Obsidian Videos & Summaries

• Obsidian is a note-taking application that uses a "vault" which is simply a folder on your computer to store your notes as plain text .md files, ensuring future-proofing. • The core functionality demonstrated is creating links between notes using double brackets ([[ ]]), which allows for easy navigation and connection of ideas. • Clicking on a linked note within Obsidian takes you to that specific note, and a "backlinks" feature shows which other notes are linking to the current one. • The "Graph View" visually represents the connections between your notes, illustrating how ideas build upon each other and form a network of knowledge. • Obsidian facilitates building a connected system of thoughts over time, improving memory recall, enabling the development of new ideas, and enhancing creative output like articles or speeches. • By linking thoughts and ideas, users can gain new insights across different genres and domains, making conversations more engaging and fostering novelty.

• Obsidian.md leverages the principle of active externalism, treating your notes as an extension of your brain, stored as plain text markdown files for portability and future-proofing. • The core functionality of Obsidian revolves around creating linked notes, forming a knowledge graph where connections between ideas become visible and explorable, similar to how the web was initially built. • Obsidian's extensibility is a key feature, with over 1000 plugins available that can significantly alter or enhance its functionality, including the canvas plugin for visual note organization and the data view plugin for treating your notes as a queryable database. • Organization within Obsidian can be achieved through traditional folders or a more flexible tag-based system, with plugins like "Tag folder" allowing for folder-like navigation of tags. • The data view plugin allows users to query their notes using SQL-like syntax or inline JavaScript, enabling the creation of dynamic tables and lists based on note content, tags, dates, and other metadata. • The Maps View plugin can integrate geographical data into notes by extracting location information from front matter, enabling the visualization of research, such as historical internet sites, on a map within Obsidian.

• Calendar: A popular plugin that adds calendar functionality, allowing users to create daily and weekly notes, and offering more customization than native Obsidian features when used alongside plugins like Fantasy Calendar. • Dataview: Transforms Obsidian into a custom database by allowing users to define parameters in note metadata (YAML front matter) and then query this data using a SQL-like language or JavaScript, enabling custom fields for various organizational needs. • Editor Syntax Highlight: Enhances readability of code snippets within Obsidian notes by applying language-specific syntax highlighting, acting as a useful tool for developers using Obsidian as a dev log. • Kanban: While not ideal for traditional task management, this plugin is effective for creating a visual content calendar, allowing users to create custom columns and embed images within cards for better organization. • Outliner: Replicates the task-oriented, bulletin-style format found in tools like Roam Research, providing keyboard shortcuts for easy list manipulation (moving, indenting, unindenting) to aid in transitioning from other note-taking applications. • Periodic Notes: Facilitates structured note-taking and review processes, offering systems for daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly reviews, which is particularly useful for objective setting (e.g., OKRs) and in-depth knowledge processing. • Obsidian Publish: A premium add-on that enables users to instantly publish selected notes to a custom domain with minimal clicks, reducing the friction for "learning in public" and maintaining a dynamic digital garden. • Readwise Official: Integrates highlights from various sources (eBooks, articles, tweets, PDFs) collected via Readwise directly into an Obsidian vault, streamlining the process of bringing learned material into a format for analysis and processing. • Obsidian Sync: A premium, optional service that provides seamless syncing of notes across multiple devices (laptop, iPad, mobile) as an alternative to potentially less compatible cloud storage solutions like Dropbox or iCloud. • Templater: An advanced version of the core Templates plugin that significantly extends templating functionality by allowing the execution of JavaScript within the Obsidian vault, offering extensive customization options.

• Obsidian is a powerful, lightweight text editor with markdown support, offering extensive customization through plugins and themes, but its complexity can be daunting for new users. • The core of Obsidian is its "Vault," which is essentially a folder storing all your notes; you can store this vault locally, on a cloud service (Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud), or use Obsidian's proprietary sync service, with Obsidian Sync being the fastest but a paid option. • Obsidian utilizes plain text files and markdown, which allows for fast editing and easy data ownership and portability, enabling automations that wouldn't be possible with rich text editors. • Key plugins mentioned for enhancing workflow include Iconize for adding custom icons to folders and notes, Style Settings for theme customization, OmniSearch for powerful, content-aware searching, Home Tab for a streamlined new tab experience, AutoCardLink and Paste Link for advanced link handling, and DataView for dynamic note aggregation (like the "Launchpad" dashboard). • Obsidian's built-in template feature is crucial for repetitive writing tasks, such as generating video descriptions or structuring daily notes, and can be integrated with daily notes to automatically populate them with pre-defined content. • The app supports tabbed and split-view interfaces for multitasking, and custom hotkeys can be assigned to frequently used commands and plugins via the settings menu or the command palette (Cmd+P) for efficient navigation and operation, especially on devices without a keyboard.

• Markdown is beneficial because it ensures text portability, preventing your writing from being trapped in proprietary software like Microsoft Word or Evernote. • The six core Markdown keys for Obsidian are: links (created with [[ ]]), tags (using #), italics (with single asterisks *), bold (with double asterisks **), lists (using hyphens -), and headers (using hashtags #). • Links in Obsidian, created by typing [[ and then a note name, create strong, direct connections between ideas and are visualized in the graph view. • Tags, initiated with a # symbol, allow for categorization and retrieval of notes, as demonstrated by searching for notes tagged with #concept. • Italics are achieved by surrounding text with single asterisks (*italicized text*), while bold text is created using double asterisks (**bold text**). • Markdown headers are created by prefixing text with a hashtag and a space (# Header 1), with variations for sub-headers (# Header 3), allowing for structured document formatting.

• Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) tools like Obsidian, Roam, and Logseq are often used as a sophisticated form of procrastination, making users feel smart and productive without actual output. • Sophisticated procrastination in PKM manifests as endless optimization of systems, constantly switching tools (the "perfect tool trap"), and excessive information collection (the "collector's fallacy") instead of engaging in core work. • The key to overcoming PKM procrastination is to recognize that these tools are aids, not prerequisites, to doing good work. They should not replace or be prioritized over the actual execution of projects. • Five principles to combat PKM procrastination include: 1) Sticking with one tool for at least six months to avoid the "perfect tool trap." 2) Trusting your own brain for insights rather than trying to capture everything. 3) Being project-based with note-taking to filter information and focus on tangible outcomes. 4) Improving work capacity and output before obsessing over system structure. 5) Setting actionable limits on time spent optimizing note-taking systems. • The ultimate litmus test for a PKM system is its impact on work output: if your output (quantity and quality) has decreased over the last six months, your system is likely a form of procrastination; if it has increased, it's effective.

