Why Most Writing Apps Ignore the Rest of the World
Most writing software assumes you write in one language. Much of the world doesn't. Why multilingual writing still feels like an edge case, and what writing apps should do instead.
The DataIsland Blog
Notes from the island.
How-tos for writing, languages, cooking and getting more out of your Mac, plus essays on how we think software should work.
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Cooking & Baking
Gas Mark 4, Fan Ovens and Dessertspoons: How to Follow a British Recipe in North America
British and Australian recipes use Gas Mark, fan oven temperatures, metric spoons and grams. Here's what each one means and how to convert them for an American or Canadian kitchen.
Mac Tips
How to Send a Note Between Macs on the Same Wi-Fi, No Internet Required
Want to pass a quick note, link or photo to another Mac in the house or office without email, iMessage or the cloud? Here's how local-network messaging works, and a free way to do it.
Cooking & Baking
How Many Grams in a Cup of Flour? Why the Answer Depends on the Ingredient
A cup is a measure of space, not weight, so a cup of flour and a cup of honey weigh very different amounts. Here's how to convert cups to grams for baking, and why weighing gives better results.
Languages
Canada May Be One Of The World's Most Multilingual Writing Environments
Canada has two official languages, but about 450 languages are spoken in Canadian homes. Why the multilingual document is becoming normal in Canada.
Languages
The Hidden Problem With Single-Language Editors
Add one paragraph in another language and most editors fill the screen with red underlines. Why single-language editors turn writers into software administrators.
Essays
Why We Refused To Build Another Electron Editor
Some Mac apps feel like part of the system; others feel like websites in a Mac costume. Why DataIsland builds only native Mac software.
Writing
When To Use Plain Text, Rich Text, Or Markdown
Plain text, rich text and Markdown aren't competitors. A practical guide to which format fits notes, business documents, blogs, books and archives.
Languages
The Strange Assumption Behind Modern Translation Software
Translation software assumes your writing is finished. For people who work across languages, translation is part of writing, not the step after it.
Languages
How To Write In Languages That Aren't On Your Keyboard
You don't need a second keyboard to type French, Greek, Arabic or Japanese on a Mac. How to add input sources, switch between them and use the Keyboard Viewer.
Essays
The Case Against Subscription Software
Subscriptions make sense for services with ongoing costs. For a finished tool, a one-time purchase is a simpler and more honest agreement.
Writing
Using AI As An Editor Instead Of A Writer
AI-written documents often feel generic. Write the draft yourself, then use AI as an editor to cut repetition, improve clarity and adjust tone.
Languages
What Right-To-Left Languages Teach Us About Software Design
Right-to-left languages like Arabic and Hebrew expose the hidden assumptions in software design. What they teach us about building tools for everyone.
Writing
How To Create Documents That Still Open Ten Years From Now
Your documents often outlive the software that made them. How to choose file formats, from plain text to Markdown to rich text, that will still open in 2036.
Languages
No Keyboard for That Language? Just Say It.
You don't need a Japanese IME or an Arabic keyboard layout to write in another language. macOS Dictation types it for you as you speak, and for the sentences that really need to land right, saying them beats translating them.
Writing
Why Writers Need Plain Text, Rich Text, and Markdown
Writing apps ask you to pick a side: plain text, rich text or Markdown. Real writing uses all three. Why formats should be tools, not tribes.
Essays
Why Most Productivity Software Creates More Work
Productivity software promises to save time every year, and every year people seem busier. Why the real enemy is interruption, not speed.
Writing
Why Writers Should Own Their Documents
Accounts close, subscriptions lapse and services disappear. A file stored under your own control stays yours. Why writers should own their documents.
Essays
The Lost Art Of Native Mac Software
Mac users once knew an app by how it felt: the scrolling, the menus, the shortcuts. Why consistency and craft in native Mac software still matter.
Long-form guides
Are You an ePub Author? From FusionMD manuscript to a published ebook on Apple Books and Amazon KDP. Are You Ready to Go to Print? Tag once, export to IDML, and put a real paperback in front of readers. 
Writing for International Trade Write in English or French and reach trading partners in their own language.