I am only a few weeks in to using Anytype – but I already feel that this is inherent to the system. I’m not daily driving yet, but my 1-off notes/tasks & ideas have started going in to my space. Overtime, I feel the categorization will map itself out.
I understand the frustration… I guess I’ve curbed a lot of feelings with the fact it’s still beta. The development timeline does not bother me that much since I know it’s being built from the ground-up.
Honestly, the main issue that’s been bothering me for months with Anytype is this one. It really gives me a lot of anxiety, especially since I have to manually handle something as basic as image syncing. I wish this core functionality worked automatically, so I didn’t have to go through each object one by one just to get my images to appear on Android.
many apps sync assets and attachments on demand only. while I agree that with an offline first approach we should expect to have all data available offline on a device when synced, it is not the standard for mobile apps. I point this out as you call this feature basic. but also iOS restricts app developers from syncing too many things in the background, too. this is one example (and the usually smaller storage space) why many apps sync assets on demand.
I’ve used Obsidian before, which stores everything locally, so images are always loaded directly from my device without needing to fetch them from anywhere else. That’s probably why I had different expectations! Your point about the demand-only approach is interesting. I assumed that self-hosting would resolve this issue.
I understand your expectation, but for example in my case, where I have almost 1 TB of media files, and I can stream music and videos like if it was youtube… (really, for example I can in 1 or 2 seconds go into the middle of a 4 GB video)… and not waste 1 TB of space on each device, that is a wonderful feature!
I need it too ;-). An option for full synchronization (per space?) is required.
My use case: vacation, not always networked, but I absolutely need the tickets (pdf) stored in… another app than Anytype at the moment ;-).
You have a way to do that… just export with include files the space. (mentioning as a solution for extreme cases).
But maybe an option to make Anytype work and syncthing/dropbox/etc… as long as they don’t make it mandatory.
?
And how can I use the export?
I need a space to put all my notes, photo, guide, files for my travel, with an easy (and full…) access. Not jsut text files + pdf next to them, I can do it without any apps.
It worked very well but without Anytype, it’s one of my failed real-life tests 
I was thinking in the case of you going offline and needing to have the PDF files available. Exporting, exports every file. Like I said, for extreme cases!
I suspect, since in the export already there is the functionality of “full download”, the Anysync protocol/code base is ready for it, just needs the functionality.
I will try to check for a solution which is try to make use of the API to download every note and see if that causes AnySync to download all files.
EDIT: It seemed to work! Added on another computer an image and a zip file. I worked with the API to download the zip file but not the image and then disconnected the network. Offline, the zip file was accessible but not the image. (ensuring that there was no background sync cheating the test)
@Shampra If you want to do something with this, the code, or the explanation you can DM me.
I have made a TUI code that lists all the files in a space, allow to select each or all, and downloads them. Then close Anytype, get offline, open Anytype, all previously selected files are available.
Have you try it on a smartphone?
Thanks @sturdily, the test is interesting well done but it’s more convenient, stress-free and immediately functional to not use Anytype 
.
In another case (again yesterday), I’ve got job meetings and 4G reception is very poor in some rooms. My notes need to be in a truly synchronized tool that can be used offline.
If I have to do a forced export or launch an API before each trip (meeting, trip, coffee, errands), hello stress if I forget ;-).
It’s clearly feasible by the team, clearly necessary to respect the “offline first” announced, there’s just a need to consider the cases well to propose a functioning adapted to all with a good UX. But then again, is it envisaged? Rejected? Planned for one day? etc? No idea.
So for my understanding you utilized the API to download all selected media from Anytype to a zip file like the export feature?
Would be interesting if theres a full sync option for android. Also If you have P2P you have to guess what files are synced and if they’re finished syncing. That’s why I use the selfhosted option too because it shows me the sync progress and not just a green status. Wish it works like Syncthing tbh.
there is not atm, files / images are downloaded on demand on mobile
Not to download to a zip file. I just downloaded the files to “/dev/null”, to nowhere. The fact is after that, Anytype has the files synched for itself (like if it was accessed in the Application).
The files already synched were instant, and it only finished when everything was done.
I haven’t tried mobile app, as I am a desktop only user.
I was just trying to help… If its better to not use Anytype, don’t use it 
I am not a salesman for Anytype!
The problem with writing is that it’s hard to know the real feeling behind the words.
If it’s said with a smile or humor — great.
If there’s a hint of annoyance or anything else, I want to clarify:
So really, nothing aggressive — just a sincere thank you.
This is funny! 
I mean… I did 2 !! Smilies!! ( to clarify what I meant was, I was just trying to help, also discover new ways to solve problems and test drive the API, and see what I can do. Also, I don’t know what your needs are and how you work, and if it is easier or not or pratical or convenient, so I trust your words and you don’t “hurt my feelings” by not using Anytype, because I am in no shape or form related to Anytype company or have stock! Especially when like I said, I use Anytype for some things, but also use Emacs for others, so who am I to say anything about what you should use or not!!!)
I was hoping that instead of all that, the 2 smilies would do the trick!
That’s what I thought, but when in doubt…
Hmm aren’t Sets Databases? Can’t Any Type have custom properties (not globally shared)? Then you can have “databases” with “private columns/properties”.
A space is a database. Queries and collections are ways of displaying data from a space.
Sorry, you’re right. A Space is a database but then a Set/Query looks like a table to me. And that’s basically what I meant instead of “database”. Or more like a “materialized view of a table” even. The point I want to make is that you can have “private properties” that don’t pollute the whole space.