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+WEBVTT captioned by sachac
+
+NOTE Introduction
+
+00:00:01.400 --> 00:00:03.938
+Hello there, fellow basement dwellers.
+
+00:00:03.939 --> 00:00:05.958
+I'm Christian and you are watching "
+
+00:00:05.959 --> 00:00:08.519
+Zettelkasten for Regular Emacs Hackers,"
+
+00:00:08.520 --> 00:00:12.920
+my Emacs Conference 2025 talk submission.
+
+00:00:12.921 --> 00:00:14.000
+In this presentation,
+
+00:00:14.001 --> 00:00:15.700
+I'll be showing you a couple of things
+
+00:00:15.701 --> 00:00:18.701
+about Zettelkasten, very basic mechanics and habits
+
+00:00:18.702 --> 00:00:21.622
+that you can pick up and implement in Emacs,
+
+00:00:21.623 --> 00:00:24.442
+the most malleable of all environments,
+
+00:00:24.443 --> 00:00:27.823
+to make a thinking environment happen in your life
+
+00:00:27.824 --> 00:00:32.434
+that stays with you potentially forever.
+
+00:00:32.435 --> 00:00:36.055
+The subtitle "For Regular Emacs Hackers" implies at least
+
+00:00:36.056 --> 00:00:38.356
+the possibility of irregular Emacs hackers
+
+00:00:38.357 --> 00:00:42.498
+and regular Emacs non-hackers, so the target audience here
+
+00:00:42.499 --> 00:00:45.119
+is people who are comfortable tweaking their setup
+
+00:00:45.120 --> 00:00:47.980
+when they run into issues and use Emacs to write,
+
+00:00:47.981 --> 00:00:49.980
+no matter if it's prose or code.
+
+00:00:49.981 --> 00:00:53.631
+So that's regular Emacs hacking.
+
+00:00:53.632 --> 00:00:55.614
+You don't need to be an irregular Emacs hacker,
+
+00:00:55.615 --> 00:00:58.759
+for example, being a core maintainer or whatever.
+
+00:00:58.760 --> 00:01:01.243
+You just need to be a normal user
+
+00:01:01.244 --> 00:01:06.679
+who also modifies the setup.
+
+00:01:06.680 --> 00:01:10.301
+However, you should probably not be an Emacs non-hacker.
+
+00:01:10.302 --> 00:01:12.781
+Or maybe you shouldn't stay an Emacs non-hacker,
+
+00:01:12.782 --> 00:01:16.002
+someone who is not tweaking their setup ever.
+
+00:01:16.003 --> 00:01:18.820
+So, if you just open your application
+
+00:01:18.821 --> 00:01:20.240
+to write with a double click,
+
+00:01:20.241 --> 00:01:23.283
+and it happens to be Emacs, this may not be for you,
+
+00:01:23.284 --> 00:01:25.533
+but you ultimately be the judge there.
+
+NOTE Advocating Freedoms
+
+00:01:25.534 --> 00:01:28.744
+It is my sacred duty to, of course,
+
+00:01:28.745 --> 00:01:32.665
+advocate all the essential freedoms during this presentation.
+
+00:01:32.666 --> 00:01:34.507
+These are the following.
+
+00:01:34.508 --> 00:01:37.389
+You shall not be shackled by a proprietary tool.
+
+00:01:37.390 --> 00:01:40.791
+(You shall be shackled by Emacs. (Which is free software.))
+
+00:01:40.792 --> 00:01:44.114
+You shall also not be shackled by an esoteric method
+
+00:01:44.115 --> 00:01:45.275
+that turns out to be a grift
+
+00:01:45.276 --> 00:01:47.897
+where you need to visit annual workshops, walk on broken glass
+
+00:01:47.898 --> 00:01:50.399
+and stuff to be a true ""knower"".
+
+00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:52.880
+You shall be empowered to do great things
+
+00:01:52.881 --> 00:01:55.883
+for the rest of your life after this session alone.
+
+00:01:55.884 --> 00:01:58.870
+This is not a sales pitch.
+
+00:01:58.871 --> 00:02:00.651
+Finally, you should also not be shackled
+
+00:02:00.652 --> 00:02:05.039
+by whichever sources of information you rely on in the future.
+
+00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:07.853
+You shall be free to think and explore new ideas,
+
+00:02:07.854 --> 00:02:12.175
+ideally forever, in an environment you built to your liking,
+
+00:02:12.176 --> 00:02:15.796
+without the degrading web searches and the dead internet
+
+00:02:15.797 --> 00:02:18.857
+getting in your way. No libraries, no dead trees.
+
+00:02:18.858 --> 00:02:21.538
+It's you and your knowledge base
+
+00:02:21.539 --> 00:02:29.679
+that can truly produce magnificent things.
+
+NOTE What Is This About?
+
+00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:33.586
+So what is this about? In the teaser text for this session,
+
+00:02:33.587 --> 00:02:36.148
+I brought up that when people talk about Emacs
+
+00:02:36.149 --> 00:02:38.931
+pulling in everything that people do on their computer,
+
+00:02:38.932 --> 00:02:42.614
+it's usually things they used other software for in the past.
+
+00:02:42.615 --> 00:02:46.057
+Like email, chat, playing music, browsing the web,
+
+00:02:46.058 --> 00:02:48.819
+managing tasks, you know, stuff like that.
+
+00:02:48.820 --> 00:02:51.761
+We don't have a good blueprint for thinking environments though.
+
+00:02:51.762 --> 00:02:53.263
+So it's not a trivial task,
+
+00:02:53.264 --> 00:02:54.744
+just port this or that to Emacs
+
+00:02:54.745 --> 00:02:56.705
+and then you'll be happy and productive.
