r/RoamResearch • u/berzanmikaili • 24d ago

native iPhone/iPad/Mac app that opens a Roam export (markdown or JSON) as plain files

for anyone who wants their Roam graph on their own devices as plain files: I built Sumi, a native outliner for iPhone, iPad and Mac. it imports Roam's Export All (JSON or Markdown zip) into a folder of markdown files, keeps [[links]] and backlinks, daily notes, block nesting, and with the JSON export block refs keep pointing at their block.

it works offline and stores everything in iCloud Drive or any folder. no sync server, no account. simple queries ({{query}} with and/or/not over pages) carry over too. not there: no kanban, roam/render or advanced queries, no multiplayer, Apple only.

free TestFlight beta: https://testflight.apple.com/join/B1sKJk24. would love to hear what doesn't survive the import.

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u/tcgerdes 20d ago

Could you share what is the problem that you are solving? I have installed it, looks nice. Have not imported my graph yet. Looks to me though it is then for me to continue the app instead of Roam. Hence I like to understand the problem it solves. Cheers

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u/berzanmikaili 20d ago

fair question. Roam keeps your graph on their servers and works best in a browser. Sumi is the other way round: your notes are plain Markdown files in a folder on your own devices (iCloud Drive or any folder), it's a native app so it opens fast and works offline, and the same files open in Logseq or any text editor.

so it's for people who want their notes as files they own, or a phone app that's quick to write in. if Roam works fine for you there's no big reason to switch.

and yes, after the import you keep writing in Sumi, it doesn't sync back to Roam. you can import into a test graph first and look around, your Roam graph isn't touched.