81 // Evergreen notes with Stephan Ango

This podcast episode explores the journey and development of the thinking tool Obsidian. The guests discuss the balance between depth and accessibility in the app, the fusion of different cultures in recipes and software, the transition from entrepreneurship to joining an established tool, and the financing and business models in the prosumer market. They also delve into the concept of evergreen notes, the role of plugins in the Obsidian ecosystem, the challenges of extensibility and usability, and the significance of longevity and digital preservation. The speakers emphasize the importance of the thought process over the tools themselves, the potential of canvas environments, and the future plans of the Obsidian team to enhance the user experience and make knowledge tools more accessible. Takeaways • Obsidian aims to balance depth and accessibility, allowing users to explore complex thoughts and organize ideas in a non-hierarchical and interconnected manner. • The integration of different techniques and cultures, as seen in recipes and software development, can result in unique and innovative creations. • The transition from entrepreneurship to joining an established tool can be smooth when there is familiarity with the tool and a shared vision. • Prosumer business models offer both free and paid features, aiming to democratize access to tools while providing added value for those willing to pay. • Bringing in new leaders to an existing company can bring fresh expertise and perspectives, but it's important to find the right timing and ensure alignment with the company's values. • The software industry has evolved from piracy to freemium models, where offering free access and providing premium features has become a more successful approach. • Evergreen notes are a powerful tool for externalizing and manipulating ideas, fostering creativity and enhancing the thinking process. • Plain text files, like those used in Obsidian, offer durability and longevity compared to more ephemeral software apps. • The focus should be on the work and creations produced using tools, rather than solely on the tools themselves. • The extensibility and customization options in Obsidian's plugin ecosystem provide users with freedom and the ability to shape the software according to their changing needs. • Balancing extensibility with usability is crucial to ensure a seamless and intuitive user experience, requiring guidelines and support for plugin developers. • Obsidian aims to provide an inclusive and secure plugin ecosystem, adhering to core principles such as privacy and offline functionality. • Canvas environments, like the one in Obsidian, offer a space for non-linear thinking, idea exploration, and collaboration, enhancing creativity and ideation. • The future of Obsidian involves enhancing the core features, improving metadata-related functionalities, and scaling to accommodate a larger user base while maintaining depth and diversity of experiences.