+
+00:02:56.706 --> 00:02:58.199
+That's different from doing your emails
+
+00:02:58.200 --> 00:03:00.328
+or task management or writing in Emacs,
+
+00:03:00.329 --> 00:03:02.950
+where we have a lot of experience with existing software
+
+00:03:02.951 --> 00:03:06.413
+to adapt and deviate from, where we can essentially
+
+00:03:06.414 --> 00:03:09.855
+port the task to Emacs. We can practice to think,
+
+00:03:09.856 --> 00:03:12.998
+purposefully and productively, on complex things
+
+00:03:12.999 --> 00:03:14.459
+over long periods of time
+
+00:03:14.460 --> 00:03:19.059
+when we create bespoke environments that help with that.
+
+00:03:19.060 --> 00:03:20.467
+The first assumption is this:
+
+00:03:20.468 --> 00:03:24.058
+Writing is very important to form complex thought.
+
+00:03:24.059 --> 00:03:26.279
+Without writing, you won't be able to cross
+
+00:03:26.280 --> 00:03:28.760
+a certain complexity threshold.
+
+00:03:28.761 --> 00:03:31.921
+Thinking in your head alone without any externalization
+
+00:03:31.922 --> 00:03:34.261
+makes you prone to loops, repetitions,
+
+00:03:34.262 --> 00:03:36.142
+and worst of all: jumps.
+
+00:03:36.143 --> 00:03:38.562
+Jumps that get you to a point,
+
+00:03:38.563 --> 00:03:40.723
+but not backed by reason or argument.
+
+00:03:40.724 --> 00:03:46.501
+So you and your future and others cannot follow.
+
+00:03:46.502 --> 00:03:48.362
+Written words direct thought.
+
+00:03:48.363 --> 00:03:51.984
+The linearization or sequence-making of thoughts
+
+00:03:51.985 --> 00:03:55.306
+frames your next idea. That's the same for reading,
+
+00:03:55.307 --> 00:03:57.307
+which enables you to pick up existing ideas
+
+00:03:57.308 --> 00:04:00.249
+and continue to write about them later.
+
+00:04:00.250 --> 00:04:02.810
+So for "good thinking", writing, reading,
+
+00:04:02.811 --> 00:04:05.072
+and writing is mandatory.
+
+00:04:05.073 --> 00:04:07.193
+Emacs is good at showing text to read.
+
+00:04:07.194 --> 00:04:09.634
+It's good at processing keyboard inputs to write.
+
+00:04:09.635 --> 00:04:13.176
+So let's go. Let's set up an environment within Emacs
+
+00:04:13.177 --> 00:04:16.319
+to make this thinking thing happen.
+
+00:04:16.320 --> 00:04:18.059
+I'll walk you through some mechanics
+
+00:04:18.060 --> 00:04:20.881
+of the Zettelkasten machine and habits for you,
+
+00:04:20.882 --> 00:04:22.900
+dear thinker and regular Emacs hacker.
+
+00:04:22.901 --> 00:04:25.885
+And for your reference, highlight these things
+
+00:04:25.886 --> 00:04:30.468
+as I present them in the bottom left corner of the screen.
+
+00:04:30.469 --> 00:04:33.190
+So working with Zettelkasten as a thinking environment
+
+00:04:33.191 --> 00:04:36.533
+only requires very simple mechanics.
+
+NOTE Write - Essential Mechanic
+
+00:04:36.534 --> 00:04:39.639
+First one is to write. I mentioned this.
+
+00:04:39.640 --> 00:04:42.488
+It could be one large text file, could be many small ones.
+
+00:04:42.489 --> 00:04:46.359
+We use the power of Emacs and small files because Emacs is cool,
+
+00:04:46.360 --> 00:04:49.354
+and individual files put boundaries around ideas
+
+00:04:49.355 --> 00:04:52.662
+that force you to decide what goes where.
+
+00:04:52.663 --> 00:04:55.686
+Most importantly though, write like you mean it.
+
+00:04:55.687 --> 00:04:58.510
+The principle of "garbage in and garbage out" holds.
+
+00:04:58.511 --> 00:05:01.374
+You don't need to use your novelist voice when taking notes,
+
+00:05:01.375 --> 00:05:04.137
+but it also shouldn't be shorthand only,
+
+00:05:04.138 --> 00:05:06.794
+so that your future you has an easy time
+
+00:05:06.795 --> 00:05:09.600
+reading and digesting what you wrote.
+
+NOTE Connect - Essential Mechanic
+
+00:05:09.601 --> 00:05:13.524
+Next mechanic, which is also essential, is to connect.
+
+00:05:13.525 --> 00:05:14.999
+We think in associations.
+
+00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:18.639
+Connect notes to capture the associations that come to mind
+
+00:05:18.640 --> 00:05:20.916
+and that you want the reader, which is the future you,
+
+00:05:20.917 --> 00:05:24.074
+to make. Traveling a path of connections
+
+00:05:24.075 --> 00:05:25.835
+indirectly via tags or keywords
+
+00:05:25.836 --> 00:05:27.096
+and directly with links
+
+00:05:27.097 --> 00:05:30.720
+can feel like reading an essay you make up as you go.
+
+00:05:30.721 --> 00:05:34.267
+That's where connections show their power.
+
+NOTE Correct - Essential Habit
+
+00:05:34.268 --> 00:05:38.260
+The next essential habit is to read and correct
+
+00:05:38.261 --> 00:05:40.180
+and reconnect as you go.