• Obsidian offers extensive customizability, including themes, hotkeys (e.g., Alt+WASD for pane switching), and pane arrangements, enhancing user workflow and quality of life. • The core functionality of Obsidian revolves around easy note linking, allowing users to create a networked "second brain" that facilitates navigation and idea exploration, unlike linear formats like .docx. • The video explores the IMF (Index, Maps of Content, Fluid Frameworks) organizational model, popularized by Nick Milo, as a structured approach to managing notes within Obsidian. • A practical application shown is the creation of a template for computer gates for the Nand to Tetris class, which can be invoked with a single hotkey upon new note creation. • Obsidian's strengths lie in its accessibility, customizability, and durability, with notes stored in markdown format making them transferable to other applications. • The author recommends trying Obsidian for a couple of days on a specific topic to determine if its features align with personal note-taking preferences.

• This video provides a step-by-step guide on implementing the Zettelkasten method using Obsidian, focusing on creating and linking different types of notes: fleeting, literature, and permanent notes. • Key steps include setting up Obsidian with a "Templates" core plugin, creating template notes for fleeting, literature, and permanent notes, and establishing a "Map of Content" (MOC) for organization. • Fleeting notes capture initial ideas and highlights from sources (e.g., articles, videos), literature notes involve personal reflection and deeper thinking on those captured points, and permanent notes are atomic, durable entries that form the core of the knowledge base. • The process emphasizes linking notes bidirectionally, using the "Map of Content" as an entry point to themes, and leveraging Obsidian's features like backlinks and the graph view to visualize connections and identify knowledge gaps. • The Zettelkasten system, when applied through Obsidian, enables the creation of projects (like blog posts or scripts) by drawing inspiration and structured content from the permanent notes, thereby testing understanding and facilitating knowledge output. • The video demonstrates how to transition from raw ideas captured in fleeting notes, processed in literature notes, to well-connected permanent notes, ultimately serving as a foundation for generating new content and refining one's understanding.

• Obsidian transforms learning by creating a network of interconnected notes, mirroring how the brain forms knowledge, which fosters deeper understanding and improves memory compared to traditional, isolated note-taking. • To start using Obsidian, download the free app, create an empty vault, and begin by creating a new note on a topic of interest, summarizing content, or linking to external resources, then tag it with a hashtag. • The core strength of Obsidian lies in its ability to link notes together, creating a personal "web of thoughts" that visualizes connections and sparks new ideas through the network effect, rather than trapping insights in separate, disconnected documents. • Obsidian stores data in plain text files on your machine, ensuring privacy and avoiding proprietary formats, with an optional paid sync feature for mobile access. • Beginners should focus on basic note creation, linking, and tagging in Obsidian without immediately adopting complex systems like Zettelkasten, exploring advanced features like Canvas and plugins once comfortable. • Brilliant.org is recommended as a sponsor for learning difficult subjects like coding and data analysis through interactive lessons that encourage active learning and problem-solving.

• Obsidian can be downloaded from obsidian.md and installed like any other application. • To create a new vault, click "Create New Vault," name it, and select a location, ideally within a cloud storage service like Dropbox or Google Drive for automated backups. • Enable "Live Preview" in settings for a cleaner note-taking experience, and enable "Daily Notes" core plugin, setting a folder like "daily" for organization and choosing to open the daily note on startup. • To add community plugins, disable "Safe Mode" in settings, then browse and install plugins like "Calendar" for enhanced functionality, using download counts as a security indicator. • New notes are created in Markdown (.md) format; headings are denoted by '#' symbols, with Live Preview automatically hiding them when the cursor moves away. • Create links to other notes by typing `[[Note Title]]` or by double-clicking a word, typing the brackets, and then Command-clicking the linked word to create a new note. • Obsidian tracks both backlinks (where a note is mentioned and linked) and unlinked mentions (where a word appears in another note without an explicit link), automatically populating the backlinks pane. • A practical starting method is to use the daily note as a log, dumping all daily thoughts and learnings, and then identifying topics of interest to create dedicated notes, linking them from the daily log. • Obsidian allows notes to be organized into multiple panes, which can be rearranged by dragging and dropping. • The core value of Obsidian lies in its ability to function as a personal knowledge base, with a focus on usefulness rather than strict organization, allowing for messy, unfinished, and even incorrect notes to still be valuable.

• Obsidian's core value lies in its near-zero friction for capturing ideas, its ability to connect thoughts via links and backlinks, and its support for improving thinking, learning, and writing through an offline, local-first format. • Your notes in Obsidian are simply text files in Markdown format within a folder on your computer, ensuring data ownership and future-proof accessibility even if Obsidian ceases to exist. • Obsidian offers syncing capabilities through cloud services like Dropbox or its paid Obsidian Sync, which provides end-to-end encryption and version history. • Key organizational features include a file explorer sidebar, search functionality, bookmarks, and the ability to open notes in new tabs and rearrange them into custom panel layouts for multitasking. • Creating links between notes is done by typing double brackets (e.g., `[[Note Name]]`), which automatically creates a node in the graph view; uncreated notes will appear as lighter dots, while created notes are darker. • Crucial settings to enable include "Automatically update internal links" to prevent broken connections when renaming notes, and setting a default folder for attachments to maintain a clean sidebar. • Common pitfalls to avoid when starting with Obsidian include importing excessive old notes, overusing complex plugins initially, over-folderizing ideas, and neglecting to learn hotkeys. • Essential hotkeys for formatting include Command-B for bold, Command-I for italics, pound symbols for headings, double tildas for strikethrough, and double brackets for linking to other notes. • For organizing notes, consider a simple folder structure like "Ace" (timeless ideas), "Calendar" (time-based notes), and "Efforts" (productivity-oriented), supplemented by maps of content and tags. • Obsidian integrates with AI tools externally, allowing users to choose their preferred AI for tasks like asking questions about notes or populating properties, with a recommendation to maintain a separation between original thinking and AI-generated content.

