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Org-mode. Since it's a plaintext format it's easily searchable, and it's the most feature complete and ergonomic piece of software I've ever used for task tracking and knowledge management (including MediaWiki, TiddlyWiki, Google Docs, Evernote, plain txts, and more). One major pain point: no totally seamless mobile sync that I'm aware of. I just write things down in Google Keep and transcribe them when I'm on my lap…
I build mindmaps using freemind/freeplane to keep track of my research; I literally have hundreds of mindmaps from 3Dprinting to ZFS. I also link mindmaps to other mindmaps (crude "topic mapping").
- mobile and desktop friendly (especially input) - full local backup, including any metadata (so that I can always use another software, not cloud-first-with-export) - can be purely single-person (plenty existing sharing platforms) - it’s gotta support arbitrary nesting (I hate evernote/one note three levels to a wisiwig page rigidness) - any others?
I also wonder whether there’s enough market for selling this software (Airtable is going after business use cases, the single-player use case makes it quite limited).
If your data is variegated in format and form, don't look for a single tool/method solution to organize them. There is no single all-purpose organization method.
Don't start with figuring out a method to organize your information. You will end up overengineering your org method.
Instead, organize your information per "use-case". Start with a specific use-case/project (e.g. writing a blog or paper), and work backwards to figure out how to organize your data to meet the requirements of that project. Do a couple of iterations. After a couple of projects, and you will naturally discover your own data use patterns.
If you go with a super organization system on day 1, it will likely be too general and require too much effort (tagging, keywords, hierarchies, version controlled, branches, etc.) you will end up expending resources on metadata management on data that you may never ever need to retrieve and very soon you will abandon the effort.
My PKM system is very simple: a single unorganized Google Docs for quick thoughts and ideas (just bullet points), separate Google Docs files for specific projects, etc. and Dropbox for files. It's simple, searchable, and multi-device.
I also occasionally use some specialized tools like Jabref (BibTeX) for specific types of data like references, but I hardly ever write papers anymore, so these have fallen by the wayside.
I've tried wikis but due to their multipage nature, they segment knowledge too finely (often there are wiki pages hidden in deep in the link hierarchy that I forgot existed). Wikis don't fit the PKM use case that well, so these too have fallen by the wayside for me.
For me, PKMs need to in some way feel like a single broadsheet where I can easily see and touch my information without having to drill-down hierarchies and follow too many links.
p.s. I've heard good things about Evernote. It's a little too heavy for me, but many people seem to find it useful.
It doesn't really cover your file storage needs, but I think that's a different beast than notes and information. When I need to store stuff like that I dump it on Google Drive which makes search/sync/browsing dead simple/cheap.
I ‘ve tried all kinds of ideas before settling for this setup, and they all felt forced or just too much trouble for what they were to me. Text files, Dropbox, and Spotlight have been a perfect combination for my needs for years now.
I’m super interested in this space! Agree with sibling that focus here is on knowledge management while question mentions media, which is probably even more interesting challenge. I recently dreamed up something that kinda resembled Airtable (which you should check out), albeit I was thinking more of datomic like system as opposed to tables (more flexible, but tables are nice and simple). I like the mention of wiki l…
I use WorkFlowy[1] as my starting place for all notes, info, and tech tips. It's quickly searchable and the mobile client is easy to use. I really like the structure of bulleted lists for just about all types of information. It doesn't really cover your file storage needs, but I think that's a different beast than notes and information. When I need to store stuff like that I dump it on Google Drive which makes search…