+
+00:05:40.181 --> 00:05:42.311
+You spend time and effort at the writing stage,
+
+00:05:42.312 --> 00:05:43.792
+you are the primary audience,
+
+00:05:43.793 --> 00:05:46.895
+so do your past self a favor and read what you wrote.
+
+00:05:46.896 --> 00:05:50.478
+And then as you read it, make it better.
+
+00:05:50.479 --> 00:05:52.340
+Make it better, continuously make things better
+
+00:05:52.341 --> 00:05:55.222
+and capture new ideas as they come up as you read.
+
+00:05:55.223 --> 00:05:57.784
+And things you can only now remember
+
+00:05:57.785 --> 00:06:00.927
+because you learned about things in the meantime.
+
+00:06:00.928 --> 00:06:03.429
+You'll also get better at this whole thing with practice.
+
+00:06:03.430 --> 00:06:05.866
+So improve old notes when you find them lacking in detail,
+
+00:06:05.867 --> 00:06:08.575
+their tone pretentious, their mere existence
+
+00:06:08.576 --> 00:06:10.895
+an insult to your intelligence.
+
+00:06:10.896 --> 00:06:11.735
+Pay [knocks on table] attention [knocks again]
+
+00:06:11.736 --> 00:06:13.639
+to pain points in using notes.
+
+00:06:13.640 --> 00:06:16.559
+Yes, I knocked on my desk to emphasize.
+
+00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:18.601
+And fix things on the fly.
+
+00:06:18.602 --> 00:06:19.802
+From this principle follows
+
+00:06:19.803 --> 00:06:22.063
+a lot of common practices and tips.
+
+00:06:22.064 --> 00:06:24.125
+This principle truly is essential.
+
+00:06:24.126 --> 00:06:25.546
+Too long and you didn't read it?
+
+00:06:25.547 --> 00:06:27.227
+Add a summary at the beginning.
+
+00:06:27.228 --> 00:06:30.089
+You can't understand what you wrote a year ago?
+
+00:06:30.090 --> 00:06:32.511
+Do your best to rewrite it in your own words.
+
+00:06:32.512 --> 00:06:35.099
+It only gets worse if you wait longer.
+
+00:06:35.100 --> 00:06:37.115
+Can't find anything in the mess?
+
+00:06:37.116 --> 00:06:39.137
+Collect links to what you could find
+
+00:06:39.138 --> 00:06:41.659
+in a new "meta" note so next time,
+
+00:06:41.660 --> 00:06:43.240
+you have a navigational help.
+
+00:06:43.241 --> 00:06:44.861
+This practice will form the basis
+
+00:06:44.862 --> 00:06:46.733
+for structure notes, maps, and overviews,
+
+00:06:46.734 --> 00:06:49.433
+which we will come to later.
+
+NOTE Design for Use - Habit
+
+00:06:49.434 --> 00:06:52.071
+The next habit, non-essential though,
+
+00:06:52.072 --> 00:06:55.332
+is to create notes with intent to use them.
+
+00:06:55.333 --> 00:06:58.133
+It's one thing to write about facts, capture information,
+
+00:06:58.134 --> 00:07:01.354
+but all this is just collecting stuff.
+
+00:07:01.355 --> 00:07:03.615
+It's another thing altogether to write about
+
+00:07:03.616 --> 00:07:06.556
+a train of thought, about an argument you found compelling,
+
+00:07:06.557 --> 00:07:09.858
+about a model to understand the world, or yourself,
+
+00:07:09.859 --> 00:07:12.899
+in a better way. So collect to remember,
+
+00:07:12.900 --> 00:07:16.260
+but work in your Zettelkasten to think.
+
+00:07:16.261 --> 00:07:18.221
+What does that even mean, though?
+
+00:07:18.222 --> 00:07:19.822
+Recreate how intriguing books
+
+00:07:19.823 --> 00:07:21.803
+lay out their premises and arguments, for example.
+
+00:07:21.804 --> 00:07:24.885
+First this, then that, also that supports the premise,
+
+00:07:24.886 --> 00:07:27.407
+and so on. That's the structure of an argument.
+
+00:07:27.408 --> 00:07:30.549
+You can recreate it in list form, as a graph,
+
+00:07:30.550 --> 00:07:33.500
+you can draw and import the image, whatever.
+
+00:07:33.501 --> 00:07:36.112
+The structure of that argument is one thing,
+
+00:07:36.113 --> 00:07:38.333
+and the details, like the evidence for each claim,
+
+00:07:38.334 --> 00:07:39.999
+can be separate things.
+
+00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:43.919
+These can become their own sub-networks over time.
+
+NOTE Create Structure - Mechanic
+
+00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:45.470
+To facilitate all that,
+
+00:07:45.471 --> 00:07:47.931
+you will be needing to create structures.
+
+00:07:47.932 --> 00:07:50.612
+You've connected notes, so links already leave trails
+
+00:07:50.613 --> 00:07:52.519
+to traverse between your notes.
+
+00:07:52.520 --> 00:07:55.929
+Structures can emerge from these with a sheer volume,
+
+00:07:55.930 --> 00:07:58.616
+but they also can be designed by you to be
+
+00:07:58.617 --> 00:08:02.258
+navigational hubs of similar shape and form over time.
+
+00:08:02.259 --> 00:08:04.240
+Patterns like that reduce confusion
+
+00:08:04.241 --> 00:08:05.800
+and improve feeling at home
+
+00:08:05.801 --> 00:08:09.222
+and finding your way around, so that's worth investing in.
+
+00:08:09.223 --> 00:08:13.404
+For example, use outlines for complex topics.
+
+00:08:13.405 --> 00:08:15.247
+Tables of contents of a book, for example,
+
+00:08:15.248 --> 00:08:17.319
+that you love and processed in great detail.
