I agree with most of what MikeyP and HAN have said. For me, a note-taking software that emphasizes local storage, privacy, and encryption, but automatically copies the key to the clipboard (a place where theft is rampant) when displaying the key is already extremely insecure, and moreover, the key cannot be changed. When I pointed this out, many people told me how difficult it is to crack Anytype’s encryption, but this logic is basically equivalent to telling others: “I’ve installed a very advanced password lock, and I’ve pasted the unchangeable password outside the door.” Furthermore, I have no idea how many devices have logged into my account. In a future where Anytype becomes popular, this will be a voyeur’s paradise—you don’t even need to crack the key; just monitoring the clipboard will get it.
Additionally, Anytype feels like a data island. Although it’s local, it lacks the ability to interact with other software. Compared to the convenience and automation offered by other local software, it’s quite behind. Just like Anytype’s updates in note-taking, despite its advanced concepts, the experience of taking notes with Anytype is like using Microsoft Sticky Notes (Plus) that can only open one page.
I have now switched to SiYuan, but I’ve been following Anytype, so I want to say that what I’m about to say is not out of emotional venting. I believe Anytype has potential, but not now, nor a year from now. Given the current development pace, it might be good in three to four years. This isn’t sarcasm or anything else; I’m just stating what I understand.
I strongly recommend the development team use Anytype to take notes in a completely unfamiliar subject or field to see how much friction there is in the process and how troublesome it is to manage and restructure relations later on. Similarly, I suggest experiencing software like Roam, SiYuan, and Logseq in this way.
What really made me decide not to pay has nothing to do with the development speed; it’s purely because Anytype’s development direction is entirely focused on multi-user collaboration. Compared to SiYuan, Obsidian, and Logseq, the experience in personal note-taking is far behind.