How to use the command 'jrnl' (with examples)

jrnl is a simple journal application for the command-line which allows users to create and manage journal entries directly from the terminal. It is a flexible and convenient tool for quickly jotting down thoughts, ideas, or keeping track of daily activities. The jrnl command provides various options to insert, view, and edit entries, making it a versatile tool for journaling.

Use case 1: Insert a new entry with your editor

Code:

jrnl

Motivation:

The motivation behind using this example is to create a new journal entry using an external editor. This allows for a more extensive entry to be written without the limitations of the command-line interface.

Explanation:

• jrnl: Invokes the jrnl command to insert a new entry.
• The command will open an external editor like Vim or Nano, where users can write and save their journal entry.

Example output:

2019-09-01 14:30: My journal entry.

Use case 2: Quickly insert a new entry

Code:

jrnl today at 3am: title. content

Motivation:

This example is useful when quickly adding a new entry with a specific timestamp and content. It allows users to specify the timestamp and content directly within the command, without opening an external editor.

Explanation:

• jrnl today at 3am: title. content: Inserts a new journal entry with the timestamp set to today at 3 am and provides a title and content for the entry.
• The timestamp format can be customized, allowing for flexibility in recording entries for specific dates and times.

Example output:

2022-12-15 03:00: title
content

Use case 3: View the last ten entries

Code:

jrnl -n 10

Motivation:

This example is useful when users want to quickly view the most recent entries in their journal. It helps in providing an overview of recent activities and thoughts.

Explanation:

• jrnl -n 10: Displays the last ten journal entries.
• The -n option is used to specify the number of entries to be shown.

Example output:

2022-12-14 10:00: Entry 1
2022-12-13 15:30: Entry 2
...
2022-12-05 09:00: Entry 10

Use case 4: View everything that happened from the start of last year to the start of last march

Code:

jrnl -from "last year" -until march

Motivation:

This example is helpful when users want to review entries within a specific time range. It allows for the retrieval of journal entries between different dates, providing context and the ability to analyze activities and events.

Explanation:

• jrnl -from "last year" -until march: Displays all journal entries starting from the beginning of last year until the start of last March.
• The -from option is used to specify the starting date, and the -until option is used to specify the ending date.

Example output:

2021-01-01 08:00: Entry 1
2021-01-10 12:30: Entry 2
...
2022-02-27 16:45: Entry N

Use case 5: Edit all entries tagged with “texas” and “history”

Code:

jrnl @texas -and @history --edit

Motivation:

This example is useful when users need to edit multiple entries with specific tags. It allows for easy editing, searching, and modification of entries with specific tags.

Explanation:

• jrnl @texas -and @history --edit: Opens the editor to edit all journal entries that are tagged with both “texas” and “history”.
• The @ prefix is used to denote tags. Multiple tags can be combined using the -and flag.

Example output:

The command opens the editor with all entries that are tagged with “texas” and “history” for editing.

Conclusion:

The jrnl command is a versatile tool for creating and managing journal entries from the command-line. Whether users want to quickly jot down a thought or navigate through past entries, jrnl provides the necessary features and options for efficient journaling.