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Urtext: The Python plaintext library for people who've tried everything else

Urtext: The Python plaintext library for people who've tried everything else

11 comments

·May 1, 2025
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codethief

Took me a while to understand what this is about – the website calls it a "library" but shows a GUI(?!) As far as I understand it is:

  - a plaintext file format (.urtext), 
  - a Python library to parse & manipulate said file format,
  - a SublimeText plugin,
  - a GUI for visualization.

wangii

could anyone give one sentence pitch why it's better than markdown files?

lynx97

Just took a very quick look... Am I right that this plaintext system requires a GUI editor to be used at all? No Emacs/VIM support?

nbeversluis

Correct that it needs an editor, but it need not be GUI. Everything can be done in text buffers only. The library is newly presented and there is not an implementation in VIM, but it would be a good choice and would not take long to implement. I will make a note that there is interest.

pvonmalt

I’ve been using urtext as a “Second Brain” for several years now and love it. Miles beyond any other personal knowledge and notes system.

Simply the ability to place, edit, and sort by timestamps sets it apart from other notes/knowledge systems.

Requires some familiarity with Sublime Text and ST’s quirks, and eventually an ST license is basically a necessity.

junipertea

Can you elaborate on how you use it? I tried googling any mention of it and failed (all reddit posts were deleted). I installed it into sublime but it didn't seem to do anything

bomewish

Odd they don’t use the sublime package system, given that it is a sublime plugin. Can’t figure that one out.

null

[deleted]

deknos

i just wish, somebody would ratify something like asciidoc+zim-wiki as a document format .. and include proper citing (like in emails).

Than all this code+program+data could be decoupled.

nbeversluis

Urtext /ˈʊrtekst/ is an open-source library for plaintext writing, research, documentation, knowledge bases, journaling, Zettelkasten, project/personal organization, note taking, a lightweight database substitute, or any other writing or information management that can be done in text format. With some Python knowledge you can practically run your entire life from Urtext.

_ZeD_

Isn't this like leo[0]?

-- https://leo-editor.github.io/leo-editor/