+
+00:08:17.320 --> 00:08:19.492
+Just recreate the table of contents,
+
+00:08:19.493 --> 00:08:23.037
+the nested structure of it, in your notes,
+
+00:08:23.038 --> 00:08:28.196
+and then you have something to hang your future thoughts onto.
+
+00:08:28.197 --> 00:08:31.517
+Another example is a pro/contra table or list
+
+00:08:31.518 --> 00:08:35.478
+to discuss opposing facets and perspective of a thing.
+
+00:08:35.479 --> 00:08:37.830
+Another example would be models or metaphors
+
+00:08:37.831 --> 00:08:39.060
+like the iceberg model
+
+00:08:39.061 --> 00:08:42.181
+where you point out something has a hidden depth to it
+
+00:08:42.182 --> 00:08:44.381
+or the metaphor of a tree to model a thing
+
+00:08:44.382 --> 00:08:47.967
+as a branching and growing idea.
+
+NOTE Start in the Zettelkasten - Mechanic
+
+00:08:47.968 --> 00:08:50.434
+Another habit which is also not essential
+
+00:08:50.435 --> 00:08:52.454
+is to start in your Zettelkasten.
+
+00:08:52.455 --> 00:08:55.255
+Starting in your Zettelkasten removes the cost of deciding
+
+00:08:55.256 --> 00:08:57.516
+what goes in there and what doesn't.
+
+00:08:57.517 --> 00:08:59.636
+It gets you moving and up to speed
+
+00:08:59.637 --> 00:09:03.277
+with the method and the tool much easier.
+
+00:09:03.278 --> 00:09:05.078
+Importing stuff later into the Zettelkasten
+
+00:09:05.079 --> 00:09:06.198
+can feel like a chore,
+
+00:09:06.199 --> 00:09:09.259
+but starting the work you need to do anyway in it?
+
+00:09:09.260 --> 00:09:11.560
+That reduces the mental hurdle.
+
+00:09:11.561 --> 00:09:12.921
+As a regular Emacs hacker,
+
+00:09:12.922 --> 00:09:14.582
+you'll eventually develop your own tools
+
+00:09:14.583 --> 00:09:17.303
+to make initial exploration smoother over time,
+
+00:09:17.304 --> 00:09:19.544
+like do you start in a particular place
+
+00:09:19.545 --> 00:09:22.519
+or just create a new note from scratch somewhere.
+
+00:09:22.520 --> 00:09:25.026
+You won't know this until you experience this stuff
+
+00:09:25.027 --> 00:09:26.867
+for a while and try different things.
+
+00:09:26.868 --> 00:09:32.400
+So don't worry and be open for change.
+
+NOTE Start with a Link - Mechanic
+
+00:09:32.401 --> 00:09:36.369
+The final habit, also non-essential, is to start with a link
+
+00:09:36.370 --> 00:09:38.451
+and not with the creation of a new file.
+
+00:09:38.452 --> 00:09:40.512
+Start with a link, create the file later.
+
+00:09:40.513 --> 00:09:42.473
+This avoids orphaned notes.
+
+00:09:42.474 --> 00:09:45.896
+Orphaned notes are those no others are linking to.
+
+00:09:45.897 --> 00:09:48.457
+To these you can only get with a full-text search
+
+00:09:48.458 --> 00:09:51.299
+or maybe by accident when you browse your notes,
+
+00:09:51.300 --> 00:09:54.567
+but there is no orderly way to get to them.
+
+NOTE Recap
+
+00:09:54.568 --> 00:09:58.533
+To recap: Write. Don't be sloppy.
+
+00:09:58.534 --> 00:10:00.600
+Put in effort early to get faster at this.
+
+00:10:00.601 --> 00:10:04.159
+This is essential, because without putting effort
+
+00:10:04.160 --> 00:10:08.133
+into writing, you won't have anything to use.
+
+00:10:08.134 --> 00:10:10.500
+Connect and leave trails to navigate.
+
+00:10:10.501 --> 00:10:13.619
+That can tell a story when you traverse the trail later.
+
+00:10:13.620 --> 00:10:16.540
+This is essential because without connection,
+
+00:10:16.541 --> 00:10:18.600
+you will not get anywhere.
+
+00:10:18.601 --> 00:10:20.300
+Correct and improve things as you go.
+
+00:10:20.301 --> 00:10:21.839
+The last essential thing: well,
+
+00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:24.141
+don't worry about perfection, and then,
+
+00:10:24.142 --> 00:10:25.802
+be gentle to your past self.
+
+00:10:25.803 --> 00:10:27.976
+Adapt to what you learn along the way.
+
+00:10:27.977 --> 00:10:31.124
+It's essential, because without this attitude,
+
+00:10:31.125 --> 00:10:33.745
+you can easily get stuck in analysis paralysis,
+
+00:10:33.746 --> 00:10:35.039
+like where do I need to put this,
+
+00:10:35.040 --> 00:10:37.367
+or what would be the perfect way to phrase this.
+
+00:10:37.368 --> 00:10:40.733
+Design for use. This helps both finding your voice,
+
+00:10:40.734 --> 00:10:42.819
+and to have criteria for selecting
+
+00:10:42.820 --> 00:10:45.233
+what to spend time and effort on in the first place.
+
+00:10:45.234 --> 00:10:47.349
+It takes into account the opportunity cost
+
+00:10:47.350 --> 00:10:50.250
+of high quality work from writing and connecting.
