Help in transitioning from Goodnotes to Block based text editor

[jstaaron]

What do you need help with?

Hi everyone,

I’m currently in night school studying for a technician certification as an HVAC Technician. For note-taking, I primarily use Goodnotes because it allows me to type, write with the Apple Pencil, and easily integrate PDFs, slides, and images. I can take a picture, paste it anywhere in my notes, write directly on it—it’s incredibly convenient.

That said, Goodnotes isn’t open source or local-first, which is important to me. That’s what led me to explore Anytype as a potential replacement.

However, I’m finding the transition a bit challenging. Anytype is a block-based text editor, and it doesn’t support Apple Pencil input in the way Goodnotes does. I’m trying to adapt, but typing out explanations of visual or spatial concepts (which I’d usually sketch) is time-consuming and sometimes frustrating.

So here’s my question:
Has anyone here successfully transitioned from Goodnotes to Anytype and if so, do you have any tips or creative workflows that help make note-taking more efficient in Anytype? I’d love to hear how others are adapting their style, especially for more technical or visual subjects.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions or ideas!

OS

Windows 11

Anytype Version

0.49.2

Network Mode

AnySync

Technical Information

OS version: win32 x64 10.0.22621
App version: 0.49.2
Build number: build on 2025-08-19 10:36:34 +0000 UTC at #f6a52252cfb9373a9191f92745bd70587934ea24
Library version: v0.43.0-rc02
Anytype Identity: A8AZFnuncZVou1cFvbMTU9i13qe61iPEi7v4wXun8d6VfGoc
Analytics ID: MbW4SHQ6wSHF5yLj33Tvaf9UQPjxs7Xdre8LPfT39y98JKob
Device ID: 12D3KooWP8b7gmEUoSrppwfhFWRvEZrJpBLDKT3T7PgQp6NZB9XD
Ethereum Address: 0x9A16fB7D3F8110B2Cd371b802F46687a8B6327a5

[C.c]

So far I have only partially transitioned online contents and property/relation heavy contents into Anytype. Since iCloud (and thus Goodnotes) no longer supports encryption in UK, I had moved handwritten notes back to paper..

You might want to check out the following requesting to see the popularity of wanting handwriting in Anytype, and add your use case of handwriting along aside multimedia. (Still hoping handwriting will be implemented soon..)

Handwritten Notes

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe. Not specifically, but I would like the feature to be added in the future. Describe the solution you’d like Support for handwritten notes (mainly with apple pencil but also using a regular cursor or touch screen). Just like onenote. Describe alternatives you’ve considered OneNote Noteabilty GoodNotes Additional context Add any other context or screenshots about the feature request here.

[jstaaron]

Thanks for responding.
I will try and include my use case as you suggested.
I however came across a new method well new for me anyway called mind mapping. I am playing around with it seems promising. Maybe Anytype iPad version could have a drawing canvas. Still figuring it out.

Regards.

[C.c]

While we can’t draw mind map in Anytype yet, we could use graph view with relations to mimic those linkages. By linking between Object A and B, it is possible to make mind map illustrations. Pair local graph view with collection and you will have a project based mind map… straight lines only though.

Have fun