I wonder if no one on Micro.blog creates any type of long-form posts using the web editor. I can’t be the only one who finds this interface too limiting. It is suitable only for short updates. The goal of keeping things simple shouldn’t hamper the experience of writing posts. Whenever I... www.amitgawande.com

@amit I’m not familiar with micro.blog’s web editor, but if it supports markdown, I’d be inclined to use an editor like Obsidian or iaWriter for writing the long posts and then copy and pasting to publish. Just my thought.

@amit @joejenett I write my longer posts (and shorter ones) in Tot and, when they’re ready, paste them into the editor (if I’m on the Mac) or the app (if I’m on iPad). Sure, I’m using a separate app, but Tot is so unobtrusive that it all feels like part of the same “workflow”.

@amit Only when exporting from iA Writer, because it makes everything a draft.

@joejenett @artkavanagh It works best when I am on Mac. Or any Apple system. I believe that’s the majority user base for the platform.

But I don’t post from a single machine, and that’s where a web editor always helps. The options are minimum when on Linux, my laptop. Or even Windows. What’s frustrating is Micro.blog is so close to being a near-perfect system for me.

@amit I’m in the same boat, having a Linux laptop. Currently I use Quill to post everything to Micro.blog. While longform Quill is better than the MB web interface I’m still not fond of it.

I’m very seriously thinking of splitting my personal blog Quill/MB will continue for short posts and start a new *Press blog for long posts. I value the community at MB and frankly, I don’t like *Press for short posts without titles. MB handles them better.

But, for a long time, I’ve found myself avoiding long posts on MB and that can’t continue.

Additionally, I miss having a commenting system for longer posts and that’s something I can’t work around.

Anyway, that’s my current thinking. I’ll probably continue to dither.

cc. @joejenett @artkavanagh

@amit Maybe there’s a web-based client out there waiting for you? 😊 Quill is one alternative, Unicyclic.com another, and there’s probably more.

@bradenslen I am going through a very similar thought process as you. I love micro.blog for it’s overall simplicity. But I hate copy-pasting through different editors. It kills the flow while writing anything longer. I keep bringing up Ghost, I still use Svbtle every now and then – all because I hate the M.b editor.

@sod I have tried many of these micropub clients, even hosted a few myself. But again, most are best for notes, replies etc. Quill comes the closest, but it generates html when posted through the editor – not that it should matter, but the tinkerer in me doesn’t like that.

@sod That reminds me, I also often use Wall, an editor we had created for Blot. I still find the export as markdown option very useful. @bradenslen

@amit Ahh, I predict Amit’s Long-Form Markdown Micro.blog Web Client in a not too distant future. 😊

@vincent Sure, the improvements can’t come soon enough for me. I will add my feedback when you do create the thread 👍🏽

@gr36 Yeah, I would agree. For lack of options, I am ok with it for the short posts. But frankly, I have trimmed my expectations.

@amit @vincent I think it’s really important to separate bugs (like undo) from design changes. I’d like the web version to work more like the Mac editor, not like a totally new thing.

@manton Sure, you would know best. I just hope you can improve the overall writing experience with the editor with whatever minimum design changes you have in mind. // @vincent

@amit @manton @vincent Making it more like the Mac app is a great idea.

@amit Thanks for this. I’ll look into it.