+
+00:10:50.251 --> 00:10:53.333
+Create structures. You won't be able to scale
+
+00:10:53.334 --> 00:10:55.876
+and stay organized and find your way around
+
+00:10:55.877 --> 00:10:58.539
+without structures. You can practice this early
+
+00:10:58.540 --> 00:11:00.599
+and design structures deliberately,
+
+00:11:00.600 --> 00:11:03.984
+but it's also okay to ignore this for a while and wing it.
+
+00:11:03.985 --> 00:11:05.746
+So it's not marked essential,
+
+00:11:05.747 --> 00:11:08.939
+although it may hurt you sooner than later.
+
+00:11:08.940 --> 00:11:10.891
+The habit to start in the Zettelkasten?
+
+00:11:10.892 --> 00:11:13.793
+Well, do the work you need to do in a place
+
+00:11:13.794 --> 00:11:15.479
+that can pay back dividends
+
+00:11:15.480 --> 00:11:16.715
+on the effort you put in.
+
+00:11:16.716 --> 00:11:19.257
+That's powerful, but also not essential.
+
+00:11:19.258 --> 00:11:21.619
+You could just as well continue to write and think
+
+00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:23.460
+and scribble somewhere else,
+
+00:11:23.461 --> 00:11:27.423
+and then do the Zettelkasten importing stuff later.
+
+00:11:27.424 --> 00:11:28.439
+Start with a link.
+
+00:11:28.440 --> 00:11:30.245
+That's really useful practice,
+
+00:11:30.246 --> 00:11:33.206
+but more like a lifehack and not an essential habit.
+
+00:11:33.207 --> 00:11:35.347
+So you can also create new files from scratch
+
+00:11:35.348 --> 00:11:38.049
+for ideas that come up as they come up
+
+00:11:38.050 --> 00:11:39.610
+and then try to connect them later.
+
+00:11:39.611 --> 00:11:42.731
+Well, that's better than not writing at all, right?
+
+00:11:42.732 --> 00:11:44.747
+So if you look at this, you may ask yourself,
+
+00:11:44.748 --> 00:11:48.319
+why is this create structure thing a mechanic and not a habit?
+
+00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:50.876
+What's the difference? It seems kind of random.
+
+00:11:50.877 --> 00:11:53.918
+Well, do create structures as an imperative
+
+00:11:53.919 --> 00:11:55.279
+is a good habit, yes.
+
+00:11:55.280 --> 00:11:57.981
+Structures facilitate growth of the Zettelkasten
+
+00:11:57.982 --> 00:11:59.562
+and help you discover useful patterns
+
+00:11:59.563 --> 00:12:00.679
+and the things you care about.
+
+00:12:00.680 --> 00:12:03.444
+Patterns that work for you personally,
+
+00:12:03.445 --> 00:12:04.724
+which make navigation easier
+
+00:12:04.725 --> 00:12:07.605
+because they fit your personal expectations
+
+00:12:07.606 --> 00:12:10.586
+for what is and what is not.
+
+00:12:10.587 --> 00:12:13.847
+That's something for you to do. That's a process.
+
+00:12:13.848 --> 00:12:18.148
+But from the perspective of the Zettelkasten as a system,
+
+00:12:18.149 --> 00:12:20.609
+that's a mechanic or rather dynamic,
+
+00:12:20.610 --> 00:12:23.149
+the Zettelkasten grows organically.
+
+00:12:23.150 --> 00:12:25.310
+Thanks to your constant intervention and usage of course.
+
+00:12:25.311 --> 00:12:27.631
+That's how time passes in your Zettelkasten.
+
+00:12:27.632 --> 00:12:32.272
+That's how a process of transformation enters the system.
+
+00:12:32.273 --> 00:12:34.800
+The transformation affects the network.
+
+00:12:34.801 --> 00:12:36.255
+Every new or updated note,
+
+00:12:36.256 --> 00:12:38.557
+every new connection changes the network.
+
+00:12:38.558 --> 00:12:40.718
+The existing network then imposes demands
+
+00:12:40.719 --> 00:12:43.679
+for new stuff to fit in, slowly solidifying
+
+00:12:43.680 --> 00:12:47.363
+how things are organized to be perceived as orderly.
+
+00:12:47.364 --> 00:12:49.084
+This is calcifying.
+
+00:12:49.085 --> 00:12:52.326
+That's emergent creation of structure from use.
+
+00:12:52.327 --> 00:12:56.268
+Structure here is expectation for what could come next.
+
+00:12:56.269 --> 00:12:58.649
+On top of this interplay of emergent structure
+
+00:12:58.650 --> 00:13:00.190
+in your notes and processes
+
+00:13:00.191 --> 00:13:01.871
+that operate these constraints,
+
+00:13:01.872 --> 00:13:04.372
+you can design and influence and architect
+
+00:13:04.373 --> 00:13:06.873
+and have explicit structures and patterns,
+
+00:13:06.874 --> 00:13:09.633
+and therefore you can influence what is expected,
+
+00:13:09.634 --> 00:13:11.836
+what is unexpected and what fits
+
+00:13:11.837 --> 00:13:14.257
+and what needs to change to fit in.
+
+00:13:14.258 --> 00:13:18.139
+So the time you spend designing these things
+
+00:13:18.140 --> 00:13:20.300
+will influence how the Zettelkasten
+
+00:13:20.301 --> 00:13:22.033
+will behave in the future.
+
+NOTE Facilitate Growth
+
+00:13:22.034 --> 00:13:24.061
+To prepare for growth
+
+00:13:24.062 --> 00:13:27.533
+you will probably encounter thresholds along your journey.
+
+00:13:27.534 --> 00:13:29.267
+Like 1-10 notes, well,
+
+00:13:29.268 --> 00:13:31.300
+you can easily remember all of them.
