable unless it's completely hidden - Don't allow me to overwrite the file if the sync has failed - Work from an ssh terminal

The closest I got was `crdt-mode.el`. That gives me real-time updates between connected clients. It needs some UI polish around connecting and disconnecting, but it's nothing unworkable. I can get to it on Android via termux ssh to emacs running in tmux on an always-on raspberry pi in my office. That's just about ok in terms of key chording for most things. You do lose some capabilities. I've contemplated getting a bluetooth keyboard for these situations but obviously that's not usable in a lot of situations you might want to be taking notes in. I got in the habit of using the very top of the file as a dumping-ground for one-liners from mobile because sometimes that was just easier than anything else. If I was feeling particularly keen I might try something in the spacemacs vein to make the key combinations work better on mobile. From memory org-agenda was fine, so I tended to use that as a default view for TODOs.

What's annoyingly broken is having Windows in the mix. There's something not quite right about the way `crdt-mode` handles line endings which means updates from Windows mess up the other copies, and given how much org-mode relies on line endings it can completely break whole sections at a time. I ended up using the version running on SSH from Windows too, but there are a couple of chords which Windows Terminal mucks up. That bit's not great.

Take Windows out and sshing to a shared terminal emacs instance running in `screen` is worth a try, with the caveat that you will have to rebuild the muscle memory for the chording on mobile. The termux keyboard has a couple of niceties that the default Android one doesn't, without which it would be a complete non-starter.

[canistel]

I faced this problem too. I am a Linux user personally, but use Windows at work. I am not a phone person, but do use it regularly.

I sync org files to phone (using Syncthing) and use Orgzly to access these from Android. Although it is possible to install Emacs in Android as a terminal tool in Termux or even as a GUI tool, you need to connect a keyboard to do something sensible. Long story short, if your phone is your daily driver, Emacs may not be for you as it is keyboard oriented. But if you are a computer person who occasionally uses the phone, there are ways to get by.

[dotancohen]

I moved from Orgzly to Orgro. Now updating the files on the phone is exactly like any other note-taking phone application (for better or worse). It's not as good as experience as the Emacs desktop, but no worse than anything else on the phone.

[kreyenborgi]

I also use orgro, it's very nice for reading the headings and minor edits. For more complicated edits (date stuff, moving around trees) I use the organice build that works with SyncThing https://github.com/200ok-ch/organice/issues/932#issuecomment...

Neither are full org mode, but good enough for reading notes and minor edits/captures on the go.

[dotancohen]

How do you use Organice? Do you self host it? Did you install the PWA? Do you have an account with organice.200ok.ch? Is your Org mode usage confined to a single file? How do you open other Org mode files on your phone with it?

[kreyenborgi]

I installed the native apk from that issue i linked to, no account or hosting. I use a few files on my phone, it shows them with a kind of file picker.

[herewulf]

https://orgro.org

This was new to me. Can install with F-Droid or support the author by purchasing from an app store.

[heehaw]

I have managed to get org mode working with emacs android port. big help was keyboard designer keyboard. I was able to set C-x and M-x for single touch. And added some keys as per requirements. https://www.keyboarddesigner.com/index.php?page=24

[TeMPOraL]

> Although it is possible to install Emacs in Android as a terminal tool in Termux or even as a GUI tool

FWIW, it seems Emacs can now be built for Android natively - there seem to be related files and documentation in the main Emacs repo, though I haven't actually built it myself, so I don't know how well it works.

[snthd]

https://sourceforge.net/projects/android-ports-for-gnu-emacs...

[e3bc54b2]

Leader keys + Evil mode make the keybindings pretty much non-issue on mobile. Emacs also has native Android port now, I've found it work quite well. There are apps like orgro[0] that make dealing with org files a pleasure on mobile.

