FOSS Resources for Research

  • Trilium for writing notes and connecting them via links. It is similar to obsidian but fully FOSS. It is local first but can also be setup to sync to a server. This is my most important application that I run on all my devices. The other good thing about having a server application running is that you can access it via webgui on any devices, meaning your research is always accessible.
  • Memos for writing memos. This is my second most important application which can only run on a server or locally via docker. It's not complicated but can sometimes be better than just writing notes on paper as you can easily search through them in the future. I find it has a different purpose than Trilium in that I often throw random thoughts at it, ie memos.
  • Traggo for timing yourself. I like this server side application because I often feel bad about not working enough. This application helps me time my various work such as research, writing, and language practice then present it in a a readable graph.
  • Nextcloud for a local cloud. This service must be hosted on your server and then can be accessed via web or local program. It has many functions but its core and best function is acting as a cloud server. I also utilize its webdav function for syncing with Zotero.
  • Linkding for collecting links of interest. While Zotero is great for accumulating research reading, Linkding is good for collecting all other links of interest. This could be done on Memos as well but the Linkding browser extension makes it even easier. It only runs on a server.

Other

  • Freshrss for rss feeds. Though many haven’t heard of rss, it’s a great tool to bring together feeds for both research and enjoyment. For instance, you can link h-net, YouTube channel, and news sources all to one feed. The best part is you have control over what you see and you only receive the video and text completing getting rid of ads. This must be hosted server side.
  • Paperless-ngx for pdf and other readable files organized via tagging. Many love this server side application. It’s good for organizing your PDFs. For most research I use Zotero for doing this but maintain this for other PDF.
  • Stirling PDF for free PDF editing. If you’ve moved away from Adobe you may need a good PDF editor that isn’t some random website. Hosting your own server instance of this gives you access to multiple editing functions.
  • Vaultwarden for managing your own passwords. This works similarly to 1Password or Bitwarden except you’re in complete control of your data. You can access it from your server via webgui or use Bitwarden apps and browser plugins using the selfthosted option.