Anyone using Zettelkasten?

Posted by Dr Andus
Apr 7, 2019 at 11:55 AM

Glen Coulthard wrote:
>p.s. Still on my never-ending journey to find an alternative for my CT
>library, especially since I don’t want to install Python 2.7 on my new
>machines.

At least on Windows, few software can rival the flexibility of ConnectedText when it comes to constructing a Zettelkasten, especially when talking about categorising an entry and linking it to other entries.

My only issue with CT is that it is Windows based and single-device based (I don’t like the idea of using the USB version), as I’d prefer a cloud solution for this use.

I have toyed with the idea of moving my CT notes to DokuWiki, but it seemed too fiddly and requiring too much technical involvement in maintaining it, and too many different services and payments involved, from paying for the server to paying for a different service to back up the server etc.

My ideal is an almost purely plain text based system using markdown (though enabling the inline display of images), with the ability to do linking any part of the text to any other entry (basically a very simple wiki), to add categories, with a way to be able to see and manage the list of categories, and some way of using colour to mark up selected entries. The search function has to be top-notch. Having an alternative visualisation of the linked entries as a mindmap or a network would be a bonus. A daily readible automatic backup or export to Google Drive or Dropbox or similar would be a must.

At this point Dynalist seems to tick all of these boxes. Maybe the only thing I’d be missing is the presence of backlinks, to be able to see what entries link to a particular entry. But it’s probably not too much hassle to do that manually. I haven’t had a chance to try Contexted yet, but seems to be moving in the same direction.

My advice to the Contexted developers would be to check out Dynalist and see how they could improve on them by making their solution more Zettelkasten-specific.

To me having a Zettelkasten tied to a specific device or a specific operating system is on the one hand risky and awkward, as besides dealing with the risk of device failure or theft, sooner or later you’ll need to move it to another device or having to deal with the software’s obsolescence (CT is case in point), and on the other it is very limiting in this day and age, when one may be working in many different locations, using many different devices, and not having access to your electronic brain when you need it defeats the purpose.

I want to be able to read a physical book on my couch and reach for whatever device is lying nearby (most likely a Chromebook) and quickly add an entry or look one up, without having to boot my Windows laptop, which is in another room, or having to write in another solution and then having to remember to transfer the note later on.