John Goalby software engineer · maker
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Logseq

What is Logseq?

  • Second brain
  • Available on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android
    • Usable in most places you need
  • Offline use first
    • Security and privacy
  • Plain text files using markdown format
    • Future proof
    • Easy to export to other systems
    • Easy to version control
  • Free and open-source
    • No annoying subscriptions required
    • Not controlled by 3rd party company
  • Supports plugins, and is programmable
    • Extensibility

Limitations on iOS

Keyboard Shortcuts

If you click the 3 dots in the top right of the application, click settings, and then click keymap, you can see the keyboard shortcuts. You can also use the keyboard shortcut g s to see the shortcuts.

Useful Shortcuts

Enter - Enter edit mode Esc - Leave edit mode CMD-K - Search or create page CMD-SHIFT-P - Command palette
g s - Show shortcuts g a - All pages g f - Flashcards g g - Graph view
g j - Show journals g p - Previous journal g n - Next journal CMD-SHIFT-J - Open journal in sidebar
t l - Toggle left sidebar t r - Toggle right sidebar t w - Make screen wider t o - Toggle open blocks
CMD-DOWN - Expand CMD-UP - Collapse    

Properties

TODO

Queries

Give me all blocks that have the tag daily, but not the tag page itself or my templates page

{{query (and #daily (not (page “templates”)) (not (page “daily”))) }}

How can I order the columns in the query results?

The order of the columns within the table generated from the query is based on when the column was created. The simplest way to change the order of columns in the table is to unselect all properties and then reselect in the order you want them.

Task Management

TODO

Syncing using GitHub on iOS using WorkingCopy

You could sync with iCloud, but there are numerous reports of issues with it being slow on the forums. There is also a native LogSeq sync although it is still in beta.

Please note that you will have to do these steps for each iOS device you want to use LogSeq on. Also note that you will need to pay for the pro features of WorkingCopy to link folders.

Step 1, Set up the folder to sync

  • Clone your repository
  • Tap the newly cloned repository
  • Tap on the “Repository” item
  • Tap the repository name at the top of the screen
  • Tap Link Repository to menu item
  • Tap Directory
  • Browse for LogSeq folder on your device (not iCloud)
  • Create a new folder for your files
  • Tap Open to specify that folder as the linked folder
  • You should see a chain next to the repository name in the repository list

Step 2, Add graph to the folder

  • Open LogSeq
  • Tap Documents
  • Tap Add new graph
  • Tap Create a new graph
  • Give the graph a name
  • Uncheck iCloud sync
  • Select the folder you created in previous step and tap Open

Step 3a, Add automation for opening LogSeq to pull changes

  • Open ShortCuts > Automation Tab > Tap Plus to Create Personal Automation
  • Scroll down to App, and tap it
    • We define which app by tapping choose, and select LogSeq
    • Tap Is Opened
    • Tap Run immediately
    • Tap Next
  • Tap New Blank Automation
    • Tap Add Action
      • Search for action Pull Repository
        • Specify for Repository your Logseq repo
      • Tap Done

Step 3b, Add automation for opening LogSeq to pull changes

  • Open ShortCuts > Automation Tab > Tap Plus to Create Personal Automation
  • Scroll down to App, and tap it
    • We define which app by tapping choose, and select LogSeq
    • Tap Is Closed, and make sure Is Opened is not selected
    • Tap Run immediately
    • Tap Next
  • Tap New Blank Automation
    • Tap Add Action
      • Search for action Stage for Commit
        • For path specify *
        • For repository use your Logseq repo
      • Create an action for If condition below the stage action
        • Select Magic Variable - choose Filenames below the first action
        • Condition: has any value
      • Add Commit Repository action under if action
        • Repository your Logseq repo
        • For message specify Auto-commit from LogSeq
        • You can toggle off Fail when nothing to Commit to prevent failure notification
      • Add Push Repository action as second action under if action
        • Specify your repository as the Logseq repo

Step 4, Make sure it works

  • Open LogSeq and type something
  • Close LogSeq
  • See if your changes have been commited to GitHub
  • You need to make sure you lose focus on LogSeq after edits for shortcuts to run

Useful plugins

  • copycode
    • adds button to the right of code blocks to copy the code
  • bulletthreading
    • adds a visual indication of threading in bullets
  • git plugin
  • chatgpt
  • mindmap (markmap?)

Themes

  • Bonofix

Programming LogSeq

Languages supported (not on iOS):

  • Clojure
  • Javascript
  • Python
  • R

Resources