Hello Obsidian users.
Since more than a year, I have been slowly programming an Obsidian to Latex translator (had to write mine, cause the existing ones don’t unfold content from embedded notes, which I heavily use). Now it works seamlessly and is ready for deployment.
I managed to write a full paper, with equation referencing, cross-references, citations, figure size management, you name it.
POSITIVES:
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It’s friggin’ FREE! Overleaf costs something close to 15dollars per month
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Absolutely easy to write equations and do everything you do in Overleaf, but even easier and faster
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Minimalism: I use zen-mode to hide everything, and it feels so natural and easy to concentrate. Even without the zen-mode it’s easier to concentrate.
Link other parts of my note-system to the paper. I have my notes in the same ecosystem and can link them to the text. For example, if I make a claim in my paper, I can write in the comments %% [[relevant_note]] %%, wherein the relevant_note can be a hypothesis, a note from literature, some simulation/experimental results. -
Modularity. I can search for “writing” and “intro” and it takes me to the introduction note (I use many small notes), which makes life easy and I find it easier to concentrate when editing small parts.
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Equations are easier and faster. If you use the "QuickLatex for Obsidian"plugin, that is
NEGATIVES
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Navigation to the appropriate text is slower than in Overleaf, since I am a heavy user of embedded notes. This means that I have to search for the text in the note, then open the note, and THEN edit it. In overleaf, you just edit the text directly.
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You cannot collaborate with others in Obsidian
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You cannot write comments in the way you can in Google docs and mention other people (unless you pay)
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Up to my knowledge, you cannot define custom functions like you do in LateX
All in all, I’m happy that the conversion tool works.
However, for collaborating with others, I had to write the final parts in Overleaf.
Let me know your thoughts.