The breakthrough: Why I gave Nextcloud another chance

When I first wrote about my struggle with Nextcloud, I had a hard head in it. The integration and collaboration seemed to be miles behind what Microsoft offers. But now, two weeks later, I have to swallow my words. Moreno and I have EduNEX I found a way to use Nextcloud optimally, and I am impressed by the efficiency it offers. Wondering how we did that? Read on!

“Any limitation is an opportunity to become smarter.”

File management: The backbone of our collaboration

We use Nextcloud Storage as a central place for all our files. Whether it concerns documentation, research or project files, everything is stored safely and in a structured manner. It works like a train! No hassle with lost files or clumsy synchronizations, just a solid and accessible storage for our team.

‘Good tools are half the battle.’

Platform-independent working without compromise

I work on Linux, Android (and sometimes still Windows), while Moreno on iPhone and Mac works. And the best part? We have exactly the same functionalities in Nextcloud. Files, notes, calendars, tasks and integrations work in the same way everywhere, regardless of the platform. This means that we can work together without restrictions, no matter what device we use.

“Real freedom is being able to work the way you want, on the platform you choose.”

Agenda and Notes: Structure in chaos

Our agreements around EduNEX we plan in Nextcloud Calendar, so we always have an overview of who, what, where and when. In addition, we use Nextcloud Notes Kind of like a diary. Here we record on a daily basis what we have discovered, what we have built and what spontaneous ideas come up. These little notes are worth gold as a reference work and source of inspiration.

“The weakest ink is stronger than the best memory.”

Nextcloud Deck: From task list to strategic overview

Our Kanban and OKRs now living in Nextcloud Deck. With smart labels, we can see at a glance which user stories OKRs hear and what the current status is. This provides an unprecedented clarity and grip on our projects. The best part? Everything is fully integrated with the rest of our workflow.

“If you don’t know where you’re going, every road will take you there.”

Everything is connected: The Power of References

Each ‘thing’ in Nextcloud can be referred to from any other ‘thing’. In a conversation via talc you can directly insert a link to a document on your Storage. In one Deck card (like a user story) you can tag another user in the same way, show the content of a document (Eat that Micro$oft!), or even a real-time link to, for example, your Miro-Insert board. This creates a hyper-connected environment in which collaboration becomes intuitive and efficient.

This becomes even more powerful as soon as you start applying integrations. We are now experimenting with a link with Notion.so, with which we make knowledge sharing even more effective. This helps us to build a The Distributed Brain In which information remains accessible and usable for the entire team.

“Everything is connected – the art is to make good use of it.”

Easy and secure file sharing

One of the most powerful yet simple features of Nextcloud is the way you can share files securely. Not only can you easily share documents and folders via a link, but you can even expiry date set to allow access to expire automatically. This increases security and prevents old links from being accidentally accessed.
Moreover, it finds everything within the EU place, which in today's world is not only legal (GDPR) and economic (cheaper) is the right choice, but also morally responsible. Don’t worry about data going outside EU regulations in the US or elsewhere – You are in control of your own data.

“Security and simplicity need not be opposites.”

Markdown support: Focus without distraction

Those who my previous blog have read about this subject, know how happy I am with Markdown and what it does for my focus. The beautiful thing about Nextcloud is that it is everywhere Markdown supports. Whether you are in Notes, Deck, Whether a shared document works, you can always structure your thoughts quickly and without distraction. No distraction from unnecessary buttons or formatting options, just direct productivity with a clear and consistent format. This has greatly improved my way of working.

“Simpleness is the ultimate form of sophistication.”

Nextcloud and Miro: Together a visual masterpiece

Nextcloud works seamlessly with Miro, allowing us to link our canvases directly to user stories in Deck. No more loose patches or fragmented information, but a tight workflow in which visual and textual information go hand in hand. This helps a lot in strategic decision-making.

“A picture says more than a thousand words, but an integrated system says it all.”

Obsidian as our collective second brain

We keep our agreements, knowledge and documentation in a Obsidian Vault, hosted on our Nextcloud Storage. Moreno has one here. second brain built for us, and we are now steadily supplementing it. This brain grows with us and will soon form an indispensable knowledge base. And that's just the beginning... Keep following us, because we're going Deep dive into collective brains, actual brains, adaptive brains and more!

‘Knowledge grows by dividing it, not by potting it up.’

Nextcloud: More than a Microsoft alternative

We have in less than two weeks Set up a system in which everything works together perfectly. My earlier conclusion – that little can stand up to the integration of Microsoft – turns out not to be as black and white as I thought. Nextcloud Offers Unprecedented Productivity, without the disadvantages of a closed ecosystem.

“It is not the system that counts, but how you use it.”

Teachers and tech: An Unexpected Match

Teachers are mostly people, not digital nomads. For example, my wife struggles with technology in a way that sometimes makes my toes curve. But Moreno proved that things could be different. He is certainly not an IT person, but he picked up Nextcloud very quickly and helped to set it up. This is partly due to his own efforts, but also because Nextcloud doesn’t work the way Microsoft does – it works the way you need it to. And that's what it's all about.

“Real innovation is not in the tools, but in how you use them.”

I'm so excited! ⁇