[RFC] Edit local files from browser and tiddlywiki

88 views
Skip to first unread message

TW Tones

unread,
May 30, 2021, 7:36:31 PM5/30/21
to TiddlyWiki
Folks,

In my early morning dreaming and research, I stumbled upon the following that worked in my chrome. On my windows desktop.


Note: just knowing what the above text editor can do may be enough to help some tiddlywiki users.

I can see something like this built into tiddlywiki would allow editing tiddlers within nodeJS folders assuming the correct permissions. It also points to a method to save tiddlywikis locally via a local file dialogue which allows you create a folder etc.... This can be converted to a local app with a click which would be a dream for tiddlywiki.

I am also researching using the browser to review local device folders and there is a lot of room to capture links in tiddlywiki, as well as dropping urls and files/file links on tiddlywiki or the Windows Explorer. Similarly copying a saved file/folder path to the clipboard and pasting into the file dialogue allows a wiki to store a full local file path and make use of it.

Unfortunately I do not yet have the skills to code this but I have sufficient knowledge to see how we can overcome the issues around the first use and saving of tiddlywiki's.

I need someone with the technical skills to champion this with the dev team if not help code a solution.

Regards
Tones

Finn Lancaster

unread,
May 30, 2021, 7:44:25 PM5/30/21
to tiddl...@googlegroups.com
Tones: 
It sounds like you are describing the NodeJS FS module, which I will agree is extremely powerful. I made something similar at my GitHub repo at 
https://github.com/flancast90/finniky-on-node. I would love for TW to use this! The entire project I made was a proof-of-concept for the features I wanted on TW! 
Feel free to look at my code (server.js will be the nodeJS code you are looking for). 
TW will need at lot of rewriting for this, obviously. Off the bat, I can see that it would need some sort of http request functionality, or even implement socket.io
I would love to be on a team to work to implement this in TW: I’m currently getting ready to apply for college, and as such trying to build my GitHub. 

Tell me your thought about this! Again, I would love to work on adding this, preferably with a team. 


--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TiddlyWiki" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tiddlywiki+...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tiddlywiki/2789da6c-03e2-46ca-a22d-3d0510fab944n%40googlegroups.com.

TW Tones

unread,
May 30, 2021, 8:03:34 PM5/30/21
to TiddlyWiki
Flanc...

Actually I was not thinking about the " NodeJS FS module" at all. However what you point to sounds interesting is is unfortunately at present a little "out of my depth". As this is a more general discussion of features and possibilities could you please discuss it in more accessible plain English and the features etc... you think this alternate model could achieve. 

Using what I referred to as being an avenue to edit tid files, is actually a side issue. However you can locate a .tid file and edit save out of the box (inside the browser).

So far this demo works in the chrome browser, in FireFox you can not save, but need to save as.

My thinking would be using such a tool built into tiddlywiki, or making use of the same technology/methods (including single file wikis in the browser) to;
  • Edit local files
  • Edit tid files
  • Save tiddlers to text files
  • Serve as a model for enabling tiddlywiki as a local app
Regards
Tones

Finn Lancaster

unread,
May 30, 2021, 8:19:04 PM5/30/21
to tiddl...@googlegroups.com
Whoops... went out a bit on a tangent there, didn’t I. I was more addressing the “method to save tiddlywikis locally via a local file dialogue which allows you create a folder etc.” 

which is something the FS module could do. 

In addition to this, along the lines of “ a model for enabling tiddlywiki as a local app “, I’d take a look at electron 
https://www.electronjs.org, which could convert a node TW to a local app. 

Finn Lancaster

unread,
May 30, 2021, 8:29:23 PM5/30/21
to tiddl...@googlegroups.com
I don’t know about y’all, but my last message seems to render a bit strangely. It seems as if gmail changed the text to the same color as the background, so it isn’t appearing (on my end at least). sorry about that.

For anyone interested, I’ll start a new thread about making a TW on node using the FS module. 

TW Tones

unread,
May 30, 2021, 9:16:42 PM5/30/21
to TiddlyWiki
Flanc,

Yes, I highlighted the text in your post to read it.

A new thread would be good, but please also keep in mind the single file version is importiant, please consider where your solutions work in both.

Thanks
Tones

Mohammad Rahmani

unread,
May 31, 2021, 12:39:59 AM5/31/21
to tiddl...@googlegroups.com
@Finn
Your proposal is very interesting! I may suggest to write at https://github.com/Jermolene/TiddlyWiki5/discussions
where you will get more reactions from developers! I also love your idea on creating TW as a local app!



Best wishes
Mohammad


Mohammad Rahmani

unread,
May 31, 2021, 12:43:38 AM5/31/21
to tiddl...@googlegroups.com
@Tones
I am also very excited to have an effective working TW using FS API! Consider TW can be used everywhere without
needing to tell users how to save! just like an ordinary web page!

I think this FS API is a great opportunity needs special attention from TW developers.



Best wishes
Mohammad


--

PMario

unread,
May 31, 2021, 5:36:45 AM5/31/21
to TiddlyWiki
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages