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| 1 | +--- |
| 2 | +created: 2024-11-14 |
| 3 | +updated: 2024-11-19 |
| 4 | +--- |
| 5 | +### What is [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md)? |
| 6 | +**Obsidian** is a powerful, flexible, and free note-taking application designed for building a personal knowledge base. It works offline, ensuring your data is always stored locally, and supports the universal Markdown (`.md`) format. Obsidian can be extended with thousands of plugins, making it a versatile tool capable of adapting to countless workflows. Whether you’re a student, writer, researcher, or professional, Obsidian can be molded to suit your needs. |
| 7 | + |
| 8 | +### Why I Chose Obsidian |
| 9 | +My journey into digital note-taking started eight years ago with **Evernote**. Back then, it was a fantastic tool for organizing my thoughts and ideas, but eventually, the move to a paid subscription model made me reconsider. That’s when I switched to [**Joplin**](https://joplinapp.org/), an open-source, free application that also stored data locally. |
| 10 | + |
| 11 | +While Joplin was a great tool, as my repository of notes grew, I struggled with maintaining structure and organization. Additionally, the repository format in Joplin is stored in a proprietary Joplin-specific format, making it difficult to navigate or export without using the Joplin app itself. This limitation added friction to my workflow and further motivated me to explore other solutions. |
| 12 | + |
| 13 | +I eventually discovered Obsidian, and what immediately resonated with me was its philosophy of linking and connecting notes, which aligned perfectly with two powerful organizational methods |
| 14 | + |
| 15 | +#### 1. [Zettelkasten](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zettelkasten) |
| 16 | +The **Zettelkasten method** is a system of note-taking designed to mimic how our brain connects ideas. Instead of storing information in isolated folders, Zettelkasten encourages creating "atomic" notes - small, self-contained pieces of information that link to each other. In Obsidian, this is seamless thanks to its bidirectional linking and graph view, allowing me to visually explore connections between ideas. |
| 17 | + |
| 18 | +Key benefits of Zettelkasten in Obsidian: |
| 19 | +- **Connections, not hierarchies:** Obsidian makes it easy to link notes contextually instead of relying solely on folders. |
| 20 | +- **Atomic notes:** Each note contains a single idea, which can be referenced and reused in multiple contexts. |
| 21 | +- **Knowledge network:** Over time, your notes evolve into a web of interconnected insights. |
| 22 | + |
| 23 | +#### 2. PARA Method |
| 24 | +Tiago Forte’s **PARA method** (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archives) is another game-changer. Unlike Zettelkasten, which focuses on knowledge connections, PARA is about organizing actionable information. Here’s how I use it in Obsidian: |
| 25 | +- **Projects**: Notes related to active projects I’m working on (e.g., articles, presentations, or tasks). |
| 26 | +- **Areas**: Notes on ongoing responsibilities or interests (e.g., health, personal finance, learning goals). |
| 27 | +- **Resources**: Reference material that may be useful later (e.g., articles, guides, or templates). |
| 28 | +- **Archives**: Notes from completed projects or inactive areas for long-term storage. |
| 29 | + |
| 30 | +![[Pasted image 20241119161058.png]] |
| 31 | +Combining **Zettelkasten** for knowledge creation with **PARA** for organization has transformed how I manage my notes. My repository now feels intuitive and structured, no matter how much it grows. |
| 32 | + |
| 33 | +### Pros of Obsidian |
| 34 | +- **Flexibility and extensibility**: With plugins, Obsidian can adapt to almost any workflow, whether you're using it for task management, journaling, or research. |
| 35 | +- **Community-driven development**: The Obsidian community is vibrant and continuously contributes plugins, themes, and ideas. |
| 36 | +- **Markdown format**: Your notes are plain text, ensuring portability and eliminating the risk of being locked into a proprietary format. |
| 37 | +- **Perfect for Zettelkasten**: Obsidian’s linking and graph view make it a natural fit for knowledge management. |
| 38 | +- **Fast and lightweight**: Even with large repositories, Obsidian remains quick and responsive. |
| 39 | +- **Customizable themes**: Obsidian’s appearance can be tailored to your taste with community-created themes. |
| 40 | +- **Offline-first**: No dependency on the cloud—your data is always accessible. |
| 41 | + |
| 42 | +### Cons of Obsidian |
| 43 | +- **Steep learning curve**: For non-technical users, setting up and customizing Obsidian can feel overwhelming. |
| 44 | +- **Overwhelming options**: The many ways to organize your repository can lead to decision paralysis. |
| 45 | +- **Time-consuming setup**: Building a workflow that suits you takes time and experimentation. |
| 46 | +- **Limited attachment support**: While Obsidian supports PDF and text attachments, the experience can be inconsistent across platforms. |
| 47 | +- **Plugin dependency**: While plugins add incredible functionality, they can sometimes break with updates, requiring manual intervention. |
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