Tools for Thinking

obsidian.md

A local-first markdown knowledge base. Your notes are just files; the graph and linking turn them into a second brain.

logseq.com

An open-source outliner meets knowledge-base. Daily notes are the atomic unit; links and queries connect them into a graph.

kinopio.club

A tool for thinking that feels like a zoomable corkboard. The least-opinionated whiteboard I've ever used.

roamresearch.com

The app that popularized bi-directional linking. The original networked-thought tool; opinion is divided but the paradigm is influential.

ia.net

A writing app that genuinely removes distraction without making a performance of it. Markdown, syntax highlighting, full stop.

ulysses.app

A markdown-first writing environment for long-form work. The library model handles the fact that a book isn't a single file.

excalidraw.com

A virtual whiteboard that looks hand-drawn. Best for thinking-out-loud diagrams you want to share without over-polishing.

tldraw.com

An infinite canvas drawing tool with stunning attention to detail in every gesture. Open source and embeddable.

raycast.com

A faster, more extensible Spotlight for macOS. Quicklinks, snippets, window management, clipboard history — all under Command-Space.

arc.net

The Browser Company's opinionated take on what a browser could be. Split view, command bar, profile spaces — many good ideas.

apps.ankiweb.net

Open-source spaced-repetition flashcards. Ugly, janky, and the single most powerful learning tool most people never try.

readwise.io

Aggregates highlights from Kindle, articles, and podcasts — then delivers them back via daily review. The only way I remember what I read.

craft.do

A notes app that takes visual design seriously. Blocks, nested documents, and some of the nicest typography in the category.

heptabase.com

Whiteboards for research. Designed for the moment after you've finished reading and want to make sense of what you read.

linear.app

Issue tracking for teams who care about craft. The keyboard-first command palette is a model for every other tool.