• The core value provided is Actionable Utility, specifically around choosing and using note-taking applications for productivity. • The speaker ditched Obsidian due to "setup paralysis," where the overwhelming customization options led to spending more time building the perfect system than using it for productive work. • The chosen alternative, Amplenote, is praised for its simplicity and "ready-to-use" nature, minimizing distractions and allowing immediate focus on capturing ideas, organizing tasks, or planning the day. • Amplenote streamlines the process from idea capture to task completion by allowing note linking, saving web highlights/links via a browser extension, and automatically aggregating/sorting tasks with a "task score" algorithm. • The app integrates task management with a calendar mode for seamless scheduling, all without requiring additional plugins, making it a tool focused on productivity over system management. • While Amplenote has a $10/month cost, it's justified by features like cross-device sync, time saved from avoiding setup tinkering, and its dual function as a note-taking and to-do app, with optional plugins and end-to-end encryption for security.

• TimeStripe is recommended for organizing both daily tasks and long-term goals, allowing users to set goals for various timeframes (year, quarter, decade, lifetime) and break them down into smaller objectives, which are then visible alongside daily tasks for motivation. • Two is presented as a free, robust alternative to Google Keep, featuring a fast mobile app with customizable widgets for daily notes, to-do lists, and bookmarks, and includes AI capabilities for tasks like explanations and grammar correction. • Markup Hero is highlighted as an essential tool for screenshotting, annotating (with features like scrolling screenshots and multi-page additions), signing documents, and easily sharing work via instant links or direct integration with tools like Notion, offering a 50% discount with a coupon code. • Ampenote is described as a hybrid of Notion and Apple Notes, combining notes, to-do lists, and a calendar with a calendar mode for at-a-glance scheduling and bidirectional linking for organizing notes and information. • Anytype is suggested as a simpler, notion-like alternative for individual use, featuring customizable object types (like "person" or "movie") for quick information entry and organization, with an intuitive mobile app and dashboard widgets for at-a-glance access to important items. • Heptabase is introduced as a visual Personal Knowledge Management tool that utilizes mind maps and whiteboards for organizing notes, tasks, and web clips, and includes a unified task list and in-app online search for research while note-taking.

• Capacities is a cloud-based note-taking app that offers a more structured and user-friendly experience compared to Obsidian's highly customizable, local-first approach. • Unlike Obsidian, Capacities allows users to define and assign specific "types" to linked notes (e.g., Person, Place, Book, Web Link), enhancing organization and enabling different display layouts for each type. • Capacities features an AI assistant that can be used to revise drafts or answer questions based on selected content, though this functionality is part of the paid plan. • The app's appeal for former Obsidian users lies in its simplicity and ease of setup, mitigating the potential for overwhelming customization that can hinder productivity in Obsidian. • While Capacities offers a visually appealing interface and robust organization features, its current limitations include the absence of an official mobile app and a browser extension for information capture.

• Organize daily handwritten class notes by tagging with a course keyword, grouping them into monthly folders, and then into terms for easy navigation on a Supernote. • For longer documents or PDFs, use a "digest" function on the Supernote to compile only necessary quotes and personal notes, which can then be summarized and imported into Obsidian without the full document. • Favorite documents being read or needing immediate attention on the Supernote for quick access, and utilize global search with course keywords to find all related notes and readings. • Export notes, documents, and digests from the Supernote as PDFs into a Dropbox folder for automatic syncing to a laptop, allowing seamless import into Obsidian. • Create a daily note in Obsidian using a template that includes a "to do" status field, which automatically adds the note to an "inbox" on the main page until the status is changed to "done" and the note is processed. • Fill in the "summary" field of daily Obsidian notes to reflect on class content, jotting down discussed cases and concepts, and then embed exported handwritten notes, PDFs, or digests directly into the note's body for inline viewing. • Leverage Obsidian's calendar view for date-based note retrieval, course pages that automatically list notes tagged for that course, and backlinks for navigating between concepts and daily notes. • Maintain individual main pages for each course in Obsidian, using a Dataview query to automatically list daily notes tagged for that course, displaying discussed concepts chronologically for exam preparation. • Incorporate "breadcrumb" links at the top of Obsidian notes, linking to the relevant course and related topics, to facilitate easy navigation between notes.

• The core of this video is a step-by-step guide on how to customize Obsidian, transforming its default "boring UI" into a personalized setup optimized for software engineers, covering both work and personal life. • Key plugins recommended for customization include Calendar (for journaling and visual planning), Iconize (for adding icons to files and folders), File Color (for coloring folders), Color Tags (for visual tag enhancement), File Explorer Note Count (to display file counts within folders), and Code Styler (for enhanced code block formatting and language detection). • For functional enhancements, the video highlights Omni Search (a more powerful alternative to Obsidian's native search), Importer (for migrating notes from other platforms like Notion and Evernote), Tag Wrangler (for managing tags), and the Tasks plugin (to aggregate and display to-do items from across the vault). • Visual customization involves applying themes like Obsidianite, which improves code block readability and styling, and adjusting graph view settings to include tags and existing files for a more aesthetically pleasing and informative representation. • A significant actionable utility is the provision of a pre-made Obsidian configuration file in the description, allowing users to quickly replicate the presenter's "ultimate setup" by simply placing the file in their vault and restarting Obsidian. • The video also briefly mentions the Ninja Cursor plugin, which adds a unique visual flourish to typing by animating the cursor's movement, enhancing the user experience.

• Obsidian's new Canvas feature allows users to spatially map their thoughts on a virtual whiteboard, enhancing their ability to reorient themselves, regather thoughts, and rebuild thinking momentum when overwhelmed. • To access Canvas, ensure Obsidian is updated to at least version 1.10 and enable "Insider builds" in settings; a hotkey can also be assigned for quick access. • Key navigation and creation maneuvers include zooming with Command/Control + scroll wheel, horizontal scrolling with Shift + scroll wheel, duplicating cards with Option/Alt + drag, and using the spacebar to click and drag the canvas. • Canvas supports various content types: plain text cards, existing Obsidian notes, local images, external images via drag-and-drop, and URLs which can be double-clicked to open the linked resource. • Currently, Canvas uses a JSON format rather than Markdown, and backlinks primarily function for the canvas itself rather than for individual cards or embedded notes within the canvas, though this is expected to evolve. • The Canvas feature is still in its early stages (Insider build), and while it offers powerful spatial mapping for ideas, the developers are actively working on expanding its functionality, particularly regarding backlinking and markdown compatibility.

