Simple Solutions

↓ Save this as a markdown file and keep it forever2 min read

Reclaiming your digital independence doesn't require abandoning modern convenience entirely. Here are four simple ways to keep your documents yours.

1. Adopt the “three copies” rule

Like grandma’s secret pie recipe, a file should live in at least three places:

the computer in front of you
a second drive in the same room (usb, ssd, whatever spins your platter)
a drive in a separate building (deposit box, friend’s house, or the family villa in Italy)

Drives are cheap; lost memories are not. Multiple copies protect you when hard drives die, laptops get stolen, ransomware strikes... and other unforeseen events.

2. Choose tools that put you in control

Some apps lock your data in proprietary vaults; others hand it over like a gracious host. Pick the latter.

Obsidian, Logseq and Zettlr store your notes as plain Markdown files on your drive.
Calibre is an application that helps you manage your e-book library.
Syncthing allows you to sync files across multiple devices, like Dropbox but completely private.

Rule of thumb: if the software can’t show you exactly where your files live on the disk, you should look for alternatives.

3. Favour file & data formats that outlive CEOs

A .txt file from 1981 still opens perfectly today and works exactly the same way it did back then. There are 68,394 available applications today that can directly open those files and allow you to edit them freely.

Good luck doing the same with your 2010 notes left in Evernote.

4. Run your own “mini-cloud”, aka. self-hosting

When you are ready to take full control of your digital life, to leave the comforts of the harbour and brave the open sea with all the dangers and hard work involved, this is the next step.

A $50 Raspberry Pi and an external drive with the right software will let you access your files over your home Wi-Fi, or with additional configuration, anywhere else.

Your yearning for the sea will be quenched. Your reward will be proportional to the patience and persistence poured in your digital vessel. You will sail free from the whims of distant corporations and their ever-changing terms of service.