#14

I think Obsidian should focus on it’s unique functionalities, or what is mostly related to a knowledge system. As to me, I like the advanced editing features of vim, then I set the default application of .md as vim, so when I feel the document need some special treatment, I just right click it and choose “Open in default app”. I recommend you guys to try the same, set IAWriter as default .md application, and use it when necessary.

Generally my point is what Obsidian counts most to me is it’s a knowledge system that I can easily manage my notes together in a connected and organized way, so the advanced editing features are nice to have, but may considered low priority comparing to those productivity-related ones.

#15

IA Writer is a payed software. Not everyone wants to pay for editing .md files while Obsidian is good at doing it with, adding a custom preview mode and an custom markdown output. The typewriter scrolling is not an advanced editing feature, I think, as IA writer is a minimalist editor so… (and I hate it. The black or white only feature and the lack of difference between level of heading drives me crazy).

#16

I believe every single editing, search, or browsing interface, from text editors, to sidebars, to settings menus to browsing channels on your television should include some amount of buffering context surrounding the focal point. It is an incredible user experience. And I find it speeds up spatial comprehension.

And given that back-linked, networked knowledge apps are by design concerned with surrounding context, I think a UX feature like this is entirely on point.

2 Likes
#17

The typewriter scrolling is not an advanced editing feature, I think, as IA writer is a minimalist editor so…

Hmm though IA writer is a minimalist editor, it is a native app developed in Objective-C, which is actually easier to achieve editing features because the code was in full control. While Obsidian’s editor is based on CodeMirror.js, it is limited by what CodeMirror can or cannot do, so it’s possible that typewriter scrolling is one of those not well supported by CodeMirror, implementing would be a pain in the ass :woozy_face:

#18

Totally agree, I just worried typewriter scroll might be a little bit hard to achieve from technical perspective, you konw, we have so many feature requests, but it’s so little time and developers :joy:

1 Like
#19

There are code mirror addons with typewriter scrolling.

1 Like
#20

I would also like to request this feature. When typing notes in a split pane situation I continually feel the need to reorient the cursor up by using the mouse. It’s distracting. Thanks for your consideration.

#21

+1 to this. For daily writing, where notes are always longer than a screenful, it’s a literal ‘pain in the neck’ ergonomically for the cursor to sink to the bottom of my external monitor and stay there without regular manual adjustment.

2 Likes
#22

I find it doesn’t make much difference on a laptop, but I wouldn’t write anything long form in a program that didn’t have this feature. As you say, the pain in the neck becomes literally true for writers without it. Ergonomics of monitors aren’t great at the best of times.

#23

It isn’t just about where you’re looking or pointing your neck. It’s also about being able to see content below where you are writing, and having some surrounding contect. On a small screen like a laptop it’s even worse for going out of view more quickly.

#24

If I’m writing, there’s no content below.
Reviewing or revising is another matter, but that works better without typewriter mode anyway.

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#25

Reviewing or revising is another matter, but that works better without typewriter mode

Above, I talked about the difference between snapping-style typewriter mode, and the margin-style of the “scrolloff” feature in Vim. I don’t want my view snapping around when I’m editing. But scrolloff is a much gentler way of making sure your cursor never reaches the absolute top or bottom of the screen. This is something I always want turned on. Always.

Most implementations of typewriter mode just hard-lock your cursor to a specific location. In that case you’re right. That is annoying when trying to edit.

#26

I’ve never used vim, but I think scrolloff is one of the systems which give a minimum level of context above and below?
I can see it being useful for some purposes - and may suit some people all of the time, but it would rarely be relevant for me. Either I don’t need to see the immediate context, or I want to scan considerable portions of text.
I’d see scrolloff, assuming I understand what you mean, as a separate and additional feature request to typewriter mode.

#27

I would also like to +1 a request for typewriter mode.

3 Likes
#28

also +1 for this feature.

1 Like
#29

+1 for sure. I’m deep in Nanowrimo and yet again I find myself constantly scrolling to keep up with my own writing.

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Additionally, I also do a lot of non-revision insertion writing, in my work at least. Insert an example of rules between two rules. Insert a pullquote in a lore section. Insert a new type of text passage between existing text sections in multiple articles. And I would want typewriter scrolling probably 75% of the time in each of these cases.

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#30

+1 I think using a feature like this with my mechanical keyboard would feel amazing.

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#31

This would be perfect for taking notes quickly! Great idea

#32

I finally figured out what this is, honestly it seems like a wonderful idea!

I do a lot of writing for a blog I run, and this would be perfect for that

#33

As @Dor mentioned, there is an existing CodeMirror add-on for typewriter scrolling that might be used to build typewriter mode for Obsidian:

Also, this improvement by another developer:

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