• The core of the Zettelkasten workflow involves three types of notes: fleeting notes (temporary capture), reference notes (direct quotes from sources), and literature notes (your interpretation of reference notes in your own words). • Permanent notes are your own atomic ideas, independent of their original context, which are developed when multiple literature notes link to the same concept, indicating its significance. • Fleeting notes are for quick capture and are meant to be deleted; the presenter does not use them in a formal capacity, viewing them more as to-dos. • Reference notes should only contain direct quotes from external sources, without personal interpretation, to facilitate the creation of literature notes. • Literature notes summarize the essence of reference notes in your own words, forcing deeper engagement with the material and acting as a stepping stone to permanent notes. • Permanent notes should be atomic (one idea per note), concise, easy for a general audience to understand, and ideally contain at least one internal link to foster knowledge compounding.

• The most effective way to learn Obsidian is to start using it immediately for note-taking, then gradually learn its features as specific needs and curiosities arise, rather than trying to master everything upfront. • The core practice in Obsidian is "linking your notes" to create a web of interconnected ideas, mimicking the neural structure of the brain, which allows old notes to inform new ones and build a personal knowledge base. • Atomic notes, each focusing on a single concept, are recommended as building blocks for easier connection and integration into larger structures like articles or guides. • After mastering the fundamentals, explore Obsidian's 700+ plugins, but to avoid overwhelm, leverage the active Obsidian community on Discord, forums, and Reddit for support, learning buddies, and shared resources. • For continued learning and staying updated on trends, follow resources like "Eleanor Connex's Obsidian Roundup" which curates new plugins, themes, workflows, and discussions. • Beyond Obsidian as a tool, delve into personal knowledge management principles by reading "How to Take Smart Notes" by Sönke Ahrens for Zettelkasten methods and "Building a Second Brain" by Tiago Forte for a full knowledge workflow from capture to creation.

• Obsidian offers a powerful, local-first note-taking experience with extensive customization through community plugins, allowing users to create a deeply integrated personal knowledge management system. • Key Obsidian features include local file storage for future-proofing and speed, a freedom-oriented philosophy for user-defined structures, and a vibrant community creating numerous plugins for enhanced functionality (e.g., spaced repetition, advanced tables, annotation). • Effective note-taking in Obsidian involves using double brackets for creating internal links (e.g., [[Alpha Centauri]]) and exclamation marks within brackets (e.g., ![Exoplanet]]) for inline embeds, along with organized folder structures and optional file name sorting by creation time for chronological review. • For advanced note management and review, the video recommends the "Quick switcher++" plugin for powerful command-palette based searching (mapped to Command L), and the "Spaced Repetition" plugin for creating flashcards and study reviews using tags like #flashcards and #review, with configurable intervals and review settings. • Other useful plugins mentioned include "Advanced Tables" for creating structured tables, "Highlighter" for color-coded text emphasis, and "Annotator" for direct PDF annotation within Obsidian, alongside external tools like "Flycut" (clipboard manager), "On Tally" (desktop unclutterer), "Text Expander" (text shortcuts), and "Mathpix" (OCR for LaTeX). • The presenter demonstrates practical application through examples like structuring programming notes with code blocks and Anki-compatible flashcards, organizing research notes with embedded handwritten notes and diagrams, and enhancing handwritten worksheets with searchable elements through image import and linking.

• Obsidian excels as a personal knowledge management system due to its superior discoverability via bi-directional linking, tags, and graph views, enhanced privacy, and future-proofing as notes are local markdown files. • Notion is superior for project and task management, and team collaboration, offering features like commenting, seamless integration with tools like Slack and Google Drive, and a user-friendly interface for shared workspaces. • Obsidian's flexibility allows for deep customization through themes and community plugins, including direct integration with OpenAI's API at a fraction of Notion's cost for AI features. • Notion's structure is more top-down, encouraging a specific way of organizing information with an emphasis on visually appealing templates, making it ideal for tasks where data location is predetermined. • Obsidian employs a bottom-up approach to structure, allowing users to link notes freely or use folders optionally, enabling a more fluid and less restrictive knowledge organization. • Obsidian offers better speed and responsiveness due to its local file storage, whereas Notion's cloud-based nature can lead to performance issues dependent on internet connection and server status.

• Obsidian is best used as a "thought partner" to build specific knowledge, rather than a task manager, to achieve "outsized returns" on your time and effort, as defined by Naval. • Specific knowledge, which is unteachable and pursued through genuine curiosity, is the key to leverage and avoiding automation or replacement in the modern economy. • Minimum organization in Obsidian, avoiding complex folder structures and hierarchical systems, is recommended to accommodate a "wandering brain" that thrives on exploring connections between seemingly unrelated ideas. • Syncing Obsidian across all devices is crucial for habit formation, removing friction and ensuring notes can be taken and ideas captured regardless of location or device. • The Zettelkasten method, with its focus on atomic, connected notes (literature, fleeting, and permanent), combats short attention spans by making note-writing feel easy and non-intimidating, thereby preventing procrastination. • The core Zettelkasten process in Obsidian involves picking an atomic idea, writing it down, and connecting it to another idea.

• The Obsidian Dataview plugin transforms your notes into a database, enabling a "bottom-up" approach to note-taking and learning by allowing you to query and organize information without rigid pre-categorization. • To use Dataview, you first annotate your notes by adding metadata. This can be done directly within the note body using double colons (e.g., `type:: person`) or hidden in the YAML front matter using triple dashes (e.g., `--- date_met: today ---`). • Dataview queries are created within code blocks starting and ending with triple backticks, specifying `dataview` or `dataviewjs` followed by the query language. You can specify the view type (LIST, TABLE, TASKS, CALENDAR), parameters, and use `WHERE` clauses to filter results based on your annotated metadata. • Example DQL query: `LIST project, location WHERE type = "person" AND project = "Project X"` would list the project and location for all notes where the type is "person" and the project is "Project X". • Dataview queries are dynamic; updating a note's metadata automatically updates the query results. For instance, assigning a person to "Project X" will automatically include them in a table listing members of "Project X". • Dataview supports various view types: LIST, TABLE (with aliasing like `TABLE date AS "Meeting Date"`), TASKS (filtering for incomplete tasks with `WHERE completed = false`), and CALENDAR (using file modification times or specific date fields).

