Thread by @teachermarkULC

Whenever I show someone @RoamResearch they’re always super impressed with how clean and beautiful the app looks.

Beautiful, simple and often a joy to use.

And that’s even before I start to gush about how powerful the app is under the hood. For power users there are some amazing features to organise and link your thoughts.

But… I don’t recommend the app to them.

Why?! I’m a daily user. I couldn’t live without roam now. I love it more than nearly any other app I’ve ever used.

It is legitimately a great core product, but l… I guess that love is part of any love hate relationship.

That great product’s devs promised a mobile app that I think most in the #roam community agree is half-baked.

That could be a good description of Roam itself. An extraordinary amount of potential that is almost there. That’s what prompted me to decide to use roam at first.

I thought “this app is amazing. I can’t wait to see what the developers do with it. They’re charging a high subscription fee considering I’m not a researcher- just an average guy taking notes and organising my lesson plans- but the ecosystem has so much potential I want to try.

And the app is just as good as the day I got it. The phone experience, despite wrapping the browser experience into an app, is just as good as the day I got it.

Problem is, when you’re paying a monthly subscription, “just as good as the day I got it” isn’t enough.

You expect updates.

And I know! I’ve seen the change log. I know the team has been hard at work, heads down doing the development that needs done to make the product great.

But somehow in my daily experience I barely notice it.

Because those core user experiences - the mobile app and it’s “roam wasn’t built overnight” error messages and sync freezes where I constantly have to close and reopen the app.

Or the subpar direct upload or sharing function the app provides.

The loading times every time you open the app.

The shortcuts and commands that aren’t documented and shared with users.

(Hint: option + return references a block on the following day if you want to move a task forward)

I randomly stumble upon undocumented features.

And add to that how the roam team, in my opinion, took its community of developers and early evangelists for granted.

Sure roam depot is a great addition, but would it have happened without increased pressure from the growth of alternatives within the space adding pressure?

They had tech reviewers like Ali Abdaal raving about the product as well but did little to nothing build their own social media presence.

So if I do recommend roam to someone, I know they’re joining a community that isn’t fully supported from the top down.

And a community that has struggled to accept reality and understand that valid criticism is healthy.

Don’t worry, Conner. You won’t see this post. But neither will you see all of the other posts that share valid concerns and honestly wish Roam the best.

I won’t stop using roam. It’s my daily driver and I find it’s worth the price, even if the entire roam team suddenly quit and the app never changed at all.

Crazy to say that but it’s true.

Might have something to do with lock-in 😂 Leaving the app is tough.

But I can’t recommend the app to anyone even after an amazing year of using it.

And it upsets me to say that. I sincerely hope how the app develops over the next year (not what developers say will happen but what they actually ship) will change my mind and I can be the full-on

Evangelist that I’d love to be. Very excited for the future of roam.