date-created:: 2023-08-08

An eye-opening introduction to Heptabase

Watch this video. The co-creators of the YouTube channel Paperless Movement are so excited about Heptabase that they consider it "the one tool to rule them all" (my paraphrase). Okay, they did mention using it in tandem with Lazy, this mysterious tool, which they think will replace MEM.ai.

In five minutes' frantic rapid-fire showcasing Heptabase, they have sold me on the versatility and multifaceted views of this tool. I know it is co-created by a young Taiwanese genius, Alan Chan 詹雨安 - founder of Heptabase. That makes me feel really good.

According to Paco Cantero, Heptabase:

• Distills every single note-taking app
• Simplifies it to the best
• Combines their best features
• Without overcomplicating things

Tools that Heptabase "replaces"

• Miro
• Scrintal
• Mem
• Obsidian
• Roam (also Logseq)
• Tana (but more intuitive, per Thomas Rödl)
• Notion
• MarginNote
• Milanote
• Evernote

Concepts and Features

src

• Raison d'être
  • Personal thinking, learning, and research
• Three basic elements
  • Cards
    • Types, such as video, audio, etc., not just text
  • Whiteboard
  • Sections
• Block - à la Mem/Logseq
• Page - à la Obsidian, missing
• Readwise/Reader integration
• Inbox (missing feature, workaround: hashtag "pending")
  • Random captures
  • Time-related: Journal
    • Plan: make the Journal a type of Card
  • Chat interface
• Todo (also missing)
• Collaboration/Sharing (Q3/Q4, 2023)
• Relations (properties)
• Views
• Database (moving toward Notion) - a clear future path
• Search across all content
• Full-feature mobile app
• Exchange
  • Markdown import/export (incl. all notes)
  • Whiteboard doesn't have an open-source format
    • JSON
• Cloud/local
  • Sync
  • Desktop app
  • Web app
• Company started May 2021
  • Free trial coming soon

    • Can't wait!

  • Profitable from the beginning
  • 5 full-time employees, best talents
  • Existing funding can last 10 years

Reviews

Quick take by Fred Jame

過去幾個月密集使用了Heptabase、Scrintal、Obsidian、以及原本就在用的Tana等幾個知識整理工具。

除了Tana之外，整體功能最完備的應該是Heptabase（Obsidian透過上千種外掛可以更完備，但會變得很複雜、學習曲線很陡、而且不利於在行動裝置上使用）。

但不知道為什麼，Heptabase用起來有一點太「厚重」的感覺，整體介面雖然不醜，但沒有Scrintal或Notion那麼精巧俐落。

Desiderata

• No web publishing option (à la Obsidian, Logseq, Notion). Workaround: Sharing a whiteboard and everything in it (cards).

More ...

Using Heptabase - from capturing to writing - workflows, process, etc.

Heptabase web publishing or blogging