TriliumNotes Painfully Slow To Edit Notes? Troubleshooting

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TriliumNotes Painfully Slow to Edit Notes? Troubleshooting

Hey guys, have you ever experienced the frustration of TriliumNotes becoming painfully slow while you're trying to edit your notes? It's like your laptop suddenly decides to take a coffee break, and every keystroke feels like an eternity. Well, I recently ran into this issue myself after updating to version v0.100 on my Windows client, and I wanted to share my experience and hopefully help you troubleshoot if you're facing the same problem. Let's dive in and see what's going on.

The Problem: Laggy Editing and High CPU Usage

So, here's the deal: after updating TriliumNotes, I started noticing some serious lag whenever I tried to write in a note. The interface would become sluggish, and the writing experience was far from smooth. It felt like my CPU was being completely devoured by Trilium. This was particularly annoying because I was using a pretty capable machine – a Xeon E-2286M laptop. This laptop usually handles everything I throw at it with ease, so I knew the slowness wasn't a hardware issue. It's safe to say, that the performance of TriliumNotes was negatively impacting my workflow.

I was able to consistently replicate the issue. Every time I typed something, my CPU usage would spike, and the entire application would become unresponsive. It was like trying to navigate through molasses. I even took a screenshot to show you what I was talking about. This made note-taking a real chore.

I also encountered a weird glitch where, after creating a new subnote, all the notes in my current tab would display the same content as the note I was initially editing. It was like a weird visual bug where the interface wasn't updating correctly. Closing and reopening Trilium fixed the visual issue, but the initial slow editing problem persisted. I've included the backend logs to give you a clearer picture of what was happening. If you've been experiencing similar issues, then you're not alone. Let's see if we can find some answers together!

Quick Side Note: The Weird Bug

Before we go further, let's briefly touch on a side issue I encountered: a peculiar bug where the content of all notes in the current tab would mirror the note I was initially editing. This was a visual glitch, and thankfully, closing and reopening Trilium fixed it. However, it's worth noting because it might be related to the underlying performance issues we're discussing.

Technical Details and Setup

Let's get into some technical specifics so we can better understand the problem. I'm using TriliumNotes version 0.100-0 on Windows 10 (version 22H2). My setup involves a local installation with server sync. This means my notes are stored locally on my laptop and synced to a server for backup and access across multiple devices.

Troubleshooting Steps and Possible Causes

So, what could be causing this slowdown? Let's explore some potential reasons and troubleshooting steps. Given the error logs I gathered, there are a few possibilities:

  1. CKEditor Issues: The error logs show a "CKEditorError: marker-destroyed" error. CKEditor is the rich text editor used by TriliumNotes. This error suggests a problem with how the editor is handling markers or formatting within the notes. This could be a bug in the editor itself or a conflict with the way TriliumNotes is using it. It might be worthwhile to check for updates or report this issue to the TriliumNotes developers.
  2. Syncing Problems: Since I use server sync, there's a chance that the slowdown is related to syncing operations. If there are network issues or the server is under heavy load, it could cause delays in saving and loading notes. However, the logs don't show any obvious syncing errors, so this is less likely.
  3. Note Complexity: Sometimes, the complexity of a note can affect performance. If the note contains a lot of formatting, images, or links, it might take more resources to render and edit. However, the notes I was working on were mostly technical stuff, so I don't believe that's the cause.
  4. Database Issues: Although less likely, problems with the TriliumNotes database could also cause slowdowns. Corruption or inefficiencies in the database could make it slower to read and write notes. This is something the developers could investigate.
  5. Resource Allocation: Maybe Trilium isn't getting enough resources. Check your system resources. While my system is powerful, something could be hogging CPU, and the application doesn't have enough resources to run properly.

How to Resolve the Issues?

Here are some steps you can try to resolve the issues. While I have not found a perfect solution, these steps can help you.

  1. Restart TriliumNotes: This is the first thing to try. Sometimes, a simple restart can clear up temporary glitches or memory leaks. Closing the application and reopening it can resolve minor issues.
  2. Update TriliumNotes: Make sure you're running the latest version of TriliumNotes. Developers often release updates that fix bugs and improve performance. Check the official website or application settings for updates.
  3. Check for CKEditor Updates: Since the error logs point to a CKEditor issue, see if there are any updates related to the text editor. You might need to wait for a TriliumNotes update that includes the latest CKEditor version.
  4. Reduce Note Complexity: If you have notes with a lot of formatting or large images, try simplifying them. Break down large notes into smaller ones and reduce the number of images or links. This will help reduce the load on the editor.
  5. Check Your System Resources: Open your task manager and monitor your CPU and memory usage while editing notes in TriliumNotes. See if other applications are hogging system resources. If your CPU is constantly maxed out, it could slow down the application.
  6. Report the Issue: If the problem persists, report the issue to the TriliumNotes developers. Include as much detail as possible, such as your operating system, TriliumNotes version, and the error logs. The developers can help you with troubleshooting and work on a fix.
  7. Reinstall TriliumNotes: If all else fails, consider reinstalling TriliumNotes. This can sometimes resolve issues caused by corrupted files or configuration problems. Make sure to back up your notes before reinstalling.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Guys, dealing with slow editing in TriliumNotes can be a real pain, but hopefully, these troubleshooting steps will help you get things running smoothly again. Remember to start with the basics, like restarting and updating the app, and then move on to more advanced troubleshooting if needed.

I'm planning to share my note (which contains technical information) so that the issue can be replicated by the developers. I'll keep you updated on any progress. Let me know if you have any other tips or solutions in the comments below. Happy note-taking!

I'm actively looking for solutions and will update this article with any new findings. Stay tuned, and thanks for reading!