+
+00:13:31.301 --> 00:13:34.333
+10-100, you will have forgotten some details,
+
+00:13:34.334 --> 00:13:37.067
+but will probably remember writing most of these notes
+
+00:13:37.068 --> 00:13:40.239
+in some way. 100-1000?
+
+00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:42.919
+Bad luck, you will have a hard time going through everything
+
+00:13:42.920 --> 00:13:46.439
+one by one to find what you have. You will have to rely on
+
+00:13:46.440 --> 00:13:50.087
+filtering results. For example, with a full text search,
+
+00:13:50.088 --> 00:13:53.492
+you will crave to use tags and keywords more
+
+00:13:53.493 --> 00:14:02.039
+to group notes into more manageable departments or collections.
+
+00:14:02.040 --> 00:14:05.879
+By this mark, search results produce way too many results.
+
+00:14:05.880 --> 00:14:07.967
+Popular tags become overcrowded,
+
+00:14:07.968 --> 00:14:10.069
+and you have the same problem you had in the last stage,
+
+00:14:10.070 --> 00:14:12.519
+but for each of these tags.
+
+00:14:12.520 --> 00:14:15.779
+So manual structures will take you through this.
+
+00:14:15.780 --> 00:14:18.919
+Anticipate growth pains by starting from structures.
+
+00:14:18.920 --> 00:14:22.119
+That's the recommendation here. Design your entry points
+
+00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:24.167
+into your current projects and research topics
+
+00:14:24.168 --> 00:14:28.159
+and interests as 'departments' of your Zettelkasten.
+
+00:14:28.160 --> 00:14:31.161
+Keep a list of, for example, 12 darlings,
+
+00:14:31.162 --> 00:14:34.124
+like Feynman did: a list of 12 things
+
+00:14:34.125 --> 00:14:35.485
+that you can check mechanically
+
+00:14:35.486 --> 00:14:36.926
+where you capture something new,
+
+00:14:36.927 --> 00:14:39.889
+and then you can see whether the newfound knowledge
+
+00:14:39.890 --> 00:14:46.139
+can also push one of your darling projects forward.
+
+NOTE Emacs demo
+
+00:14:46.140 --> 00:14:50.222
+Now, finally, let's get to the demonstration in Emacs.
+
+00:14:50.223 --> 00:14:52.334
+Here is a very minimal init file.
+
+00:14:52.335 --> 00:14:55.738
+I will share it with you in the show notes.
+
+00:14:55.739 --> 00:14:59.539
+And this is the Denote default configuration.
+
+00:14:59.540 --> 00:15:02.439
+Here I'm using the shortcut to create a new note
+
+00:15:02.440 --> 00:15:08.594
+immediately for this talk. And there you see.
+
+00:15:08.595 --> 00:15:10.496
+That's an empty new note. Here,
+
+00:15:10.497 --> 00:15:16.420
+sped up like two or three times the normal typing speed of me,
+
+00:15:16.421 --> 00:15:21.785
+is how I would process this very Emacs conference talk.
+
+00:15:21.786 --> 00:15:25.668
+The essential mechanics and habits, additional habits,
+
+00:15:25.669 --> 00:15:30.111
+mechanics, and then from there after I capture everything.
+
+00:15:30.112 --> 00:15:32.053
+Make sure that I have a reference.
+
+00:15:32.054 --> 00:15:36.136
+This is not a thought-out implementation in Emacs,
+
+00:15:36.137 --> 00:15:39.039
+so this is just plain text. Christian Tietze,
+
+00:15:39.040 --> 00:15:42.146
+Zettelkasten for Regular Emacs Hackers at the bottom.
+
+00:15:42.147 --> 00:15:46.585
+You can use reference management systems that you like,
+
+00:15:46.586 --> 00:15:49.233
+but I don't want to get into these details.
+
+00:15:49.234 --> 00:15:54.367
+Here I'm creating a note with the denote shortcut.
+
+00:15:54.368 --> 00:15:56.399
+Based on the selected text,
+
+00:15:56.400 --> 00:16:01.099
+I'm starting a link. This link is creating the note for me.
+
+00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:04.640
+It's also default Denote functionality
+
+00:16:04.641 --> 00:16:05.720
+and garbage in garbage out.
+
+00:16:05.721 --> 00:16:08.022
+I needed to edit the title because the selected text
+
+00:16:08.023 --> 00:16:10.043
+became the note title. Didn't want that.
+
+00:16:10.044 --> 00:16:13.335
+That was the abbreviation.
+
+00:16:13.336 --> 00:16:16.220
+Notice that the default configuration does not in fact
+
+00:16:16.221 --> 00:16:20.527
+include auto-fill-mode, so the lines get infinitely long.
+
+00:16:20.528 --> 00:16:23.653
+Looks a bit weird. Just garbage in, garbage out.
+
+00:16:23.654 --> 00:16:27.920
+Processing this from Wikipedia.
+
+00:16:27.921 --> 00:16:31.863
+So we have a detail note from this overview.
+
+00:16:31.864 --> 00:16:34.265
+So that's an overview with one link already.
+
+00:16:34.266 --> 00:16:38.668
+Starting from here, now I want to write more about my talk.
+
+00:16:38.669 --> 00:16:43.772
+And next we create structure, types of structures, etc.
+
+00:16:43.773 --> 00:16:46.835
+It creates a weird link, but I can edit this easily
+
+00:16:46.836 --> 00:16:51.922
+thanks to Emacs being so nice to work with.
