New JSON Canvas open file created by Obsidian

Talk
1

I open this thread just to discuss and learn what view the community has over this type of initiatives and how would we implement them in Anytype.

2

Imagine this getting implemented into Anytype! :heart_eyes:

3

First impression: the website is trash.
The colors in the right area are so, that the dark violet text content is nearly not recognizable on the black background.
Maybe it’s because of my dark mode.

In one (subjective long) minute I couldn’t figure out what it all is about.
Then I clicked on a link and there appeared an error.

After that I closed the page in frustration - something like this is not usable.

4

Pretty cool and good work!

5

Right after the announcement of JASON Canvas from Obsidian Orion Reed announced the Open Canvas Working Group on X / Twitter to pursue the idea of an open canvas standard even further. I think that’s an amazing initiative with projects like tldraw or Excalidraw on board.

6

In my opinion, this is the future the common files interoperability! This in combination with OCR and LLM transforms any hand-taken notes into real learning assets that later can be transformed easily into deliverables such Slide decks, project management boards, flashcards, second brain, etc.

Imagine take your notes in a product such as Remarkable, Onyx Boox, iPad, etc. Then those notes are searchable, reviewable, relatable, and reusable.

With OCR, it means that your hand-taken notes (better for learning) will be saved in sharable format!

With the LLM, you can:

  1. Ask whatever you want to your notes, or create new connections among the concepts that you have written about, in your own point of views!
  2. Create products out of your own notes.

The only downside for businesses to implement it is that makes easier to migrate from the app, or getting paid customers.

7

My opinion: Infinite canvas is good but not more important than everything as block, block as object and easy relation..

Experience in Obsidian

I moved to Anytype after Obsidian implemented Canvas, so this feature is not attractive enough to make me stay in Obsidian..

Good thing about Canvas:

  1. Infinite space to contemplate on
  2. Able to address any single paragraph in any page → Able to brainstorm small (atomic) points across pages
  3. Coordinates format - ability to understand canvas even if I decided to leave the programme
  4. Allow different formats as materials e.g. websites and plugins
  5. Keyboard controls

Limitation about Canvas:

  1. Single area of interest and visibility (with smaller screen): zooming in to view one area makes it impossible to view the complete structure knowing what is what (just a lot of shapes);also lots of un-utilisable space
  2. Cumbersome to add connection: add page/paragraph, then add arrows to the connection point of the box, then relation/connection details
  3. Only the maker can easily understand the contents: too much noises and no starting point
  4. Personally, I feel it is not intuitive enough. Too much friction in action which can’t catch up with my thought flow..

P.S. I have no idea if Obsidian gave any improvements to Canvas since the beginning.