My doctor is not infallible, but I love him.
My wife is not perfect, but I love her.
Heck, even I am not perfect, but I can live with myself.
Perfect (and unattainable) is the enemy of the useful.
DEVONthink is not perfect, but shit, it takes me where I need to go, every day, like a trusty Subaru ForesterTurbo.
12 Likes
DevonThink is the tool I use to manage my digital file cabinet (PKMS)
7 Likes
FWIW, the author of the original Bullet Journal book has said that people with more utilitarian designs tend to actually use their journals more consistently.
That matches my own experience, in that the more time I spend setting up and maintaining a system, the less useful it is long term. Usually such systems fail the ignorability rule: they fall apart if I’m not able to devote time to them.
Art projects are great! Knowledge management is great! But even if you’re a working artist, combining the two poses some challenges.
3 Likes
I was all in on Obsidian from 2021 to October 2024, but it’s fiddly, and that’s a big reason why I went back to Devonthink. Obsidian fails the ignorability test (I love that idea, @kewms). DevonThink’s organizational structure can be ignored for a good long time, while using it every day.
Another reason why I gave up Obsidian is it favors Markdown, whereas I need a document management, note taking and writing system that supports Microsoft Office documents, PDFs and Web applications too. DevonThink does a much better job at that.
8 Likes
For nearly fifteen years, I have been utilizing DevonThink, a productivity tool that has become an indispensable component of my workflow. Its exceptional performance has consistently exceeded my expectations, and I have no inclination to explore alternative solutions. I extend my sincere gratitude to the dedicated developers who have crafted this remarkable product.
15 Likes
Well, for a broad definition of PKM, I do the same. Anything you have on your computer is a PKM.
But PKM as its used on the Internet refers to a kind of individual, personal Wikipedia, with extensive hyperlinking between documents. It’s also Markdown-based. Does that describe your PKM?
Yes
It’s also Markdown-based.
I don’t see Markdown as a PKMS requirement
fwiw My note format preference is Formatted Note (HTML)
3 Likes
NO. YOU. (shows AndreasEbner the door gratefully)
1 Like
I am using DEVONthink nearly every day and no other software comes even close to it in regard to usefulness, reliability and support from the development team and user base.
For me it is interesting to note that the OP has used two question marks in the heading.
If the function of the webclipper is the major reason for the OP to call it quits, DEVONthink might not be the best software for his use. The other two items mentioned:
- extensions (again with a question mark)
- general comment about PKM without any specifics
seem to me like desperatly finding some additional points why the OP is not happy.
All that is ok, but I agree with @MsLogica that he shouldn’t speak for “the users”.
I am happy with DEVONthink and wish all a Happy New Year.
5 Likes
to which software are you switching to?
2 Likes
7 days after being notified of the issue. What a dinosaur…
(/s)
5 Likes
You are right - but even in the software world many would be amazed that many big government and company systems continue to run on COBOL, FORTRAN ans other coding languages of the 1960s. Most have been enhanced by simply adding other products on top that interface with the old code. Indeed a lot of organisations simply cannot rebuild their old systems in new technologies because of their size and complexity.
Although I would love to see a better UI with Devonthink it is still my mainstay.
1 Like
Happy New Year, everyone! It looks like I’ll be sticking with DEVONthink for another year, bringing my total to around fifteen years since I first started using it. Each year, I cast a wide net, exploring new apps that promise to enhance my personal knowledge management (PKM). But inevitably, I stick with DT—-it consistently meets my needs better than anything else. At this point, my annual search has become more of a ritual than a serious hunt because it’s clear that no other app aligns with my specific requirements as well as DT does.
That’s not to say DT is a “perfect” solution for me. In fact, I think it’s important to acknowledge that we all have unique needs, and no app can perfectly satisfy every individual. Even if I were to design an app tailored specifically to my preferences, my needs would evolve over time (as they have yet again this year), inevitably revealing shortcomings. The OP of this thread seems to have encountered limitations in DT that another app addressed better, prompting their decision to move on. I think that’s a smart approach, and I genuinely hope they find what they’re looking for. However, I don’t believe it’s fair to claim that DT’s developers don’t listen to their users. My experience has been quite the opposite—-members of the development team are even present in this thread. It’s worth noting that “listening” doesn’t necessarily mean “agreeing.”
For me, DT continues to be a great fit, probably because it has so many options that my changing needs still get met by it. I don’t use the web clipper much, as I’ve always found web clippers to produce inconsistent results—-issues that often stem from individual websites or browsers. Instead, I’ve relied on printing pages to PDF for about a decade, a method that works almost flawlessly for me. While I sympathize with the OP regarding their disrupted workflow, the web clipper isn’t a priority feature for me, so I’m content.
As for the OP’s post, someone may have already pointed this out, but the “dinosaur” reference might have been a tongue-in-cheek nod to DT’s namesake, inspired by the Devonian period. On the other hand, since the OP is leaving the app, perhaps the “dinosaur” label was meant to imply obsolescence, suggesting that DT is an evolutionary dead end. Then again, some “dinosaurs,” like birds, have thrived and adapted, which may undercut the intended jab. As someone else noted, dinosaurs were, after all, far more successful over time than we mammals have been, so there’s some perspective for you.
Once again, Happy New Year! I’m looking forward to continuing my DT journey in 2025. Thanks to the team at DT, I anticipate another great year ahead.
10 Likes
If you ever find something that is “better” than DT, please let us know 
There are new apps coming on the market almost daily and when I look at them more closely, I don’t find them to be a better fit than DT. This apparently corresponds to your experience.
Basically, I ask myself, what can be done better “structurally”, so to speak, in DT? I don’t mean small improvements, but fundamental changes to how the app works. Apart from the integration of AI, which I don’t need … but maybe I’ll think differently tomorrow 
.
1 Like
If there existed anything better than DT, we would already know. Impossible that something that good would have remained hidden, n’est ce pas?
6 Likes
If this had been around for a long time, we would probably know about it. But if it’s coming onto the market tomorrow, then I (at least) don’t know that yet. Predictions are difficult, especially if they concern the future, n’est ce pas?
Venture capital-backed apps: That’s true! Pay us $10+ a month so you can know before others do!
(Yes, some of the hyped apps actually mean that. Tana, for example, has been in paid “early access” for more than two years. Numerous others are still in “beta” after multiple years of revenue operation.)
1 Like
I can’t agree, given the complexity of web sites ‘under the hood’, DEVONthink 3 works incredibly well within the constantly changing Apple ecosystem too.
5 Likes
Frank, I would know, though I’ve been retired for 3 years now. As a software user-experience designer. This kind of app does not happen overnight, not the way DT is. There is no way. And I followed the development of things such as Hypercard and SuperCard, Macromedia Director, Photoshop, Lightroom, Tinderbox. Not bragging, just saying. But if you want to see something interesting somewhat under the radar, look for the browser Arc. Far from perfect, but very smart, and with tons of little usability thoughts.
4 Likes