OPEN SOURCE alternatives to the MOST POPULAR productivity apps!

This video discusses open-source alternatives to popular productivity applications. The host recommends several open-source programs, including Logseq as an alternative to Obsidian for note-taking with bi-directional linking and a knowledge graph, AppFlowy and AnyType for users of Notion seeking a more visual structure, and Mattermost as a self-hosted alternative to Slack or Microsoft Teams. For task management, the video suggests Focalboard as a Trello replacement, and for PDF editing, LibreOffice Draw is mentioned. The video also covers VS Code's open-source counterpart, VS Kodia, which lacks telemetry and proprietary components. The host praises Thunderbird as an all-in-one suite for email, calendar, and tasks, and Nextcloud as an open-source alternative to Google Workspace or Office 365. The video is sponsored by Tuxedo, which offers Linux-compatible laptops and desktops.

Takeaways

• 📝 LibreOffice is a good open source alternative to Microsoft Office for document creation and editing.
• 🔗 Logseq is a recommended open source alternative to Obsidian for note-taking with bi-directional linking and a knowledge graph.
• 📈 AppFlowy and AnyType are open source alternatives to Notion, offering flexible note structures and various page types.
• 💬 Mattermost is a fully open source alternative to Slack or Microsoft Teams for team communication and collaboration.
• 📋 Focalboard can replace Trello for project organization with boards, lists, calendars, and galleries.
• 🖋️ For PDF editing, LibreOffice Draw can be used if the necessary fonts are installed, but it may not handle paragraph formatting well.
• 💻 Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is open source, but VS Kodi is a version without telemetry and proprietary components.
• 🌐 Nextcloud is a comprehensive open source solution for file storage, sharing, collaboration, and communication.
• 📧 Thunderbird is a recommended open source email client with a recent update that improves its interface and functionality.
• 🛠️ TUXEDO Computers offers laptops and desktops that come with Linux pre-installed, ensuring good hardware compatibility.
• ⚙️ Open source alternatives can provide flexibility and privacy, but may require more setup and have different feature sets compared to proprietary software.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the video?

The video discusses open source alternatives to popular proprietary productivity applications.

What is the role of Thunderbird in the video?

Thunderbird is highlighted as an all-in-one suite for email, calendar, contacts, tasks, RSS feeds, and chats, and is the sponsor of the video.

What open source alternative to Obsidian is mentioned in the video?

Logseq is mentioned as an open source alternative to Obsidian, offering similar features such as note-taking, bi-directional linking, and a Knowledge Graph.

How does the video describe the functionality of Logseq?

Logseq is described as capable of taking notes as markdown files, having a plugin ecosystem, themes, mobile apps, and offering privacy with the same linking features and Knowledge Graph as Obsidian.

What open source tool is suggested as an alternative to Notion?

The video suggests either AppFlowy or AnyType as open source alternatives to Notion, with varying levels of feature completeness and support for different operating systems.

What is the main difference between AppFlowy and AnyType?

AppFlowy is simpler and allows working locally without an account, while AnyType offers more features, a Linux client, mobile apps, and encrypted peer-to-peer syncing.

Which open source tool is recommended as a replacement for Slack or Microsoft Teams?

Mattermost is recommended as a fully open source alternative to Slack or Microsoft Teams, which can be self-hosted and supports features like channels, file sharing, and integration with developer tools.

What is the main advantage of using Focalboard over Trello?

Focalboard is fully open source and allows for self-hosting, providing more control and privacy. It also supports real-time collaboration and customization of boards.

How does the video address the need for editing PDF documents?

The video suggests using Inkscape or LibreOffice Draw for basic PDF editing, but notes that these tools have limitations. It also mentions that editing the original document or requesting an editable format from the sender is often the best approach.

What is the open source alternative to Visual Studio Code mentioned in the video?

VSCodium is mentioned as an open source alternative to Visual Studio Code, which is built on the open source parts of VS Code but without the telemetry and proprietary components.

What additional open source service is recommended for file storage and collaboration?

