Being able to run tiny programmatic scripts within my notes has changed the way I write and think far more than any other interface features.
Noticed we're seeing more platforms that make 'programmable notes' possible. Wrote a short essay on the pattern:
Conversation
Hey, first off nice surname! Do you not find the idea of programmatic notes overall kill for 99% of use cases?
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Ha, right back at you.
Re: overkill. Not at all! I think for the most part we underestimate what "most people" would want or need from a digital knowledge base.
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It depends on who we're imagining when we think about the generalised mass of people who engage in some form of knowledge work as their main job.
It's a big pool, and each niche has their own needs. They all seem under-served (except for techies who can build their own tools)
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it's more time versus payoff. If you can scaffold the process I'd be very interested. I tried to learn Zettelkasten, but just don't have the discipline to keep up with it. For me, just using a reference manager with PDF annotations is quicker, and works fine
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Agree the current tools ask people to do an unrealistic amount of setup, learning, config, and overhead maintenance to get value out of any programmatic note system.
Would require much less friction and better interface patterns. At the moment it's too early / tools are all DIY
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