• The core principle of organizing Obsidian folders is to build them from the bottom up, based on individual needs rather than pre-defined structures. • Start with no folders and add them only when a clear need arises, ensuring folder titles are as flexible as the content they contain. • Two popular organizational frameworks are the PARA method (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archives) and the ACE framework (Atlas, Calendar, Efforts), each offering different approaches to categorizing notes. • The PARA method categorizes notes into Projects (action-oriented tasks), Areas (ongoing responsibilities), Resources (information for future reference), and Archives (completed or inactive items). • The ACE framework uses Atlas (ideas, knowledge, thinking), Calendar (time-based notes like daily logs), and Efforts (actions, projects, and tasks). • Ultimately, the most effective folder system in Obsidian is a personal one that evolves over time, and the goal is to minimize time spent on folder organization to maximize time spent linking ideas.

• The video introduces the LATCH method (Location, Alphabet, Time, Category, Hierarchy) as a framework for organizing notes in Obsidian, inspired by Richard Saul Wurman's "Information Anxiety". • Obsidian offers several organizational tools: folders for strict categorization, links for semantic connections, tags for system-related processing, and metadata (like YAML front matter or inline properties) for advanced querying and visualization. • For 'Location' in LATCH, the presenter uses a combination of links and metadata, exemplified by organizing role-playing game locations like 'Otari' with Dataview queries and explicit metadata. Backlinks and unlinked mentions in Obsidian aid in finding notes based on location. • 'Alphabet' in LATCH is primarily addressed by folder structures and Obsidian's Quick Switcher (shortcut ⌘O), which allows rapid searching and selection of notes by name or partial name. • 'Time' is managed using links or metadata, often through calendar plugins or by adding date parameters to notes. This allows retrieval of notes based on when events occurred or when notes were created/worked on, accessible via daily notes and their backlinks. • 'Category' is handled through 'Maps of Content' (MOCs) using links for semantic connections with added nuance, or via tags for system-related notes (e.g., a #TVZ tag for notes needing processing). • 'Hierarchy' is primarily implemented using metadata in conjunction with plugins like ExcaliBrain, where parent-child relationships are specified, allowing users to navigate up the note structure even if the specific note name is forgotten. • The presenter emphasizes that perfect organization is less important than starting note-taking and that Obsidian's core search and Quick Switcher are valuable tools for finding misplaced notes.

• Command-Click on a link to open it in a new pane (for Mac users; likely Control-Click on Windows). • Command-E toggles between edit mode and preview mode. • Command-O opens the Quick Switcher for rapidly finding and opening notes by typing their names. • Command-Shift-F opens a search pane to find specific text or hashtags across all notes. • Command-Option-Left Arrow and Command-Option-Right Arrow navigate back and forward through your note history, similar to browser navigation. • Command-N creates a new note. • Command-Clicking on a node in the graph view (or similar interaction) opens it in a new, resizable pane.

• Obsidian is a free note-taking and studying application that allows users to create an interconnected web of notes through internal linking, fostering a concept-based organization rather than a traditional folder hierarchy. • Users can format notes using Markdown syntax, including headers with hashtags, bold/italic text with asterisks or underlines, strikethrough with tildes, highlighting with equal signs, code blocks with backticks, and horizontal rules with minuses or underscores. • Obsidian enables bidirectional linking between notes, visualized in a graph view, allowing users to create a network of ideas and easily navigate between related concepts, even for topics spanning multiple courses like biology and psychology discussing the brain. • The application supports templating for recurring note structures (e.g., course outlines) by enabling the 'Templates' core plugin and setting a designated template folder, which can be invoked via the command palette. • To enhance studying, Obsidian can be used for active recall by utilizing the "fold" feature in the editor settings to hide definitions until revealed, and for spaced repetition by installing the "Spaced Repetition" community plugin, which converts notes into flashcards using specific tags like #flashcards and double colons for front-back separation. • The Spaced Repetition plugin allows for multi-line flashcards and review of entire notes using the #review tag, with customizable settings for which tags to pull flashcards from, enabling differentiated study for various subjects or topics.

• Obsidian Canvas can be enabled through the core plugins settings. • Elements can be added to the Canvas: notes (linked or unlinked), cards (exist only within the canvas), media (local or external), and external links (URLs). • Notes can be added by prompting or dragging from the file explorer, or by right-clicking and selecting "add notes from Vault". • Cards are unique to the canvas and can be converted into notes, and small portions of notes can be embedded into cards using markdown syntax with an exclamation mark prefix. • Navigation within the canvas is facilitated by holding spacebar for panning, command + scroll wheel for zooming, Shift+1 for zoom to fit, and Shift+2 for zoom to selection. • The author uses Obsidian Canvas for three primary purposes: mapping network infrastructure with detailed labels and connections, planning video content by visualizing and rearranging ideas before detailed note-taking, and as a sandbox for research and idea development, converting cards to notes once a structure is solidified. • Obsidian Canvas files are saved locally as .canvas files, and the format has been open-sourced by Obsidian to ensure future-proofing, unlike many proprietary mind-mapping tools.

• Logseq is a free, offline-first personal Knowledge Management (PKM) application that functions as a "second brain" to aid in storing, retrieving, organizing, and connecting notes, designed to reduce friction in note-taking workflows. • Unlike manual organization systems like OneNote, Logseq is self-organizing, treating each bullet point (block) as an atomic unit and using indentation to associate child blocks with their parents, which streamlines data input. • Key features for note retrieval and organization include creating dedicated pages for concepts (using double square brackets or hashtags), which automatically track all references, and the ability to link to specific blocks for seamless data integration across notes. • Logseq supports a robust to-do list system integrated with its note-taking functionality, allowing users to create action items via slash commands, assign due dates, track statuses (To Do, Doing, Now, Later), and prioritize tasks, all visible in a centralized to-do list plugin. • Productivity enhancements include adding pages to favorites for quick access, using a right-side pane to view linked notes or edit daily journals simultaneously, and implementing templates for recurring note structures like daily journals or project pages. • The application's graph view visually represents the connections between notes, offering insights into patterns and trends, which is particularly beneficial for writers, students, and researchers.