That being said, it is not perfect. My ultimate (and imperfect) solution was to acquire a GPD Micro[1]. Now that thing makes up for all shortcomings of mobile devices, not just Emacs :)

[0]: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.madlonkay.orgro/ [1]: https://gpd.hk/gpdmicropc

[epakai]

What sort of software setup do you use on the micro?

I have one, but coming from a tiling wm, and Vim I have a hard time imagining using it productively. It is in my sell pile.

[e3bc54b2]

Same thing as my main laptop: NixOS + Plasma desktop.

I barely see the desktop TBH. It is there just so I have convenient control of peripherals. 99% of my time is in Web browser or Emacsclient or Terminal. On GPD I use the browser even less, because its purpose is to be a lightweight mobile terminal. Graphical Emacs is just superset of terminal one, so it is preferred is all.

[correnos]

Personally I use the emacs android port with org-roam, with syncthing for sync to back home. I've got ctrl and meta mapped to volume up and down. I don't know that I'd call it a good way, but it works well enough for me :).

[devsda]

Emacs org-mode is one of the better organization tools with batteries included.

For someone who is disciplined, organized and feels limited by their current tooling, Emacs will probably work great like these anecdotes. If having the discipline itself is a problem then Emacs is probably not the right choice to start with because of the learning curve and the friction due to sub-optimal experience on phone.

That said, I do recommend to give it a go. On Android, Orgzly + Syncthing is good enough to get started.

[johnmw]

It doesn't look like anyone has mentioned Beorg yet? [1]

I'm not an org power user (yet), but I find this iphone app works great to quickly add todos, view outlines, see my agenda, etc whilst I am out. I have it synced via Dropbox so when I get back to my desktop everything is waiting to be properly organized.

[1] https://www.beorgapp.com/

[jgoodhcg]

I’ve used org mode as a daily driver personally and at work for awhile but ultimately transitioned to Roam Research in part because the mobile experience is better.

I still use org mode to write my blog and journal but my knowledge management is all in Roam.

[agumonkey]

I use org mode as simple outline or table but so far the organization part still evades me.. I guess I'm too chaotic still to understand how to make real good use of it.

[tetris11]

I've been using Org-Mode for over 10 years. There is no one way.

You start off first writing simple outlines, and then you start creating todos, and then maybe you start to look at agendas to organize your todos (note: I rarely do this).

The biggest game changer for me was org-roam. It's essentially a database of all my files where I can add snippets or link to other files, or whatnot.

The TODO stuff I use a rough general guide of where I am, but I do not strictly adhere to it.

Essentially: Make Org-Mode work for you and your mindset, don't feel the need to bend to it.

[agumonkey]

I should try roam, it might help with my scattered brain (or maybe it will make it worse :)

do you know good videos of people demonstrating their workflow habits ?

[tetris11]

I don't know about videos, but here's my general workflow.

    1. "Huh, I wonder at what point SSDs of today are comparable
        to RAM speeds of yester-year?"
    2. `C-c n c` (create-node) "ssd_ram_yearly" (title)
    3. (a document spawns) "\* SSD vs RAM comparison" (I give it a
        better unofficial title)
    4. I do googling, drag and drop images into the document (org-download
       is a must have)
    5. Satisfied with the document, I decide to link it to a
       parent node
    6. `C-c n i` (insert node) "random_thoughts"
    7. If the random_thoughts node exists, it just links, if not, it
       creates a new document which I can fill out, and then `C-c
       C-c` to complete it, and then it links back to the ram document.
    8. I finally do `C-c C-c` to complete the original ram document.

Later on:

    1. "Huh, what was I thinking about again?"
    2. `C-c n f` (find node) "random_thoughts"
    3. `C-c n l` (show backward links) a new buffer pops up showing
       all files that link to random_thoughts, and I click on 
       the Ram ssd one.