+
+00:16:51.923 --> 00:16:55.323
+A couple of examples. I mentioned some of these
+
+00:16:55.324 --> 00:16:58.604
+in previous minutes of this conference talk,
+
+00:16:58.605 --> 00:17:00.584
+like position pair, one note for the pair,
+
+00:17:00.585 --> 00:17:03.921
+one note per pro and contra, table of contents,
+
+00:17:03.922 --> 00:17:06.405
+like lists of things you like,
+
+00:17:06.406 --> 00:17:10.607
+to talk about recreating a book's content,
+
+00:17:10.608 --> 00:17:14.308
+table of contents so you can process the book in detail,
+
+00:17:14.309 --> 00:17:16.839
+argument structures, I believe I mentioned these.
+
+00:17:16.840 --> 00:17:19.370
+Look at this up if you're not into arguments,
+
+00:17:19.371 --> 00:17:22.912
+but arguments are very well structured, usually.
+
+00:17:22.913 --> 00:17:26.133
+A table of things like two-dimensional table or grid.
+
+00:17:26.134 --> 00:17:28.334
+Graphics. You can also include graphics, images,
+
+00:17:28.335 --> 00:17:31.636
+and then write about these. And then there are metaphors.
+
+00:17:31.637 --> 00:17:33.797
+And into one metaphor that I'm presenting here,
+
+00:17:33.798 --> 00:17:37.538
+iceberg, black box, and then atom, molecule, and organism,
+
+00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:40.400
+I want to get into this. Atom, molecule, organism.
+
+00:17:40.401 --> 00:17:43.923
+That's a composition and recursion
+
+00:17:43.924 --> 00:17:47.799
+because I have Big Ideas there. Atom, smallest part;
+
+00:17:47.800 --> 00:17:49.567
+molecule, comprised of atoms;
+
+00:17:49.568 --> 00:17:51.968
+and organism is comprised of molecules.
+
+00:17:51.969 --> 00:17:56.432
+Different level of analysis. Because this is irreducible.
+
+00:17:56.433 --> 00:17:59.154
+In fact, if you have no clue about reducibility,
+
+00:17:59.155 --> 00:18:02.196
+irreducibility -- that doesn't mean much to you? --
+
+00:18:02.197 --> 00:18:05.978
+but look this up. You can go very deep
+
+00:18:05.979 --> 00:18:10.617
+with this kind of stuff. It's basically that if you
+
+00:18:10.618 --> 00:18:12.522
+decompose organs into atoms,
+
+00:18:12.523 --> 00:18:14.125
+you cannot get back to the organs.
+
+00:18:14.126 --> 00:18:17.072
+You just have a bunch of atoms. There's information loss,
+
+00:18:17.073 --> 00:18:19.879
+more or less.
+
+00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:24.246
+Here you see that I create a new thing at the end
+
+00:18:24.247 --> 00:18:26.949
+so that I can write about Denote. The tool doesn't matter,
+
+00:18:26.950 --> 00:18:31.834
+but when you use Emacs, use Denote because, well, why?
+
+00:18:31.835 --> 00:18:35.457
+Let's get into this. Fix the link.
+
+00:18:35.458 --> 00:18:37.279
+These are good reasons to use Denote.
+
+00:18:37.280 --> 00:18:44.379
+Denote is very simple. Denote has a couple of sane defaults.
+
+00:18:44.380 --> 00:18:47.078
+That makes life easier. Backlinks.
+
+00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:51.140
+We will see a backlink view at the end.
+
+00:18:51.141 --> 00:18:52.397
+I have to create a couple of things.
+
+00:18:52.398 --> 00:18:55.964
+I'm copying the source code there, the Elisp source,
+
+00:18:55.965 --> 00:19:01.667
+so that you can see, hey, this is just an Org Mode file.
+
+00:19:01.668 --> 00:19:03.629
+You can style it to your liking
+
+00:19:03.630 --> 00:19:06.751
+and then you can even execute the code if you want.
+
+00:19:06.752 --> 00:19:13.294
+Very powerful. Create notes as links first to avoid orphans.
+
+00:19:13.295 --> 00:19:14.675
+Forward link again.
+
+00:19:14.676 --> 00:19:16.015
+At least I wanted to create a forward link.
+
+00:19:16.016 --> 00:19:17.036
+I pressed the wrong shortcut.
+
+00:19:17.037 --> 00:19:19.737
+But anyway, I can fix this easily.
+
+00:19:19.738 --> 00:19:23.479
+You see, there's no link. Dammit.
+
+00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:26.761
+Now I need to create the link after the fact.
+
+00:19:26.762 --> 00:19:33.279
+Here's a list of shortcuts. The denote keymap.
+
+00:19:33.280 --> 00:19:35.165
+It's a recommended practice by me,
+
+00:19:35.166 --> 00:19:36.766
+starting your note with a link.
+
+00:19:36.767 --> 00:19:40.639
+You've heard this all just a couple of minutes ago.
+
+00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:42.854
+It reduces orphans and supposedly teaches you
+
+00:19:42.855 --> 00:19:45.574
+about thinking in connections early.
+
+00:19:45.575 --> 00:19:53.099
+It's a good practice to practice.
+
+00:19:53.100 --> 00:19:55.938
+So with that note, trying to switch back.
+
+00:19:55.939 --> 00:20:00.119
+Denote note switching, that wasn't as smooth,
+
+00:20:00.120 --> 00:20:01.319
+but inserting links is.
+
+00:20:01.320 --> 00:20:10.179
+And there you go. Here's a backlink view. And that's it.
+
+00:20:10.180 --> 00:20:12.651
+In a somewhat self-documenting way,
+
+00:20:12.652 --> 00:20:14.867
+here you see a structure note
+
+00:20:14.868 --> 00:20:17.682
+which is an overview that represents the gist
+
+00:20:17.683 --> 00:20:19.563
+of this Emacs conference talk,
+
+00:20:19.564 --> 00:20:21.839
+with a couple of links to details.
