Hi Alan, Eric, Thomas, and others, On Mon, Sep 30, 2013 at 06:01:57PM +0100, Eric S Fraga wrote: > Alan Schmitt <alan.schm...@polytechnique.org> writes: > > > fatkasuvayu+li...@gmail.com writes: > > > >> To me the best way to describe Org is: a programmable and dynamic > >> plain-text note taking platform. > > > > I really like this description. Short, and to the point. > > but it's missing what for me is the key point which got me into org: > time management! So how about > > a programmable and dynamic plain-text note taking time management platform > > but I'm sure somebody else will think something is missing and make > this sentence even longer ;-)
I'm glad people seem to like it :). Although I would refrain from extending that particular sentence. This is what was going through my head: 1. What does an Org document look like? It is primarily a text outline. 2. Is there more to the outline? Well I can: - export it, - put metadata on it, like: timestamps, clocks, etc, - put TODO markers on it, ... and so on 3. What about the text (content)? It is really just text, but supports a few nifty things. - Links to other documents, other applications, executable lisp, etc. - It also supports nifty formatting and structural markup. - Tables with a deceptively advanced math engine underneath to do spreadsheet tasks. - Source blocks, optionally which can be evaluated and can interact with other text content in the Org file: tables, other source blocks, etc. But then I thought, "Hmm, I can't put all that." So what is at the core? Outline with text, lets just call that notes. And all the cool features? I can use special markup to add enhance the text, aggregate and filter it, and present it in many ways; that is quite dynamic. I can also program it in pretty much any language. Hence: Org is a programmable and dynamic note taking platform. This still does not do justice, so lets put in supporting follow-up sentences highlighting my favourite bits. Hence my following sentence: All its features are essentially built on this ability: planning & task management, authoring or publishing, literate programming, and what not. Now others can tack on a description for their favourite bit of Org as supporting sentences. Anyway, I thought clarifying my thoughts would help improve the discussion. Hope this helps, :) -- Suvayu Open source is the future. It sets us free.