[agumonkey]

Gonna try.. it seems well suited to multiple contexts switches

[bananapub]

it's not very complicated - it's an outliner mashed into an ad-hoc wiki in your editor, and also lets you mark up things as "tasks" with optional "scheduling". you can just outline things in to it, then when an item congeals enough to become a task, <S-right> on it to add a TODO tag and now org mode can be an organiser - put it in the agenda agenda, specify a workflow (TODO->PENDING->DONE; TODO->ABANDONED, etc), schedule it, emit it in to an ical file, etc etc.

probably the nicest part of org is that you don't pay for things you don't use - using it as a just a nice way of organising bullet points works fine, and then there are a jillion optional features around it.

[agumonkey]

Oh I've tuned the hell out of it, the issue lies above I guess, cause I keep accumulating tasks in various states, sometimes clocked or not.. and then it's hell to manage cleaning what's what.

[MarkMarine]

I’m a recent convert to emacs, the experience with clojure is just so much better. The best experience I’ve ever had programming with a tool honestly.

Org mode is a bit of a mystery to me thus far, collapsible sections are great but could you expand on what is so helpful to you and how you use it?

[canistel]

Keep track of all TODOs in one's life. You can create TODO items and schedule them. You tag them (similar to hashtags) too. Now, if I want to see the list to things to be done today (or any day for that matter), Org Mode will generate the agenda for you. You can filter your agenda/TODOs - for example, if you are getting into a call with Team X, you can filter with "teamx" to get the list of items marked against the team. You can of course add checklists under tasks (sub items), and notes too. Recurring schedule is supported.

Keeping notes. Org Mode doubles up as an Outliner. You can keep hierarchical notes in a single large file. You can mix-in tables (with support for LISP formulae) for tabular data. You can embed images and LaTeX too. You can convert your notes to HTML or Markdown in a jiffy. There are shortcuts for instant note taking. You can archive sections that are no longer required.

I have stopped using mindmaps and now rather rely on Org. It can handle tree-structured information very well.

As a calendar. You can also add diary-remind reminders. Remember one's wedding anniversary (and Spouse's birthday) to save one's marriage.

As with everything in Emacs, configurable and extensible (with ELisp). Almost every method and every variable is Global. This is of course crazy, but the power that this proffers is enormous.

I learn something new about Org Mode every now and then. I do not consider myself as a power user, as I am sure there is still much left to be explored.

https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/refcards/pdf/orgcard.pdf

[globular-toast]

Good summary. One thing to note about org is it's not opinionated. Even the word "Todo" is up to you, in fact you can just tell it a bunch of "not done" keywords and a bunch of "done" ones. Over the years I've tweaked these. For example I use STARTED for tasks that I've begun but not yet finished, because I hate starting things but but not finishing them. I've set my agenda views to display these right at the top. Similarly I've added more resolutions like DELEGATED.

This flexibility means you can bend it to rather odd requirements. For example, in my current job I'm required to track time against project codes, but I have to scale the proportion against the hours I'm contracted for (it's a tax thing, I'm told). Org supports clocking in/out of things. It doesn't know what those things are, they are just items in the outline. So I structure my todos under the project codes then track time against those tasks or just directly to the project. Then I have an agenda view which shows me totals for each project and a column scaling the proportions to the total contracted hours over the period.

But you might have completely different requirements. You might want a flat backlog and to "refile" tasks into "sprints" when they get properly defined then set a deadline on the whole sprint. Org supports it all because it doesn't really care that much. Seeing people struggle with the likes of Jira becomes rather comical.

[vim-guru]

You might also like the org-babel features of creating executable code-blocks. You can even mix languages by using the output of one block as the input to another. Welcome to the future of 2012 ;) I made one such document a while back with mostly Clojure, if you want to have a look: https://github.com/dnv-opensource/reagent-flow/

[ews]

org is absolutely the gateway drug to the whole Emacs ecosystem. I started using org after 16 years on vim and slowly found myself replacing my entire text/code workflow with it. I stopped using vim at all about 5 years ago and I never looked back.

[sam29681749]

What specifically about emacs org mode made you more organised?