# Purpose of the Joplin server?

**URL:** <https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/purpose-of-the-joplin-server/25701>\
**Category:** Lounge\
**Created:** [19 May 2022 17:59 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/purpose-of-the-joplin-server/25701 "2022-05-19T17:59:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Waldorf3](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/waldorf3/32/13848_2.png) [@Waldorf3](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/Waldorf3)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2022 17:59 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/purpose-of-the-joplin-server/25701/1 "2022-05-19T17:59:38Z")

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I've been an Evernote user for some years, and every once in a while I look around to see if there is something that can replace it for me. This time I installed a couple of possible alternatives - Bookstack, Dokuwiki - on my Docker server, but they didn't really suit the purpose, and then I fell over Joplin server.

I remember trying it before but as a client only, and I sort of expected this Joplin server to be this web interface / webapp for Joplin. After finally getting it sort-of working, I found that not to be the case, so my question here is, what is the purpose of this server? I mean, if the clients can work with a simple webdav server why a specific joplin server that seems to do the same?

As for installing it, I think it's a bit overengineered:

- First it started out throwing errors about not being able to connect to NTP. Actually, checking my logs, it was able to connect, but of course a docker container does not have, and should not have, privileges to change the server clock. By adding the environment variable MAX\_TIME\_DRIFT=0 i got over it, but it would really be better to remove it all together. Maybe it was added for a stand-alone server use-case, but even then it really isn't an app's job to alter system parameters.

- Then I had to fiddle with the server url settings. I mean, why make these requirements. Just let the user use the IP and the port of their liking, then sort the rest in a reverse proxy, which brings me to the next.

- Instead of a cryptic reference with too little information about using a reverse proxy, just tell users to install traefik or nginx-proxy-manager, two of the most used apps on Docker Hub.

- Finally, the first thing I did after installing the server was of course to attempt to change the admin password - except

1. The server is really anal about the password requirements. I mean, fine to make suggestions, but leave it at that. Users are presumably grown up, let them use the password they want. Maybe they're on a local network with no-one else. In any case, without being more specific about the requirements than "try to add a couple more words" it quickly gets really frustrating trying to guess what is needed for it to work. In the end I just left it as it was, then it can yak at me all it wants to change it.

2. requiring confirming an email is also a nice suggestion, but please leave some config flag to disable it. Many consumer ISP's do not allow outgoing email, so it's a bit hard to do this on a homelab network.

Anyway, not a big deal, as it doesn't seem to provide a web interface anyway I don't quite see the point of it, so will just fall back on webdav - but if there is some future plans with this I suggest fixing these hurdles first.

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**Author:** ![MrKanister](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/mrkanister/32/20054_2.png) [@MrKanister](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/MrKanister)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2022 20:11 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/purpose-of-the-joplin-server/25701/2 "2022-05-19T20:11:20Z")

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Four reasons for Joplin Server, there are certainly more:

- it's faster
- it's reliable
- one can share notes
- one can share notebooks

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**Author:** ![laurent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@laurent](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/laurent)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2022 21:07 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/purpose-of-the-joplin-server/25701/3 "2022-05-19T21:07:01Z")

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There's a reason why this stuff is in place. Next time maybe inform yourself before posting long rants like that

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**Author:** ![Waldorf3](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/waldorf3/32/13848_2.png) [@Waldorf3](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/Waldorf3)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2022 21:31 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/purpose-of-the-joplin-server/25701/4 "2022-05-19T21:31:08Z")

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Faster and more reliable than webdav? That's a big statement. Isn't sharing notes and notebooks the same thing? In any case not something I need. A web interface would be handy though. Anyway, I guess my questions has been answered then.

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**Author:** ![Waldorf3](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/waldorf3/32/13848_2.png) [@Waldorf3](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/Waldorf3)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2022 21:37 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/purpose-of-the-joplin-server/25701/5 "2022-05-19T21:37:19Z")

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I would inform myself if you provided the info. As for rant - potato _potato_ - I see it more as productive suggestions to bug fixes and improvements.

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**Author:** ![MrKanister](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/mrkanister/32/20054_2.png) [@MrKanister](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/MrKanister)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2022 21:47 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/purpose-of-the-joplin-server/25701/6 "2022-05-19T21:47:32Z")

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It is definitely faster, as it doesn't rely on a file system. There is a comparison somewhere on the forum... More reliable in a sense that the systems are tuned to match perfectly together.