What do you use for quickly jotting down random notes?

Back in 2008, Carsten Dominik referred to using a package remember.el for quickly jotting down side notes. Do people still generally use that? Or has something else come along to take it's place? [(YouTube: Carsten Dominik's discussion of remember.el)](https://youtu.be/oJTwQvgfgMM?t=1158)

https://orgmode.org/manual/Capture.html

Great, thanks!

Alternatively to the default org-capture (see comment above) you could also use Org-roam-capture, if you like to use Org-roam. It works very similar, but is neatly integrated into Org-roam (eg, automatically creates ids for your notes so you can link to them and stuff like that)

org-capture truly is a bicycle for the mind

Recently, I wrote about [my mobile capture process](https://karl-voit.at/2022/01/09/mobile-capture-process). This might be a good read additionally to the standard org capture method already posted here.

Pen and paper tbh :-).

Org capture is really handy, but I don't like that you need to define "targets" pointing to a fixed file or heading within a file. I'm also not a big fan of the target selection menu. So I used this trick described in the Consult wiki: https://github.com/minad/consult/wiki#org-capture

You can also use a datetree.

That sounds nifty! Which emacs package is that? /s

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Oh very good, I heard about roam a tiny bit, so I'll check that out, thanks!

Yes. The Consult trick is not a replacement for a datetree-type target. It's an improved alternative to defining several static targets (say "Project A", "Project B", "Readings", "Movies", etc.)

You can also refile when you're ready to finish the note, if it's not an immediate note.

This is interesting, I wasn't aware of it. It would be nice if the function used to read the refile location was customizable, so for instance one could use Consult there (which includes some nifty features like live preview and narrowing by level or state).

Wow, you have an information-rich blog with a long and extensive background in emacs, org mode, and MANY other systems. I'll definitely be checking it out, thanks!

I'd change "improved alternative" to just "alternative" in that sentence. The consult capture approach doesn't have single char key bindings for targets. It's like M-x versus key bindings, I wouldn't call M-x an improved alternative! I think the Consult trick is probably best used for less frequently used capture destinations, but for those you can also just refile from the capture buffer. Update: Upon scrolling down a bit further, I see that Sacha already mentioned refilling from the capture buffer.

Well, yes it's an opinionated comment, but I really just meant it to be an improvement over defining lots of targets. Personally, those keybinding for various targets never really stuck, so I prefer to go the "slow path" (i.e. completing read) every time. I don't use captures all that much, anyway.

I used to put stuff into scratch and later move stuff over to the right places if needed. I found remember last week and have switched to it for the time being. I like the simplicity of remember compared to Org Capture.

> remember Remember The Milk?

Meant remember.el, the same one you refer to: https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html\_mono/remember.html

Oh.. oops... I read your comment out of context, I thought you totally abandoned emacs for something more simple haha. Thanks for sharing!

I would just mention that GNU Hyperbole includes HyRolo, which lets you rapidly add snippets of information with any format using a minibuffer prompt. You can then do fast, full-text search across any entries and treat the results as a rapidly expandable or collapsible outline. It is compatible with Emacs outline files and Org files. I would recommend trying out the Hyperbole V8 pre-release (available as an Emacs package from Elpa Devel): See line 56 of [https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/hyperbole.git/tree/INSTALL](https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/hyperbole.git/tree/INSTALL) for how to install.

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Thanks! Very interesting. Quick link dump of Google search `GNU Hyperbole site:reddit.com` for later research: https://www.reddit.com/r/emacs/comments/nirwpk/my_understanding_of_gnu_hyperbole/ https://www.reddit.com/r/emacs/comments/izx5yb/gnu_hyperbole_713_the_antiviral_release_is_now/ https://www.reddit.com/r/emacs/comments/slx3x3/gnu_hyperbole_introduction_to_buttons_video/ https://www.reddit.com/r/emacs/comments/jk3cn0/daily_ways_gnu_hyperbole_helps_me_stay_in_flow/ https://www.reddit.com/r/emacs/comments/6w9ecn/anyone_using_hyperbole/ https://www.reddit.com/r/planetemacs/comments/smmauf/gnu_hyperbole_introduction_to_buttons/ https://www.reddit.com/r/emacs/comments/by28x5/my_gnu_hyperbole_vision_quest_or_jupiter_and/ https://www.reddit.com/r/emacs/comments/h9tm4r/hyperbole_for_zettelkasten/