• To enable Obsidian Canvas, go to Settings > Core Plugins and toggle "Canvas" on. You can then add a new canvas via the icon in the left sidebar or by restarting Obsidian if the icon isn't immediately visible. • Obsidian Canvas allows you to add three types of elements: notes from your vault, media (including images, PDFs, and website previews via drag-and-drop or search), and interactive cards (similar to sticky notes) that can be converted into vault notes. • Connections between elements on the Canvas are made by dragging from the small nodes that appear when hovering over an object, creating visual links that can help bridge the gap between individual notes and the overall graph view. • Navigation within a Canvas is facilitated by holding spacebar and dragging to move the entire view, using the mouse scroll wheel for vertical movement, Shift + scroll for horizontal movement, and Command/Control + scroll for zooming. Shift+1 provides an overview, while Shift+2 zooms into selected items. • A key feature is the ability to create "groups" by selecting multiple notes, right-clicking, and choosing "Create Group," which allows the entire group to be moved and managed as a single unit. • Obsidian Canvas encourages a bottom-up thinking approach by visually connecting existing notes and ideas, rather than a top-down method of fitting information into predefined structures. This is demonstrated by starting with a quote and visually searching for and linking related concepts like "effort," "time," and "purpose" from different notes and external sources. • External content, such as web articles (e.g., from Harvard Business Review on managing energy), can be dragged directly into the Canvas, with key passages then easily converted into new notes within your Obsidian vault.

• <value> • **Core Functionality of Obsidian:** The video serves as a comprehensive compilation for beginners, covering essential Obsidian features like creating vaults, plain text note-taking, and basic markdown formatting. • **Markdown Formatting Basics:** Learn to create headings (using #), bold text (using **), italicize text (using *), create bulleted lists (-), and numbered lists (1.). • **Linking and Backlinks:** Understand how to create internal links to other notes using double square brackets `[[ ]]` and external links to websites using single brackets `[ ]` followed by parentheses `( )`. Backlinks allow you to see which notes link to the current one, fostering a connected knowledge base. • **Obsidian Settings Overview:** Navigate through various settings, including Editor (live preview vs. source mode), Files & Links (confirmation for deletion, default note location), Appearance (themes, font changes), Hotkeys, Core Plugins, and more, to customize your Obsidian experience. • **Organization Methods:** Explore different ways to organize notes: folders for hierarchical structure, tags for categorization (#tag), backlinks for idea connections, properties for metadata (using `---` to define), and bookmarks for quick access. • **Obsidian Canvas:** Utilize Canvas for mind-mapping and beyond, allowing you to create infinite boards with local cards, embed notes from your vault, add media, and create connections between elements, useful for dashboards and project management. • **Templates for Efficiency:** Create reusable note structures by setting up a dedicated templates folder and using core plugins. This includes examples for book notes and YouTube videos, with special attention to "callouts" for collapsed, categorized information using specific markdown syntax. • </value>

• The PARA method, when implemented solely with folders, is a limiting approach; a more advanced system utilizes notes as organizational units, mimicking natural brain organization. • Instead of folders, create notes to represent projects, areas, or resources, and use headers, bullet points, and internal links to structure and connect information. • Level 3 of the PARA method involves using Obsidian's Templater plugin to create templates with properties (like status, tags, links, deadlines) that automatically structure new notes based on their type (e.g., project, area, resource). • The Dataview plugin transforms your Obsidian vault into a queryable database, allowing you to automatically display and organize linked notes, projects, or resources within any given note, creating dynamic dashboards. • Templates can be configured to auto-populate when creating a new note within a specific folder (e.g., all new notes in the 'Projects' folder use the 'Project Template'). • Dataview queries can be used to filter and display notes based on tags and links, and even sort them by properties like status or deadline, enabling Kanban-style boards or lists of related content.

• The video introduces Obsidian plugins, explaining they are community-created features to extend the app's functionality, and provides instructions on how to enable and browse them in the "Third party plugins" settings, emphasizing community vetting for safety. • Sliding Panes is highlighted as a favorite plugin that enhances navigation by allowing notes to slide in from the side, mimicking a physical card system, and is available in some themes like Cybertron. • Hotkeys++ is presented as a daily-use plugin that simplifies text formatting by allowing users to toggle between bulleted and numbered lists with a hotkey, saving manual effort. • Better Word Count is a simple yet useful plugin that provides real-time word and character counts directly within the note, useful for tracking length, especially for character-limited platforms like Twitter. • The "unofficial daily note plug-in pack" includes Calendar (most popular, displays notes on a calendar and allows for quick review note creation), Natural Language Dates (parses dates written in natural language like "tomorrow" into actual dates), Review (enables setting review dates for notes), and Note Refactor (extracts highlighted sections into new, separate notes). • The presenter stresses the importance of the Command Palette (Command + P or Control + P) as a universal tool to access any plugin command when hotkeys are forgotten, and emphasizes that all plugins operate on plain text Markdown files, ensuring future-proofing and data accessibility.

• If starting Obsidian today, the core strategy is to avoid importing existing notes and creating folders, instead focusing on building an "idea verse" by connecting new notes. • Begin by creating "thing notes" for concepts, ideas, or items that are either interesting or important, such as "The Nearness Principle," which describes how proximity reveals relationships. • Utilize the prompt "This reminds me of..." to actively forge connections between new notes and existing concepts, thereby building a visual network of ideas in the graph view. • Example connections include linking "Fear is the mind killer" (a quote from Dune) to Frank Herbert and the book Dune, and then further connecting it to Taylor Swift's song "Fearless" to illustrate the power of associative linking. • The emphasis is on creating intrinsically meaningful notes that spark joy, with a recommended starting point of just five connected notes to begin building a personal "internet of thoughts." • The primary actionable technique is consistent use of the "This reminds me of..." prompt to externalize and visualize connections, fostering personal insight and rewiring the brain for independent thinking, without relying on plugins or complex settings.

• Obsidian can be turned into a powerful task manager by leveraging its flexibility, but it's not suitable for users who rely on mobile notifications or location-based reminders. • The system prioritizes linking tasks and notes within Obsidian for creative workflows and offers complete control over customization through queries and metadata. • Task management in Obsidian requires a mindset shift away from location-based organization, treating Obsidian like a database where queries and metadata drive task retrieval. • The video demonstrates setting up task capture using the Quick Add plugin to append tasks to a master list and configuring the Obsidian Tasks plugin with settings like emoji formatting and a global filter (#todo). • Key task queries are shown for lists such as "Ready," "Scheduled," "This Month," "Back Burner," "Waiting," "Discuss," "Clarify," "Someday/Maybe," and "Inbox," each with specific filtering and sorting criteria. • Workarounds for the lack of subtasks in Obsidian include linking to separate checklist notes within the task description, managed with plugins like Checklist and Checklist Reset.

