Which operating system are you on? (Sometimes it’s relevant, and you mention notepad++.)

On Linux, I like kate, but IDK if it has live html preview. I use it for Rust and general editing, not for web development admittedly.

Hey, yeah, shit like that happens in life. The jokes about that from your friends are understandable but inconsequential. After all, you probably love Linux not because everything is plug-and-play here, but because it’s free and customizable (and you can set up a lot of things to be plug-and-play, too, if that’s what you want).

By the way, heads-up on connecting Android phones for file exchange: those require the MPT driver, too. Some distros/desktop environments ship it out-of-the-box, some don’t.

And last thought from a social angle. With experience of using Linux and talking with other people in the last ~18 years, I would recommend not to advertise Linux, to yourself or to others, as a system that “can do everything that Windows can”. That’s just not true. Some stuff Windows can do that Linux cannot, some stuff Linux can do that Windows cannot. For me it worked best to get people interested in Linux if I:

• Don’t push hard. I answer any inquiries eagerly, but I leave people the space to stay where they are. If they believe something is really good for them, I let them have it. Good advertising moments come themselves when people themselves note that they’re actually lacking something.

• I teach, and more rarely do I just do something directly. I’ve noticed this keeps people engaged longer. “Don’t give the fish, teach how to fish”.

• Sometimes it’s fun to share the awesome things you can do in Linux. And many people don’t know that all the routers, Android phones and servers are near-100% Linux. Learning that impresses them and seems count towards “good reputation” for the system in their eyes, too. (And it’s a true fact.)

I’ve noticed that *not using* youtube for a while gets you ublocked, too. Which is only good, if you think about it. Most often (even if not always), your days will get a bit healthier, and the lifting of the block is only a bonus when you really need that rare video, too.

I haven’t found other solutions or tricks; nor have I tried after I’ve realised that this one works. I take it as a “hint” from google, to get away from the screen (YT) for a few days.

disroot.org is recommendable. Notable points:

• They rely fully on open technologies. Everything that they do you can reproduce locally. A big part of donations towards them (I’ve participated) automatically go to the technologies they use.

• They have a history and reputation. I’ve “visited” their community (digitally) and have a feeling of trust that they are who they claim to be. Their work aligns with their intentions.

• They simply provide many of the components that I need. E.g. email, nextcloud (which enables calendars, MoneyBuster/iHateMoney), two fediverse servers, etc.

• Objective downside is that their services are sometimes down, e.g. for a full hour. This is NOT very fun when you just want to sync your calendar right now. They also have a thing about their registration form which I never understood, and that is that they only allow registering on weekdays. Like WTF? IDK if it’s more funny or absurd. But I can tolerate this part, and since the other parts are great, in total I love their work and their services.

I’ve recently needed a “shared” new account and I’ve tried Proton. I regret it.

• Their calendar will NOT work with open technologies from F-Droid and such. They require the use of their proprietary app, or their web version, or paying. Paying is actually generally fine for me, but not when I have a feeling that I’m just paying for more of their proprietary development.
• Their email system will NOT work with open technologies. Same as above, you won’t get it to work with Thunderbird or K9mail out-of-the-box.
• As an implication of the above, paying them will NOT, in any way, help open standards and open technologies. You’ll be only helping their business.

On the plus side, they have at least not requested my phone number upon registration. That was the only plus for me.

In total, if you want true ownership, open technologies, distributed technologies where the power and infrastructure is split across great many parties, then you should be against Proton. I personally chose disroot for now.

There are still situations where Proton makes more sense to recommend, such as to a political activist. I believe this group is niche though, as 99% of people really want ownership, freedom to share and less money to pay I think. It’s not a business need, it’s a human thing.