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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.