• Obsidian Bases is a new core plugin that transforms any set of notes into a powerful database, allowing for structured organization and retrieval of ideas. • Unlike Notion, Obsidian Bases treats the entire vault as a single database, meaning bases can access and filter all notes regardless of where they are created. • Key features of Obsidian Bases include exceptional speed, especially when scrolling through large tables (reportedly handling tens of thousands of files without issue), multiple customizable views per base (similar to Airtable), and the ability to embed specific views within other notes. • Setting up a base involves using the command palette (Command+P or Control+P), selecting "Create new base," and then defining filters based on note properties, such as "collection contains quotes" or "rank greater than four." • The plugin significantly elevates the importance of Obsidian properties, requiring users to become comfortable with defining and utilizing them for effective database creation and filtering. • While promising, Obsidian Bases is in early access and has some rough edges, including difficulty in adding properties initially, a lack of a note counter within views, and limitations in displaying information cleanly compared to some third-party plugins, though the potential for advanced filtering via formulas and functions is noted.

Introduction to Digital Task Management The video addresses the challenge of consolidating tasks from various notes in a digital environment, unlike the pen-and-paper method. The solution in Obsidian involves leveraging better search tools and specific plugins. Required Plugins and Initial Setup Three essential plugins for this setup are Daily Notes, Templates (core plugin), and Dataview. Ensure these plugins are installed and enabled in Obsidian settings. Create a folder named "Templates" and set it as the default Templates folder in Obsidian settings. Creating a Daily Notes Template Create a new note within the "Templates" folder, named "daily" (or similar for a daily note template). The template content includes a placeholder for the title ({{title}}), a section for "Tasks due today", and a "Log" section for daily thoughts. Configure the Daily Notes plugin settings to use this "daily" template as the default template file. To apply the template to an existing daily note or a newly created one, use the Command Pane (Command + P) and select "Apply template". Task Creation with Due Dates Create tasks in any note (e.g., meeting notes) using a checkbox format (- [ ] or Command + Enter). Crucially, tag each task with a due date, for example, April 11th, directly within the task line. Dataviewjs Query for Due Tasks To dynamically pull in tasks due on a specific date, use a Dataviewjs query. First, enable "JavaScript Queries" in the Dataview plugin settings. The core of the Dataviewjs query filters for uncompleted tasks that contain the specific date string in their text. The speaker provides the exact JavaScript code snippet in the description for users to copy. Initially, the date can be hard-coded (e.g., April 11th) to test the query. A key insight: checking off a task within the Dataview query list removes it from the list, as it only displays uncompleted tasks. Integrating Dataviewjs into the Daily Notes Template Modify the Dataviewjs query in the template to use a dynamic date variable instead of a hard-coded date. Use the Obsidian variable {{date:YYYY-MM-DD}} within the Dataviewjs query to automatically pull the date of the daily note. Paste this dynamic Dataviewjs query into the "Tasks due today" section of your "daily" template. When a new daily note is created (e.g., by clicking on a date in the Calendar plugin), it will automatically populate with all uncompleted tasks due on that specific date. Personal Preference and Alternative Tools The speaker admits that while this Obsidian Dataviewjs approach is effective and helps others, she personally prefers using a smart calendar blocking system like Reclaim for date- or time-sensitive tasks. The choice between Dataview and a dedicated calendar tool depends on individual preferences.

• To achieve the "soft paper" aesthetic in Obsidian, install the "Anu Point" theme and then import custom style settings from a provided Google Document link. • The "soft paper" theme's reflective and tactile feel is enhanced by changing the default sans-serif font to the "New York" serif font, which requires downloading and installing the font onto your system and then restarting Obsidian. • This theme is designed to evoke a sense of coziness and creativity, akin to writing on paper or for a traditional publication like the New York Times, contrasting with sterile digital interfaces. • The theme features rainbow-colored folders and a card-like note format, aiming to create a more analog and contemplative writing and thinking experience. • The creator uses three primary Obsidian themes: "Anu Point" with soft paper settings for reflection and creativity, "Prism" for efficiency, and a custom "Lyt Mode" theme for expansive creativity. • Switching themes can help change context and mental state, allowing users to dedicate specific themes to different Obsidian vaults for immediate recognition and focused work.

• To get started with Obsidian, focus on three core principles: capture, linking, and refactoring. • Obsidian utilizes plain text markdown files, with a live preview editor that displays markdown formatting (like italics with asterisks and wiki links with double brackets) directly in the note. • Capture involves simply writing down your thoughts and learnings as they come, ideally processing ideas in your own words rather than just copying quotes, and including links to external resources. • Linking is done by using double square brackets around a phrase (e.g., [[Personal Knowledge Management]]) to create a wiki link; clicking on an uncreated link will generate a new, blank note with that title. • Refactoring, or restructuring notes, can be done using the "Extract current selection" feature, which allows you to move highlighted content into a new, separate note and automatically creates the necessary links. • The local graph view, accessible from the side pane (by clicking the three dots and selecting "Open linked view"), provides a visual representation of a note's connections to other notes up to a specified depth, aiding in understanding context. • The best approach to organizing an Obsidian vault is to start simple with capture, linking, and refactoring, and then introduce folders or tags only after accumulating a substantial number of notes (around 50-100).

• Capacities is gaining traction over Obsidian due to its ready-made structure, intuitive features, and immediate productivity, solving the common issue of extensive setup time required by Obsidian. • Unlike Obsidian's blank canvas approach which demands significant customization through plugins and tweaking, Capacities offers a pre-organized layout with built-in templates, allowing users to start working immediately. • Capacities utilizes object-based note types (e.g., documents, images, meeting summaries) and presents them visually in cards, galleries, or lists, which is more streamlined than Obsidian's reliance on plugins like Canvas for similar visual organization. • Capacities enhances the tagging system by allowing visual browsing of all tagged items, including notes, images, and files, with filtering and sorting options by properties, whereas Obsidian treats tags more as simple labels. • Capacities integrates daily notes and a calendar view chronologically, offering a more polished daily workflow experience out-of-the-box compared to Obsidian, which treats daily notes as optional and relies on plugins for advanced calendar functionality. • While Obsidian is praised for its local-first, markdown file storage offering complete control and data security, Capacities offers smoother cloud-based syncing and integration, with an option to export notes in markdown format.

