# Craft
⭢ [website](https://www.craft.do/)
Lately (early 2023), I have become a fan of this software. You might think “Another software ? But you’re spreading yourself thin !” To which I reply : not at all ! Every good software is useful for something, every software has its strong and weak points. For me, *Craft* has replaced *Ulysses*, because it allows things that *Ulysses* doesn’t and that are extremely useful to me — so it’s not “one more program”. After having been an enthusiastic *Ulysses* user, I have to admit that I don’t use it anymore — which speaks only about me and my needs, not about *Ulysses* itself, which still has great qualities.
I invite you to discover screenshots on the *Craft* website, especially on [this page](https://www.craft.do/solutions/individuals).
*Craft* has the ability to make links between cards and it can be used to make a *personal wiki* - it is therefore a *[[gestion personnelle des connaissances]]* ("PKM") program. But that’s not the point for wich I like it. I find that, for this purpose, it is no match to *Obsidian* and I still use the latter. Here is what I like about *Craft*:
* It has that quality of [[élégance (informatique)|elegance]] that I like so much.
* It is extremely limited in its customization capabilities. But, instead of this being a weakness, I see it as a strength : you don’t get lost in a crowd of options ; the displays are sober, elegant, efficient.
* The choice of fonts is limited to the essentials (one "serif", two "sans-serifs", one “monospaced”), which has the enormous advantage that you get exactly the same display, "without fuss", on every platform — *Mac*, *Windows*, *iPhone*, *iPad*.
* You can use *Markdown* syntax to write ; it is instantly interpreted and the text gets formatted. Therefore, writing is easy, fluid. There is a “Zen” mode in which all interface elements disappear, leaving only the text visible. This is perfect for focused thinking and writing.
* You can easily integrate images, it’s really "no brainer". The software manages and displays them perfectly.
* One works with *blocks*. A block can be :
* a paragraph of text ;
* a title or heading ;
* an entry in a numbered list or a bulleted list ;
* an *outline* — that is, blocks of text organized in a hierarchy, which can be hidden or revealed at will. Perfect for brainstorming !
* a table — yes, table editing is there and its implementation is excellent ;
* a sub-page, displayed as a banner or a card ;
* by clicking on the banner or the map representing the sub-page, you *enter* the page and edit it as if it were a complete document. In this way, you can organize a document into nested, multi-level sub-documents, like Russian dolls. This is perfect for organizing and structuring large documents.
* a banner representing an internet link. When you paste a web link, it is automatically converted into a banner with a small image and the name of the site and the title of the page. This is extremely convenient.
* Blocks can be copied and pasted. They can be moved with the mouse or with a finger (on *iPhone* or *iPad*), within a document or from one document to another.
* Documents can be organized in folders and subfolders, in a library. I find the management of this library and the documents particularly aesthetic and practical — one not excluding the other. Here is an overview of my workspace :
![[Craft
[email protected]]]
* The designers have achieved a particularly effective balance between *power* - the breadth of functions and possibilities — and *simplicity of use*. *Craft* is as easy to use as if it had only the essentials. But in practice, there is much more than the basics. We are dealing with a very complete program, with a lot of capabilities.
* Craft* has been designed and built as a collaborative software : it is particularly easy to work with several people on the same project. You can share a whole space with several people, with folders and subfolders. Everyone has the whole space at his disposal and can work as if he was alone. But all the modifications are documented : we know who wrote what.
* Moreover, you can *comment*, at the document level or at the block level. Comments are very clearly separated from the content, while being integrated. Again, this elegance I appreciate.
* The *Craft* documents are synchronized by an "in-house" mechanism and channels. Synchronization is faster and more reliable than via *iCloud*. Documents can be edited and read on both desktop and laptop computers. It’s more than convenient !
*Craft* manages documents within its own library. It is therefore important to be able to *import* and *export* documents easily and simply. Let me reassure you :
* *Craft* happily imports *Markdown* documents, as well as *TextBundles* ^[This is a particular format of *Markdown* that allows images to be embedded. It is not yet widespread, but it will become so, eventually, in the future. *Ulysses*, for example, is able to export its documents in *Textbundle* format].
* It exports clean *Word* (`.docx’) documents, with images, tables and *tutti quanti*. You don’t have to worry about passing your documents on when the time comes.
How is *Craft* particularly useful to me ?
* To have reference documents at hand :
* Checklists ;
* manuals and instructions for use ;
* Lists (for shopping, for example)
What’s nice is that I can prepare them on a *Mac* - at my desk or on a laptop - and consult them on *iPad* on *iPhone*. This is also possible with *Obsidian* and its synchronization with *Obsidian Mobile*. But I find it less elegant and less convenient than with *Craft*. On my *iPad*, without keyboard, I can access my documents more easily with *Craft* than with *Obsidian*.
* On the *iPad*, to collect *internet* links — particularly links to articles —, from the "Sharing" mechanism. The *Craft* landing sheet is particularly well done, since you can directly choose in which document the reference is added, possibly with text :
![[Sharing to Craft.webp|300]]![[Save to Craft 2.webp|500]]
* To be able to work on a document with several users, it’s mandatory that each user uses *Craft*. But one can very easily put a document on the web, with a secret address. Here is an example : [demo page](https://www.craft.do/s/WvTE0WJGd1D0dR) of *Craft*. (In the example, you will see the explanation).
This way, I can easily give access to documents in progress, thoughts, references, etc. I make them available to colleagues or friends who can then consult and comment on them. Before *Craft*, this was much more difficult, very time consuming, and without the possibility for readers to leave inline comments. More details at [[mise à disposition de documents en ligne|this page]].
* For writing texts that contain images, it is as convenient as *Obsidian*. In fact, in *Obsidian*, you need some discipline when dealing with images : for example, you have to make sure you delete them when the document is moved or deleted. Whereas in *Craft*, everything is automatic. You don’t even have to know the name of the image or worry about where it is stored.
*(Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)*)
<p style="color : #ba2c21 ;text-align : center ;">! WORK IN PROGRESS !</p>
 
<p style="text-align : center ; font-style : italic ;">~~ Olivier Spinnler, March 17th, 2023
 ~~</p>
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[[environnement de travail de l’intellectuel non-geek]] ✦ [[éditeurs de Markdown]]
#collaboration #écriture #informatique #markdown