Apps and tools for a calm, enjoyable life

TiddlyWiki

Free

TiddlyWiki is a non-linear personal web notebook that allows you to capture, organize, and share complex information easily.

Our take

Ideal for those who love customizable note systems.

TiddlyWiki is like that Swiss Army knife of note-taking tools. If you’re the kind of person who loves tinkering and customizing, this is your playground. It’s basically a personal wiki that you can bend to your will. You download it, open it in your browser, and start creating these things called "tiddlers," which are essentially little pieces of content you can link together however you want. It’s all self-contained in a single HTML file, which is cool because you can carry it around on a USB stick or toss it in the cloud.

But let me tell you, TiddlyWiki isn’t exactly plug-and-play. There’s definitely a learning curve, and it’s not for the faint of heart. If you’re looking for something that just works out of the box, this might frustrate you at first. You’ve got to get comfortable with some basic coding and be willing to invest time into setting it up just how you like. It’s like building a Lego set without instructions; eventually, you’ll get something awesome, but it takes a bit of patience and imagination.

Where TiddlyWiki shines is in its flexibility. Once you get the hang of it, the possibilities are pretty much endless. You can create a personal knowledge base, a journal, a task manager, or even a full-blown website. The level of customization is nuts, and there’s a solid community out there creating plugins and themes. So, if you’ve got a specific vision of how you want to organize your thoughts, TiddlyWiki can probably make it happen.

On the flip side, if you need collaboration features, this might not be your jam. TiddlyWiki is primarily a solo endeavor. There are ways to make it collaborative, but they’re not straightforward and can get messy. It’s more about creating a personal space than sharing and working with others in real-time, which might be a deal-breaker if you're looking to brainstorm or share notes with a team.

To sum it up, if you’re someone who loves a challenge and wants ultimate control over your note-taking setup, TiddlyWiki is a treasure trove. But if you’re after simplicity and ease of use, you might want to look elsewhere. It’s a bit of a beast to tame, but once you do, it’s incredibly rewarding. Just know what you’re getting into, and you’ll either love it or feel like you’re wrestling with a dragon.

Free with premium options

$14/month