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Foam VS TiddlyWiki

Compare Foam VS TiddlyWiki and see what are their differences

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Foam logo Foam

Personal knowledge management and sharing on VSCode & GitHub

TiddlyWiki logo TiddlyWiki

a non-linear personal web notebook
  • Foam Landing page
    Landing page //
    2020-06-28
  • TiddlyWiki Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-23

Foam features and specs

  • Open Source
    Foam is an open-source tool, which means it is free to use and allows for community-driven development and contributions. Users can modify the source code to fit their specific needs.
  • Markdown Support
    Foam uses Markdown, a lightweight and easy-to-read syntax, making it simple to create and manage notes. This also allows for easy integration with other Markdown-based tools and platforms.
  • Integration with Visual Studio Code
    Foam is designed to work seamlessly with Visual Studio Code (VS Code). This provides users with a powerful and familiar text editor environment, complete with extensions and customization options.
  • Graph View
    Foam includes a graph visualization feature that helps users see and navigate the relationships between their notes, making it easier to understand and manage complex information.
  • Bidirectional Links
    Foam supports bidirectional links, allowing users to create connections between notes in both directions. This enhances the note-taking experience by enabling a more interconnected and dynamic information structure.
  • Community and Documentation
    Foam has a growing community of users and contributors, as well as comprehensive documentation. This support network helps users troubleshoot issues, share tips, and improve their knowledge of the tool.

Possible disadvantages of Foam

  • Limited to VS Code
    Foam relies on Visual Studio Code as its primary environment. Users who prefer different text editors or platforms might find this limitation restrictive and less convenient.
  • Learning Curve
    Although Foam leverages Markdown, users may still face a learning curve, especially if they are not familiar with VS Code or the specific features and extensions required to maximize Foam's capabilities.
  • Performance with Large Datasets
    Foam can struggle with performance issues when handling large datasets or a high number of notes. This can lead to slow response times and inefficient workflows.
  • Limited Mobile Support
    Foam is primarily designed for desktop use within VS Code, which means that mobile support is limited. Users looking for a seamless cross-platform experience might find this aspect lacking.
  • Customization Complexity
    While Foam offers a high degree of customization, setting up and configuring the tool to meet personal preferences and workflows can be complex and time-consuming for some users.

TiddlyWiki features and specs

  • Flexible and customizable
    TiddlyWiki is highly flexible, allowing users to create and organize content in numerous ways. You can customize the look and behavior extensively with themes, plugins, and custom macros.
  • Self-contained
    Every TiddlyWiki is a single HTML file, which means it's easy to store, share, and move around. This self-contained nature simplifies backup and version control.
  • No server needed
    Since TiddlyWiki runs entirely in the browser, there's no need for a server component. This makes setup and maintenance straightforward.
  • Active community
    TiddlyWiki has an active and supportive community that contributes plugins, themes, and offers help through forums and other platforms.
  • Open source
    Being open-source, TiddlyWiki allows users to inspect, modify, and extend the codebase according to their needs.

Possible disadvantages of TiddlyWiki

  • Learning curve
    The extensive customization options and unique concepts can make TiddlyWiki challenging to learn for new users, especially those without technical backgrounds.
  • Performance with large wikis
    As the size of the TiddlyWiki file grows, performance can degrade, leading to slower loading times and less responsive interactions.
  • Browser limitations
    Relying entirely on browser capabilities can impose limitations, such as compatibility with certain features varying across different browsers.
  • Manual saving
    While some TiddlyWiki variants offer automatic saving, the original version requires manual saving, which can lead to data loss if the user forgets to save often.
  • Collaboration challenges
    With TiddlyWiki being a single file, simultaneous collaboration can be challenging, as merging changes from multiple users isn't straightforward.

Analysis of Foam

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Foam is a good tool for those seeking an open-source environment for note-taking and knowledge management, particularly if they appreciate an approach based on markdown files and integration within a powerful text editor like Visual Studio Code. Its flexibility and user-driven customization make it suitable for users who enjoy tweaking and optimizing their workspace according to their workflow.