Nextcloud is recommended as a fully open source replacement for services like Office 365 or Google Workspace, offering file storage, sharing, collaboration, chat, and video calls.

What is the sponsor's recommendation for Linux users looking to upgrade their computers?

The sponsor, TUXEDO, is recommended for Linux users. They offer laptops and desktops that ship with Linux pre-installed and are specifically chosen for their compatibility with the operating system.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Open Source Alternatives to Popular Proprietary Apps

The video discusses various open source alternatives to well-known proprietary applications. It mentions that while substitutes like LibreOffice for Microsoft Office or Photoshop are often recommended, there are many other popular apps without widely known open source options. The video aims to fill this gap by suggesting alternatives for apps like Obsidian, Notion, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Acrobat, VS Code, Trello, and more. It also highlights Thunderbird, an open source email and calendar client, as the video's sponsor and the creator's preferred choice.

05:02

📓 Note-Taking and Project Management Tools

The script covers open source alternatives for note-taking and project management, such as Logseq as an alternative to Obsidian, offering similar features including bi-directional linking, a plugin ecosystem, and a Knowledge Graph. It also discusses the limitations when migrating from Obsidian to Logseq. For more visual project management, the video suggests AppFlowy and AnyType as open source alternatives to Notion, with varying features and mobile app support. AnyType is noted for its encrypted peer-to-peer syncing and comprehensive feature set.

10:03

🤝 Collaboration and Communication Platforms

The video script touches on open source collaboration and communication tools like Mattermost, which serves as an alternative to Slack and Microsoft Teams, allowing for self-hosting and offering features like channels, file sharing, and integration with developer tools. Focalboard is presented as a Trello replacement, supporting real-time collaboration, various board templates, and customization. The limitations of Focalboard, such as the lack of mobile apps and integrations, are also mentioned.

15:10

🖥️ Editing PDFs and Open Source Development Tools

The script addresses the challenge of editing PDF documents, suggesting Inkscape or LibreOffice Draw as alternatives to Adobe Acrobat, with the caveat that PDF is not inherently meant for editing. It also covers Visual Studio Code (VS Code), noting that while it is open source, the Microsoft-provided binary includes telemetry and tracking. The recommended alternative is VS Kodia, which retains VS Code's interface and plugin compatibility but without the proprietary components. Additional open source recommendations include Nextcloud for file storage and collaboration, and Thunderbird for email management, both praised for their functionality and frequent updates.

🛍️ Choosing Linux-Compatible Hardware

The video concludes with a sponsorship message encouraging viewers, especially Linux users, to consider purchasing computers that come with Linux pre-installed from Tuxedo. These devices are chosen and configured for optimal Linux performance, and the company contributes to open source projects to improve hardware compatibility. The video invites viewers to share their favorite open source alternatives and engage with the content through likes, subscriptions, and comments.

Keywords

Open Source

Open Source refers to a type of computer software whose source code is made available to the public, allowing anyone to view, use, modify, and distribute the software. In the context of the video, open source alternatives are presented as free and customizable options to popular proprietary software, emphasizing freedom, community involvement, and cost-effectiveness.

Obsidian

Obsidian is a note-taking and knowledge management software that allows users to create, link, and organize their notes in a bi-directional way using markdown and plain text. It is mentioned in the video as a proprietary app, and Logseq is introduced as an open source alternative that offers similar functionalities.

Logseq

Logseq is an open source alternative to Obsidian that operates under the New Age GPL license. It is highlighted for its ability to take notes as markdown files, its extensive plugin ecosystem, themes, and a Knowledge Graph feature. The video emphasizes Logseq's privacy, flexibility, and the fact that it can be used for simple note-taking or complex workflows.

Notion

Notion is a productivity app that allows users to create notes, to-do lists, databases, wikis, and more with a variety of templates. It is proprietary and lacks an official Linux version. The video suggests AppFlowy and AnyType as open source alternatives that offer similar functionalities but with different feature sets and user interfaces.

AppFlowy

AppFlowy is an open source note-taking app that is positioned as a more straightforward alternative to Notion, offering basic note creation, page structures, and a variety of page types. It is mentioned as suitable for users who require simple, single-type pages and do not need advanced features or mobile apps.

AnyType

AnyType is a more feature-rich open source alternative to Notion, offering a Linux client, mobile apps, and encrypted peer-to-peer syncing. It is recommended for users who need advanced features and complex workflows, as it supports more functionalities and has a more involved interface.

Mattermost

Mattermost is an open source platform that serves as an alternative to Slack or Microsoft Teams, offering chat services with features like channels, file sharing, and integration with developer tools. It is self-hostable and can be used for professional support with additional enterprise features through paid plans.

Focalboard

Focalboard is an open source project management tool that can be used as a replacement for Trello. It supports real-time collaboration, various templates for different project types, and allows for customization with attributes and file sharing within cards.

LibreOffice

LibreOffice is an open source office suite that includes applications for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and more. It is mentioned in the video as an alternative to Microsoft Office for users seeking a free and open source solution for their document editing needs.

Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a popular open source code editor developed by Microsoft. It is mentioned in the video to highlight the distinction between the open source nature of its code and the proprietary aspects of the binary distributed by Microsoft, such as telemetry and tracking.

VSCodium

VSCodium is an open source build of Visual Studio Code that removes the telemetry and proprietary components, offering users the same interface and features but in a completely open source format. It is presented as an alternative for developers who prefer not to have tracking in their development environment.

Nextcloud

Nextcloud is an open source solution for file storage, sharing, collaboration, and communication, serving as an alternative to proprietary services like Office 365 or Google Workspace. It is extensible with additional apps and is highlighted for its modularity and frequent updates.

Thunderbird

Thunderbird is an open source email client that is praised in the video for its recent update, which includes a full redesign and improved functionality for handling emails, calendars, and tasks. It is recommended as an alternative to Outlook, especially for Linux users.

Tuxedo

Tuxedo is a company that sells laptops and desktops with Linux pre-installed, catering to users who prefer open source operating systems. The video mentions Tuxedo as a sponsor and recommends their products for those looking for hardware that is fully compatible with Linux out of the box.

Highlights

Open source alternatives to popular productivity apps are discussed in the video.

Thunderbird, an all-in-one suite for email, calendar, contacts, tasks, and more, is highlighted as a fully open source and customizable option.

Logseq is recommended as an open source alternative to Obsidian, with features like note linking, a knowledge graph, and query capabilities.

AppFlowy and AnyType are presented as open source alternatives to Notion, with varying features and support for mobile apps.

Mattermost is introduced as a self-hostable, open source alternative to Slack and Microsoft Teams, with features like channels, file sharing, and integrations.

Focalboard is suggested as an open source Trello replacement with real-time collaboration and customizable board attributes.

For PDF editing, Inkscape and LibreOffice Draw are mentioned as alternatives to Adobe Acrobat, with limitations in editing capabilities.

VSCodium is highlighted as an open source version of Visual Studio Code without telemetry or proprietary components.

Nextcloud is recommended as an open source replacement for Office 365 or Google Workspace, offering file storage, sharing, and collaboration.

The video sponsor, Tuxedo, is mentioned for selling laptops and desktops that come with Linux pre-installed and are fully customizable.

The importance of using open source software for privacy and freedom is emphasized throughout the video.

Logseq offers a new whiteboard feature for organizing thoughts before creating detailed notes.

AppFlowy allows working locally without an account and lacks native sync capabilities, unlike AnyType which supports encrypted peer-to-peer syncing.

Focalboard provides an unlimited number of boards for free and supports various presentation formats like boards, lists, and galleries.

VSCodium is compatible with Visual Studio Code's plugins and extensions, offering the same interface and features in an open source format.

Nextcloud is praised for its modularity and frequent updates, making it a versatile tool for various work-related tasks.

The video encourages viewers to share their open source alternatives in the comments for the benefit of the community.