Roam-like Obsidian on iPad

The latest trend in knowledge management and cognitive productivity seems to be Roam Research.

This piece of software, under a super boring aspect, is very powerful. There are great videos on YouTube for understanding more and especially the “Why?”. I recomment Shu Omi’s channel.

Now, who wants to let one’s notes on an unknown server in stranger’s hands. Not me.

There are many alternatives that lets you use a Roam system without using precisely Roam Research. Some are quite… no way.

My recommendation is Obsidian. Still in Beta but with a great onboarding process and community on Discord.

Obsidian is an app that you install on your machine and that creates the roam “neural network” out of markdown files. Those files are on your harddrive or wherever you feel confortable. You own them, you decide, you are in charge. I prefer this.

For securing your notes, nothing better than creating the Obsidian folder in iCloud. Fast sync with other devices.

Just as Roam Research, Obsidian has no mobile app, yet. Which is against any good practices in cognitive sciences as you must be able to jot what you have in mind within seconds.

Now, to bypass this limitation, I use my favorite Markdown editor on iOS, iA Writer, to point to my Obsidian folder in iCloud. I created a ‘DropZone’ sub-folder where my iA notes are landing. Then, on my Mac, I can easily sort it out.

This is an interim way to bridge the absolute necessary requirement to capture ideas when they arise. But, despite interim, I think the DropZone process allows me to be more intentional about what I want to achieve with my note.

Towards a new [[mindflow]].