SiYuan vs Obsidian and Notion: notes and Docker setup

This review introduces SiYuan as an open source note app for developer documentation and personal knowledge bases. The presenter explains its block model: paragraphs, lists and code blocks receive permanent IDs. In the demonstration, a reference still works after the original code block moves. That example illustrates the linking behavior without establishing the speaker's broader claim that links never break.

The setup uses Docker Compose, which the presenter says took about a minute. The walkthrough creates a notebook, adds a Python code block and embeds it elsewhere. It then builds a task database with status and priority fields, queries notes with SQL and opens an interactive graph of connections. The speaker describes offline support and a self-hosted deployment option.

The comparison frames Obsidian around files and plugins, while SiYuan provides block references and built-in databases. Against Notion, the speaker emphasizes local storage and control. The review also covers tradeoffs: SiYuan uses its own storage format rather than native Markdown, though it can export Markdown. The presenter reports a smaller plugin selection, particularly in English, and says very large workspaces may need optimization. The closing advice favors trying SiYuan when notes need more structure, while acknowledging the effort of moving an established Notion workflow.