Forum: Author Hangout

writing environments (past Word)

Freyrs_stories 🚫

I've recently retired an old windows PC that I was writing on. How old? 2006, that old enough for ya?.
Anyhow I've migrated to a Linux VM. Yes that has had some teething problems such as internet conectivity. Right now I'm writing in LibreOffice but am thinking about looking to something more specalised. I've seen mention of Scrinver or a name close to that. But there are two problems, It's for windows only and costs more than I'm willing to pay. So I started looking into a 'free' option. oStorybook seems that it might fit the bill, but I'm not sure. has anyone used this or similar?

Replies: John Demille Gauthier Gauthier Dicrostonyx storiesonline_23

John Demille 🚫

@Freyrs_stories

It's for windows only

Unhelpful but, I use Scrivener on my Mac almost daily ;)

I find it really good.

Sorry, no experience with oStorybook.

Replies: Freyrs_stories

Freyrs_stories 🚫

@John Demille

I guess I could think about a Mac VM, not sure if Apple have changed their views on those though

Replies: Grey Wolf

Grey Wolf 🚫

@Freyrs_stories

There are also people running Scrivener using Wine. Some people say it works fine, while others have issues.

A Windows VM is also an option, potentially.

Apple only supports Mac VMs on Mac hardware. That doesn't mean it can't be done, but it can't be done legally.

Gauthier 🚫

@Freyrs_stories

oStorybook seems that it might fit the bill, but I'm not sure. has anyone used this or similar?

oStorybook requires a java environment...

Oracle has made a complete mess of the JRE/JDK distribution.

Using the Oracle distribution requires a payment.

So most users have to rely on a "community build".
Unfortunately, there is no community, so there are tens of poorly tested, poorly configured, incompatible and never auto updated JDK binary distribution to choose from.

Not to mention that half the time, the java application, fails to locate the jvm or has some requirement which requires a specific jvm most likely incompatible with another one.

Gauthier 🚫

@Freyrs_stories

I would suggest:
* Saving to a git
* Writing in markdown, vscode (or vscodium) is a good fit for note taking in markdown.
* Adding extensions as needed to vscode
* Using pandoc & calibre to generate the book
* Add a build system to automate the production

search for "book writing with vscode"

Dicrostonyx 🚫

@Freyrs_stories

If you're looking at free software, you might consider Google Docs. While it's not the most robust writing software, it has the advantage of transportability. You can edit your documents while away from your computer, making notes or edits as you thing of them using a mobile device.

Replies: Michael Loucks

Michael Loucks 🚫

@Dicrostonyx

you might consider Google Docs.

Remember, Google scans literally everything you write in such a case. That may or may not be of concern to the OP, but it's important to remember.

Replies: Dominions Son Keet

Dominions Son 🚫

@Michael Loucks

Remember, Google scans literally everything you write in such a case. That may or may not be of concern to the OP, but it's important to remember.

Note: This caution should apply to any cloud based solution. They, and ultimately therefore law enforcement can access your documents without you being aware of it. This applies whether they admit it or not.

Keet 🚫

@Michael Loucks

Remember, Google scans literally everything you write in such a case. That may or may not be of concern to the OP, but it's important to remember.

To make it even "better" any cloud service can disappear at any time without warning. The only usefulness is if you encrypt your data and use the cloud service to easily shuttle your data between devices. it's definitely NOT a safe backup medium, maybe as an extra 4th backup and again, only if encrypted.
Google has a history of suddenly abandoning projects so don't think "hey, it's google, it's here to stay". It's not.

storiesonline_23 🚫

@Freyrs_stories

Keet, in another thread points to "What is the best Linux writing software for novelists?".

Replies: Freyrs_stories

Freyrs_stories 🚫

@storiesonline_23

'23 I'll read that article at my leisure, it looks interesting at least. I am thinking of a cloud offering that is fully encrypted as a final 'backup' only I need something that is separate to the VM I'm working on even though it is on an encrypted mirror locally (I recently lost a VM due to file degradation that could not be recovered so lost 4 years work based on the oldest viable separate backup). I think that if I have at least 2 or 3 'versions' of something then that helps with the 2 is 1 and 1 is none motto. It also makes workflow separation easier.

Thanks

F.

Replies: Keet

Keet 🚫

@Freyrs_stories

I am thinking of a cloud offering that is fully encrypted

Make sure YOU are the one encrypting and not the cloud provider. Letting the cloud provider do the encryption is just as 'safe' as no encryption at all. It protects you from someone hacking your account but not from the cloud provider himself being able to decrypt and read your files.

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Forum: Author Hangout

writing environments (past Word)

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