+
+00:20:21.840 --> 00:20:24.107
+From these details, as you've seen,
+
+00:20:24.108 --> 00:20:27.891
+you can go into even more detail. That's all there is to it.
+
+00:20:27.892 --> 00:20:30.133
+Repeat this for infinity,
+
+00:20:30.134 --> 00:20:32.875
+and you get really really complex networks
+
+00:20:32.876 --> 00:20:35.858
+and can do a lot of amazing things in parallel
+
+00:20:35.859 --> 00:20:39.067
+without interference.
+
+NOTE Learn, Share, Grow
+
+00:20:39.068 --> 00:20:42.439
+I just want to stress that the Zettelkasten
+
+00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:47.032
+can help you to learn when you publish, when you share,
+
+00:20:47.033 --> 00:20:51.181
+and when you grow it and yourself in the process.
+
+00:20:51.182 --> 00:20:54.083
+Again, design the Zettelkasten to be used.
+
+00:20:54.084 --> 00:20:58.159
+Publish something, write a blog, share stuff with co-workers.
+
+00:20:58.160 --> 00:21:00.485
+That's powerful and that's so rewarding.
+
+00:21:00.486 --> 00:21:04.039
+This can in turn influence how you do it
+
+00:21:04.040 --> 00:21:06.033
+the next time in your Zettelkasten,
+
+00:21:06.034 --> 00:21:09.380
+because now you can anticipate these kinds of arguments,
+
+00:21:09.381 --> 00:21:11.979
+maybe I can do this early on,
+
+00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:15.133
+and then you're prepared even more for the future
+
+00:21:15.134 --> 00:21:17.479
+to share what you learn.
+
+00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:20.159
+You are also invited very warmly to our
+
+00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:23.319
+community of practice in the Zettelkasten forums.
+
+00:21:23.320 --> 00:21:26.155
+Just share your journey, write about your projects,
+
+00:21:26.156 --> 00:21:29.793
+ask questions. Everyone's welcome, newbie to pro.
+
+00:21:29.794 --> 00:21:32.674
+Just get in touch with people, talk about the processes,
+
+00:21:32.675 --> 00:21:35.361
+improve them, and eventually you'll figure out, well,
+
+00:21:35.362 --> 00:21:39.979
+reaching enlightenment in that regard may not be that hard after all,
+
+00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:42.953
+and then you're fine and good to go for the next projects
+
+00:21:42.954 --> 00:21:48.559
+that you tackle. Most importantly is to make this thing your own.
+
+00:21:48.560 --> 00:21:50.746
+The Zettelkasten, the method, the environment.
+
+00:21:50.747 --> 00:21:53.474
+Create a thinking environment for you.
+
+00:21:53.475 --> 00:21:56.877
+Create your own tools to think with.
+
+00:21:56.878 --> 00:21:59.378
+This goes back to the meme of Shuhari,
+
+00:21:59.379 --> 00:22:02.800
+which is basically imitate and then deviate and innovate.
+
+00:22:02.801 --> 00:22:07.123
+And this invitation here is to imitate what I just laid out.
+
+00:22:07.124 --> 00:22:10.586
+Imitate for a couple of years. One, two, three years.
+
+00:22:10.587 --> 00:22:12.927
+The time goes by faster [snaps fingers] than you think.
+
+00:22:12.928 --> 00:22:16.448
+And then figure out ways to deviate from the doctrine,
+
+00:22:16.449 --> 00:22:18.909
+to figure out ways to improve
+
+00:22:18.910 --> 00:22:22.030
+and change the processes to fit you better.
+
+00:22:22.031 --> 00:22:24.451
+But you need to try to manifest
+
+00:22:24.452 --> 00:22:26.652
+the best practices in your life first,
+
+00:22:26.653 --> 00:22:28.833
+for a while, to then figure out, well,
+
+00:22:28.834 --> 00:22:30.853
+they are not that best after all
+
+00:22:30.854 --> 00:22:33.054
+and I need to change some of them.
+
+00:22:33.055 --> 00:22:37.064
+But you wouldn't know if you didn't try. So do try.
+
+00:22:37.065 --> 00:22:38.639
+Yeah, and with that I want to thank you.
+
+00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:40.249
+Thank you so much for watching. That's it.
+
+00:22:40.250 --> 00:22:41.531
+That was the conference talk,
+
+00:22:41.532 --> 00:22:45.296
+my short introduction to the Zettelkasten mechanics and habits.
+
+NOTE Outro
+
+00:22:45.297 --> 00:22:46.678
+I want to thank you so much for watching
+
+00:22:46.679 --> 00:22:48.380
+and spending time with me on this topic,
+
+00:22:48.381 --> 00:22:50.143
+on these two topics actually,
+
+00:22:50.144 --> 00:22:52.546
+that are very near and dear to my heart.
+
+00:22:52.547 --> 00:22:55.399
+Do share questions, ask questions in the etherpad.
+
+00:22:55.400 --> 00:22:57.608
+And if you watch this after the conference
+
+00:22:57.609 --> 00:23:01.190
+and all the live participation is long over,
+
+00:23:01.191 --> 00:23:04.632
+step into the forums and ask around there.
+
+00:23:04.633 --> 00:23:09.234
+Thanks also to Sacha and team for organizing EmacsConf 2025,
+
+00:23:09.235 --> 00:23:11.595
+for having me. Well, I'm looking forward to hearing from
+
+00:23:11.596 --> 00:23:14.256
+every one of you. So that's it.
+
+00:23:14.257 --> 00:23:18.360
+Peace out and see you in the next one.