Why this product is good

  • Foam is a personal knowledge management and sharing system inspired by Roam Research, offering an open-source solution built on top of Visual Studio Code. It provides users with capabilities to create and interlink notes using markdown files, offering flexibility and customization suited to personal preferences. Foam supports features like backlinking, graph visualization of notes, and integration with VS Code extensions, making it a robust tool for managing interconnected information effectively.

Recommended for

  • Individuals preferring markdown-based note-taking systems
  • Developers familiar with Visual Studio Code
  • Users who appreciate open-source software and community-driven projects
  • People interested in managing complex, interconnected knowledge bases

Analysis of TiddlyWiki

Overall verdict

  • TiddlyWiki is an excellent choice for users seeking a flexible and robust personal knowledge management tool. Its open-source nature and active community support enhance its appeal, particularly for those who appreciate having full control over their data and workflows.

Why this product is good

  • TiddlyWiki is a versatile and unique personal wiki platform that is highly regarded for its customizability, portability, and independence from server dependencies. It allows users to easily create, organize, and manage content in a single HTML file, making it ideal for personal note-taking, journaling, or managing complex projects. Its powerful tagging and linking system facilitates efficient information retrieval. Furthermore, it has a strong community and extensive documentation that supports both beginners and advanced users.

Recommended for

  • Individuals who prefer offline and portable solutions for note-taking and personal knowledge management.
  • Users with a willingness to engage with a tool that offers extensive customization through plugins and custom scripts.
  • Those who appreciate a strong community and open-source solutions.

Foam videos

+ Add

These panels DESTROYED my STUDIO....REVERB? - ArrowZoom Foam Review

More videos:

  • Review - Arrowzoom Foam Review
  • Review - Ryobi Foam Blaster VS. Amazon Foam Cannon | Review

TiddlyWiki videos

+ Add

TIddlyWiki Tutorial 01 - Installing Tiddlywiki and Creating Your First Tiddler

More videos:

  • Review - Intro to TiddlyWiki
  • Review - TiddlyWiki: Non Linear Note Taking Platform

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Foam and TiddlyWiki)

Foam

TiddlyWiki

Note Taking
24 24%
Note Taking
76% 76
Knowledge Base
27 27%
Knowledge Base
73% 73
Knowledge Management
100 100%
Knowledge Management
0% 0
WiKis
0 0%
WiKis
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Foam and TiddlyWiki. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Foam and TiddlyWiki

Foam Reviews

We have no reviews of Foam yet.
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TiddlyWiki Reviews

  1. Stan
    · Founder at SaaSHub ·
    A great app yet a bit complicated

    Not too far ago, I invested several days into "mastering" and tuning TiddlyWiki. It was an interesting experience. I loved it on the whole and felt very enthusiastic about using it store all my knowledge. It's super flexible and use of tags, filters and macros make it unique. However, it's a bit complicated for mass adoption. Also, the extended use of its powerful features may make your computer tangibly slow.

    That's why I found "Obsidian", that's what I'm using today to store my knowledge.

