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Ask HN: What is a sustainable methodology for taking notes of your learning?

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Re: Ask HN: What is a sustainable methodology for taking notes of your learning?

#31

Post by PaulKeeble »

Most formats aren't going to stand the test of time and unless you want to spend a lot of time converting from one format to another its usually best to stick as close to just text as possible. Initially I used simple ascii text documents in a folder structure which I maintained backups of and then gradually I have used more markdown and use Dokuwiki currently for the software to display and edit. It still works from files so it is still just text but it links them together and offers some benefits beyond just text but it is still completely readable and will be in 20 years time long after I dump that software and use something else.

Whatever you do consider its got to last 40+ years of a career and if it becomes too difficult to maintain you will likely stop.

Re: Ask HN: What is a sustainable methodology for taking notes of your learning?

#33

Post by fancy_hammer »

I'm a fan of writing things in my own words. Don't just copy and paste chunks of text verbatim.

Andy Matuschak has written about his techniques for keeping notes. https://notes.andymatuschak.org/About_these_notes

Molecular notes is another take on keeping notes https://reasonabledeviations.com/2022/04/18/molecular-notes-...

Re: Ask HN: What is a sustainable methodology for taking notes of your learning?

#34

Post by srvmshr »

I usually keep a project open in Overleaf where I keep jotting down everything that I like. Then on a second pass on my own - I expand or cull the information usually and double checking the information as well.

Here is an example of what I did for Stanford CS 230 notes: https://github.com/fagan2888/CS230_notes/blob/main/section1/...

I used to write things down. But I am very OCD about the page yellowing or creasing. Also if I made a mistake I usually trash the sheet and rewrite it. For me notes are a way for regurgitating digested information in good details. I do not ever want to look through the book or course, once I have already covered it. So, yes its a bit tedious, but I save time on the long run

Re: Ask HN: What is a sustainable methodology for taking notes of your learning?

#35

Post by boris »

rsync wrote: post #19
jasode wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>abandon this pursuit and let your human mind perform it’s most wonderful magic: synthesizing, compressing and expanding mental inputs. Not sure if you're trying to convey some "zen" advice but the way I actually synthesize & connect information is to take notes . My previous comment on how many thinkers use notes like this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30331114 If you're suggesting that the mind makes more s…

I don’t know anything about zen. I just observed myself cataloging facts and trivia … and I noticed the real insights came about spontaneously. I decided that every minute spent note taking was better spent reading or re-reading or simply walking and thinking. I agree with you that YMMV.

The point of taking notes is not to preserve the information (or at least not primarily) but to load it into the brain where the connections can magically be made, as you put it. Rich Hickey has a nice talk on this called "Hammock Driven Development".

Re: Ask HN: What is a sustainable methodology for taking notes of your learning?

#36

Post by lovelearning »

What's "sustainable" is probably subjective. To my mind, it's these characteristics: 1) being able to write or dictate from any device 2) accessible in future 3) assists with recall 4) uses formats that can be read decades later even as technology around it is constantly changing

2) and 4) make any kind of third-party service/SaaS a no go. Otherwise, you'll have to set up periodic export to a preservable format, which acts as a speed bump. If the service becomes popular, it may attempt lock-in by throttling export features.

For now, I'm using Obsidian. It's accessible from all my devices. Because it uses markdown, the notes will remain accessible even if the software dies. It supports searching but I can also search using any search tool.

Additionally, I use Anki flash cards and its spaced repetition features to recall key info. I link them to my notes in case I feel like delving deeper into a topic. Unfortunately, because Anki uses SQLite locally and its own closed-source server for syncing, it doesn't satisfy many of my criteria. For now, I've set up periodic exports until I can find a sustainable alternative to Anki.

Re: Ask HN: What is a sustainable methodology for taking notes of your learning?

#37

Post by ss48 »

Make sure they are searchable, and favor more recent notes over older notes.

In most cases, make sure each note are self-contained and can be reviewed without the original text or other notes. Referencing is okay, but usually, you don't want to keep an idea contained in a million places.

If needed, add a diagram or tree or nested tags to show where each note fits in the scheme of a grander picture on a topic.

Looking for a set of notes in a helpful sequence is usually not going to be as effective, aside from chronologic notes of what happened in what sequence.

Re: Ask HN: What is a sustainable methodology for taking notes of your learning?

#39

Post by stuckinhell »

I find everything fails eventually anki, Zettelkasten, markdown, text files, obsidian, one note, wiki, notion etc.

You need to very clearly define what you want and you should know how your brain works. Some people want loose links to job memories, some people think slower but more deeply. Some people get math better than biology, and so on and so on.

You should have a good idea how you learn and what you are good/bad at. Then develop a system that works with YOUR brain. Also you must emotionally accept you aren't going to get it right the first couple times.

Re: Ask HN: What is a sustainable methodology for taking notes of your learning?

#40

Post by karma_fountain »

I'm using zk and the zk-neovim plugin. Works well, its easy to link between notes and navigate. They are future proof because they are stored as plain text. Would like to auto commit and push the notes to github every once in a while, but I've yet to set that up.
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