A Minimalist Note-Taking Guide for Developers
After spending considerable time with Notion and Obsidian, I found myself constantly trying to build the perfect system. While trying to visualize my notes in graph view and perfecting my tag system, I realized that optimizing these systems was stealing time I should have spent learning.
The Pitfalls of Complex Note-Taking Systems
Modern note-taking apps offer so many features that you might find yourself managing these features instead of actually taking notes. These tools, which we use to organize information, eventually become a burden themselves. While creating databases in Notion and building graph views in Obsidian, we’re actually moving away from the essence of note-taking.
Moreover, these applications guide us towards specific note-taking methodologies. Between the Zettelkasten method and the PARA method, you suddenly realize you’re spending more time trying to adapt your notes to these systems than creating content.
A Different Perspective for Developers
For us developers, the situation is a bit different. For example, when learning about component structure in React, we can already make the mental connection to its SwiftUI counterpart. Or when we learn a design pattern, we can easily understand its implementations in different languages. Do we really need to create these connections artificially in our note-taking system?
My Journey Back to Simplicity
After long trials, I returned to my device’s default note-taking application. This transition was a bit concerning at first. I worried, “What if I can’t organize my information properly?” However, I found that a simple folder structure and basic note-taking features often meet all my needs.
Now I spend my time actually learning and coding instead of perfecting my note-taking system. When I need to access information, a simple search is usually enough, rather than complex tag systems.
Lessons Learned
Our note-taking system should support our way of thinking, not try to shape it. Sometimes fewer features mean more productivity. The minimal approach isn’t just about using fewer applications; it’s about reducing mental load and focusing on what really matters.
As developers, we shouldn’t let our tools restrict or overly guide us. Because at the end of the day, what matters isn’t how we take notes, but how we put what we’ve learned into practice.