    🏁 Competitors: Obsidian.md
    👍 Pros:    Very flexible|Browser based
    👎 Cons:    High learning curve|Could be slow
Top 12 Self-hosted Wiki Engines for 2024: A Comprehensive Guide
With its support for non-linear note-taking, TiddlyWiki proves to be a versatile tool for various information management tasks. However, it is worth noting that the unique structure of TiddlyWiki may present a slight learning curve for new users, and the single-file model might be slightly less efficient when handling very large datasets.
Source: medevel.com
5 Best Open Source Alternatives to Notion
One of the most significant advantages of TiddlyWiki is its offline capabilities. It's a self-contained HTML file, which means that you can store all your data locally on your device, even without an internet connection. Additionally, it supports Markdown and other syntaxes, making it an excellent alternative for writers, developers, and anyone who needs a flexible,...
Source: affine.pro
The 10 Best Self-hosted Wiki Software for Linux System
TiddlyWiki is one of the many Wiki Software for Linux. But it is unique because it is a non-linear notebook. So you can use it to create your regular notes, organizing your task, even for brainstorming. Individual pages in TiddlyWiki are known as a tiddler. It has options to create and customize your tiddlers with dropdown menus.
Source: www.ubuntupit.com
Best 11 Open-source Free Wiki Engines for teams and enterprise in 2022
TiddlyWiki has been my favorite wiki on this list, It is an open-source portal one-file wiki that does not even require install. Despite its simple use and look, it has a rich list of features, plugins, and themes.
Source: medevel.com
The Best 20 Wiki Software For Your Business& Internal Knowledge for 2022
A non-linear notebook for collecting, structuring, organizing, and sharing complex information, TiddlyWiki is the brainchild of software developer Jeremy Rustom. This wiki software is ideal for recording information and keeping it organized so that it’s easily accessible even after years. Want to take notes, keep a journal, or manage tasks? Whatever it is, TiddlyWiki helps...
Source: www.proprofskb.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, TiddlyWiki should be more popular than Foam. It has been mentiond 196 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Foam mentions (48)

  • Migrating from DokuWiki to Obsidian
    I've been using foam instead of obsidian for my personal knowledge base. It works rather well. And it's completely free and ultimately just markdown. While I might wish it was djot, I don't wish hard enough to make that so myself https://foambubble.github.io/foam/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • I Use Obsidian
    I gave up on Obsidian and just use Foam (https://foambubble.github.io/foam/) and/or vimwiki. I just can’t get into overwrought, arbitrarily designed organization schemes or proprietary apps (Foam-managed content is just plain Markdown, so I can easily do without it—it provides the absolute bare minimum for easy linking of notes without proprietary markup). - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Use a Work Journal to Recover Focus Faster and Clarify Your Thoughts
    If you're interested in an open-source, free equivalent, check out VSCodium (open-source version of VSCode), and FOAM (VSCode plugin - https://foambubble.github.io/foam/). In a new project, create a `docs/` folder, and start with `docs/notes.md`. When you want to branch out to other files & links, you can type [[MyTopic]] and FOAM will automatically create MyTopic.md, and will allow you to click on the link and... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Vscode setup with Foam and Logseq for Digital Note Taking
    Source: (1) A personal knowledge management and sharing system for VSCode - Foam. https://foambubble.github.io/foam/. (2) A personal knowledge management and sharing system for VSCode. https://github.com/foambubble/foam. (3) Loam - Visual Studio Marketplace. https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ciceroisback.loam. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Request: VSCode extension that allows users to edit .cavas files
    Foam[0], memo[1], Markdown Memo[2], md-graph[3] file/directory display plugin [4] ----- misc related links: https://forum.obsidian.md/t/obsidian-vscode-editor-elevate-your-code-editing-experience-in-obsidian/69057/2 https://forum.obsidian.md/t/vs-code-plugin-the-best-of-both-worlds/6358 https://jukkaniiranen.com/2022/01/canvas-app-source-code-editing-with-vs-code-in-your-browser/... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
View more

TiddlyWiki mentions (196)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Foam and TiddlyWiki, you can also consider the following products

Obsidian.md - A second brain, for you, forever. Obsidian is a powerful knowledge base that works on top of a local folder of plain text Markdown files.

Logseq - Logseq is a local-first, non-linear, outliner notebook for organizing and sharing your personal knowledge base.

Zim Wiki - Zim is a graphical text editor used to maintain a collection of wiki pages. Each page can contain links to other pages, simple formatting and images.

Roam Research - A note-taking tool for networked thought

DokuWiki - DokuWiki is a simple to use and highly versatile Open Source wiki software that doesn't require a database.

Nuclino - Nuclino works like a collective brain, helping teams bring all their knowledge, docs, and projects together in one place. It's a modern, simple, and blazingly fast way to collaborate.

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