How should third party packages brand Joplin?

[james-carroll]

I've updated the snap store listing for Joplin with the 3.0 release. In particular, there's a new screenshot of the V3 interface as it appears in Ubuntu 24.04 ( I.E there's a trash folder ), and also ripped one of the graphics from Joplins website demonstrating the app sync and some prettier looking visual content, so there's now two images rather than one.

The text/description however has changed significantly. For the past 4 years it's been underplaying what Joplin can do; and as I looked upon it on the new Snap Store in Ubuntu 24.04, I thought it looked terribly small to the point of looking amateurish.

Adding the new screenshot made it look significantly better by itself; but herein lies my problem, how should a third party actually describe Joplin?

I've quickly drummed up some of the main features and emphasized sync, Joplin cloud, self hosting, plugins, etc. But in terms of tone and the like, how free are we really to express it?

(The review system was changed in Ubuntu 23.10, so the 54 "Very Good" reviews is nice progress to see organically!)

Personally I think that's a pretty good sales pitch, but I do note I go into the "App Store" type of writing at the end that could be seen as silly to some.

Ultimately I'm asking, does this look good to the project, and also, does it look good to the community. Is there something that could be added/changed/removed to make that stand out more

(P.S here I'm showing the Desktop apps view, but these changes are in the Web Store view too which I'd equally like to look good! - Install Joplin on Linux | Snap Store )

[muzak]

Take Notesnook's page for example: Install Notesnook on Linux | Snap Store

Their description values:

• Bold standalone headings
• Short paragraphs and sentences
• Bullets for lists
• Imperative mood

These make the description stand out by quickly showcasing what users can do with Joplin.

As for screenshots, I suggest reusing (or altering) homepage sections, including backgrounds and text.

Visual consistency with official branding doesn't hurt. Zoomed in app screenshots, accompanied by headings and short text, can foreshadow features before users scroll down.

[james-carroll]

Cheers, that's a really good example, both because their listing is high quality, and also, it's quite literally a product designed with the same values and objectives as Joplin.

Generally it seems they talk about similar features, but the presentation layout with the headers, resulting in shorter paragraphs and more direct attention to specific features probably would suit better than the version I'm currently at.

And it's weird to think I didn't really consider actually having headers, whilst writing in a forum supporting markdown; for a tool built around markdown, when the store even also supports markdown.

I think the screenshots are probably the hardest part of this. I can rewrite the tone, and since it's looking like it'll move closer to notesnook's style visually, it'll end up a lot more direct in language regardless. But to be honest, the default Joplin welcome page to me looks... kind of visually cluttered whilst also being basic. Some of the imagery used on the website looks much better, e.g I tried to use this:

But upon editing the image to try remove the top left square (which makes sense on the website, but not on someone elses website!); it left artefacts I was struggling to get rid of, removed the subtle shadowing on the devices, etc.

If there were some existing materials that looked good without having to manipulate them (unreasonably so, at least), I'd be happy to use them.

I think the only thing that isn't doable is images in the description itself. The screenshots are a separate field (since you need to upload the raw files), and I'm not expecting the description to work with images itself since it needs to e.g also make sense in a CLI environment.

Which means we could even consider this design, though I thought most people probably wouldn't care, being the GUI Joplin and all...

[muzak]

You're welcome.

For images, I suggest mimicking the slide approach that Notesnook and others use:

• Install Standard Notes on Linux | Snap Store uses multiple slide layouts and showcases different themes.
• Install Ora on Linux | Snap Store uses brush strokes and feature annotations.
• Install NordPass on Linux | Snap Store uses icons and various form factors.

I can see how reusing homepage assets, even without removing parts from images, can create compelling images as linked above.

[james-carroll]

I've had a second attempt at rewriting the description, it's now big enough to look intimidating! (in a good way).

In full:

# The quick details

Joplin is an open source, **free** note taking application.

**Privacy** is an actively prioritised aspect of the design.

Functionality is mostly comparable to Evernote, of which Joplin can import from and is designed to replace.

Joplin supports synchronising your data with a file host of your choice with **end to end encryption**.

# Is there a cost?

No, all functionality is capable of being used for free on publically available platforms like OneDrive or Dropbox's free tiers.

And to be clear, you don't have to use online services at all.
You can turn off the network access permissions in the system settings.
Features such as Optical Character Recognition (OCR) function offline.

# Core details

* Notes are formatted in Markdown
* Swap to using the exclusive Rich Text Editor mode to hide the clutter, if you don't want Markdown
* HTML can be used for additional flair
* PDF's can be attached to notes with built-in, offline OCR
* Tables
* Pictures
* Mermaid diagrams
* Katex
* Handwritten notes via mobile touchscreens (using Joplin Mobile)
* Optical Character Recognition
* These core features are supported across all platforms, everything is still free, use as many devices with as many notes as your host allows

# Some special highlights

* Reminders
* Web Browser clipper extension, to import content from Firefox, Chrome, etc
* Plugins!

# Use cases

* A highly efficient shopping list, with attached receipts
* Technical documentation for your internal network
* Collection of topics on your university thesis
* A to-do list that can set reminders and travel with you
* Keep all your tax statements, invoices, and organised insurance documents
* A cookbook
* A diary
* A journal
* Store memes

# What if I need my data?

* Your notes can be exported back to their original formats at any point, for manipulation with backup tools and such
* Notes can also be reimported back into Joplin at any time
* By keeping everything as Markdown internally (with some optional dashes of HTML if users insist), the Joplin format is intrinsically future proofed and capable of being used in other software

# Plugins

An actively growing plugin developer community is flourishing, allowing Joplin to be customised further with community driven enhancements.
* Music Sheets
* Hugo Export (Joplin builds a static website!)
* Themes (in addition to the built in themes)
* Integration into Visual Studio Code
* Kanban Boards
* Templates
* Bibtex

Browse public plugins: https://joplinapp.org/plugins

Make your own plugins: https://joplinapp.org/help/api/get_started/plugins

# Software license

AGPL3.0 - You can distribute and use this however you like, for free, within the open source spirit.

# Support the project

Users can support Joplin development by subscribing to Joplin's own Joplin Cloud product,
offering a natively supported, cloud storage provider for Joplin's sync functionality,
with some unique extras such as sharing notebooks online.

You can also self host this at home, for free!
Your support is welcome, but Joplin will always be free.

# Get help
* https://discourse.joplinapp.org
* https://joplinapp.org/help
* https://google.com

[muzak]

I suggest replacing headers with bold text as the former does not render properly in the Web Store.

I reformatted your copy with imperative mood, short paragraphs, and shorter bulleted lists in mind:

Take notes with Joplin: the private, free, and open source note taking application. Replace Evernote with comparable features and easy imports. Synchronize data with a file host of your choice through end to end encryption.

**Free your notes from costs and the Web**

Use all of Joplin's functionality for free on public platforms like OneDrive or Dropbox's free tiers. Use Joplin offline by turning off network access permissions in system settings.

**Take flexible notes whenever and wherever**

Write notes in Markdown for readability or Rich Text for that Evernote feel. Add additional flair to notes with HTML. Attach PDF files to notes with built-in, offline Optical Character Recognition (OCR). Experiment across all platforms and on unlimited devices with other features such as:

* Tables
* Pictures
* Mermaid diagrams
* Katex
* Handwritten notes via mobile touchscreens (using Joplin Mobile)
* Reminders
* Web Clipper extension to import content from Firefox, Chrome, etc.

**Optimize your everyday projects**

Attach receipts to make your shopping list efficient. Catalog technical documentation for your internal network. Collect topics for your university thesis. Set reminders and itineraries with to-do lists. Keep all your tax statements, invoices, and organised insurance documents. Other use cases include:

* Authoring a cookbook
* Keeping a diary
* Writing a journal
* Storing memes

**Keep your important data portable**

Export your notes back to their original formats at any point. Reimport notes back into Joplin at anytime. Make your notes futureproof and compatible thanks to Markdown (and optional HTML) internals.

**Add features with plugins and enhancements**

Browse public plugins (https://joplinapp.org/plugins) or make your own (https://joplinapp.org/help/api/get_started/plugins) today! Join an actively growing developer community creating plugins and enhancements such as:

* Music Sheets
* Hugo Export: Build a static website with Joplin!
* Custom CSS themes
* Visual Studio Code integration
* Kanban boards
* Templates
* Bibtex

**Our software license**

Distribute and use this software however you like, for free, within the open source spirit with our AGPL 3.0 license.

**Support the project**

Support Joplin development by subscribing to the Joplin Cloud. Sync with its natively supported, cloud storage provider and share notebooks online among other unique extras.

Self host Joplin at home for free! Your support is welcome, but Joplin will always be free.

**Get help anytime**

Answer any questions you may have with our FAQ (https://joplinapp.org/help). Submit support questions, feature requests, and more at our forum (https://discourse.joplinapp.org). Verify our code and submit bug reports at our Github repository (https://github.com/laurent22/joplin).

It's not perfect, but I think it sells what users can do with and for Joplin upfront. I wonder if any significant features are missing, or if any mentioned features deserve their own section.