• The Obsidian Graph View is more than just a visualization of enormous graphs; it offers powerful filtering, grouping, and display options to navigate and understand your notes. • Key features include filtering by tags, paths (folders), file names, and line/section references, as well as toggling visibility for tags, attachments, unlinked mentions (files with no outgoing links), and orphan notes (notes with no incoming or outgoing links). • The "Groups" feature allows users to assign colors to notes based on filters (e.g., file name, path), making it easier to visually distinguish different sections of a vault and improving browsing experience over traditional file explorers. • Negative filters (using a minus sign before a filter option) can be used to exclude specific notes or folders from the graph view, and these complex filters can be saved in a separate note and starred for easy access. • Use Case 1: "Picking Up Where I Left Off" involves regularly checking "orphan notes" to identify and create connections that may not have been obvious initially, and checking "existing files only" to resurface forgotten empty notes. • Use Case 2: "Local Navigation" utilizes the local graph view within a specific note, offering controls for depth, incoming links, outgoing links, and neighbor links, effectively replacing the traditional file explorer for navigating within a note's context.

• Obsidian offers a free tier with full access to themes, plugins, and its API, with an optional one-time payment of over $25 for Early Access to beta features and support forums. • Obsidian makes money through a commercial license ($50/user/year) for work use, and optional monthly subscriptions for Obsidian Sync ($5/month) for cross-device syncing with end-to-end encryption and version history, and Obsidian Publish ($10/month) for web publishing of notes with graph view and outline features. • Obsidian utilizes a "local-first" approach with Markdown files, ensuring users own their data and can easily migrate to other Markdown-compatible apps if Obsidian were to cease operations. • Key features include bidirectional linking for creating a network of knowledge, visualized through a built-in graph view that maps note relationships, and a highly customizable experience powered by over 1,800 community plugins and 160 community themes. • Obsidian includes a "Canvas" feature for visual thinkers, allowing users to create boards by adding files, notes, and attachments, and connecting them to consolidate ideas, functioning as a digital whiteboard replacement. • Cons include a steep learning curve, with advanced techniques like Zettelkasten and PKM (Personal Knowledge Management) being more applicable, and while the core is free, features like cross-device sync become necessary for multi-device users, requiring a paid subscription.

• The video's new favorite Obsidian theme is "AnuPpuccin," which offers extensive customization through the "Style Settings" plugin. • AnuPpuccin allows for customization of colors, callout styles (e.g., Block, Standard), and checkboxes, including unique "Speech Bubbles" with numbered icons. • The theme features "Rainbow Folders" for visual organization of the file explorer and adds numbering to code blocks. • Text and heading colors can be customized; for example, italic text can be green and bold text red, aiding visual differentiation. • AnuPpuccin supports a "Cards" layout for frames and panes, providing better separation between notes, and integrates with the "Minimal Cards" snippet for displaying dataview query results horizontally with specified fields. • Advanced customization is possible by adding CSS snippets, such as the "extended-colorschemes" snippet found in the AnuPpuccin GitHub repository, which unlocks additional color theme flavors.

• The Excalidraw plugin for Obsidian allows users to create dynamic visual notes, mind maps, and sketches directly within Obsidian. • A key feature is the ability to link text within an Excalidraw sketch to actual Obsidian notes using double square brackets, enabling navigation to those notes via Ctrl+Shift+Click. • The plugin supports embedding the content of an Obsidian note directly into a sketch by using an exclamation mark before the note's link (e.g., ![[Note Title]]). • Users can import icon libraries from external sources into Excalidraw within Obsidian, enhancing the visual customization of sketches. • Excalidraw sketches can be exported as PNG files, which can be embedded as images in Obsidian, or the original Excalidraw files can be edited directly as markdown, allowing for modification of text elements within the sketch. • The plugin is found in Obsidian's Community Plugins settings and introductory video tutorials by the creator are recommended for learning its full capabilities.

• The core value of the video is Actionable Utility, providing a detailed walkthrough of building a "second brain" knowledge management system in Obsidian MD, inspired by Tiago Forte's BASB and PARA method. • The video demonstrates the CODE framework (Capture, Organize, Distill, Express) within Obsidian: • Capture: Illustrates methods for capturing content from articles and personal thoughts using specific Obsidian commands, templates, and the DataView plugin to manage inputs with statuses, dates, and ratings. • Organize: Explains and demonstrates the PARA method (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archives) using Obsidian's linking capabilities over traditional folders, detailing how to structure notes for actionable goals (Projects) and ongoing commitments (Areas), and leveraging Maps of Content (MOCs) for organizing resources. • Distill: Outlines Tiago Forte's progressive summarization technique, involving bolding essential sentences, highlighting keywords, and creating executive summaries from extracted highlights to condense information. • Express: Shows how to use brainstorming templates for content creation or problem-solving, linking relevant notes and resources, and details a four-level retrieval process (keyword search, relevant notes, MOCs, random note) to access and utilize distilled knowledge. • The presenter offers a pre-built Obsidian starter vault containing templates, notes, plugins, and a roadmap for viewers to implement these concepts.

• The Make.md community plugin for Obsidian enhances note-taking by simplifying markdown formatting with tooltips and slash commands, transforming folders into "spaces" for better organization with customizable dashboard views, and improving tags into "contexts" for adding properties to notes. • To install Make.md, navigate to Settings > Community Plugins > Browse, search for "make.md", then install and enable it. • Make.md introduces a tooltip that appears when text is selected, offering quick options for formatting like bold, italic, strikethrough, code, web links, and internal note links, and a slash command (/) at the start of a new line brings up a menu for inserting headers, callouts, and other markdown elements. • The "Spaces" pane in Make.md allows for dynamic organization of folders and notes, enabling drag-and-drop functionality to reorder items and break alphabetical sorting, and allowing folders to be included in multiple "spaces" or sections. • Clicking on a folder title in Make.md opens a dashboard view which includes a dedicated "folder note" for organizing content within that folder and displays linked notes, allowing for the addition of properties like due dates (as dates) and course links (as links) to notes within that folder context. • "Contexts" in Make.md enhance traditional tags by allowing users to define properties (e.g., due date, course) associated with specific tag types, which can then be added, viewed, and organized through various customizable views like tables, cards, lists, and a flow view, with options to group, sort, and filter notes based on these properties.