Modular Knowledge Flow - Organize your mind with ease

Introduction

Managing what I learn and discover isn’t about rigid systems for me—it’s about flow and evolution. Over time, I’ve built a modular approach where each tool has its role, and information moves naturally between them. This setup is simple, flexible, and evolves as I do.

Modularity and Dynamism

Before showing you how I organize my knowledge and notes, I’d like to emphasize the dynamic approach I implement. I’m not afraid to switch tools as long as I can export and import data relatively quickly, and this flexibility is part of the method itself. Modularity means striving to find the perfect tool for each task—sort of like the Unix philosophy—and using it exclusively for that task.

Every now and then, a new tool comes along with a fresh paradigm or layout. I invest time in experimenting, often using a couple of tools concurrently, and I let the flow naturally choose the best one—the one I end up using the most for that specific task.

That said, I’ve recently reached a kind of stability that I can explain without it being outdated by the time I publish this. Here’s how my Modular Knowledge Flow works.

Important Features

While the most important criterion is how well a tool performs its task, I have some foundational prerequisites I look for in every tool:

• Self-hosted or local: I’m a big privacy advocate, and I believe my data belongs to me. Each tool I use is either local or self-hosted.
• Quick access: Every tool in my arsenal must be easy to access without long loading times.
• Multiplatform: Tools need to work seamlessly on desktop, mobile, and essentially everywhere.

Capturing Ideas Quickly: Blinko

Blinko is where it all begins. When ideas or thoughts strike, I don’t waste time. Blinko lets me capture them immediately without distractions or overthinking. It’s the first step in the flow, ensuring nothing important gets lost.

Blinko is a fairly new tool and is open source. While it’s mature enough for me to use, it’s still under active development. I self-host Blinko on my home server, and though it doesn’t (yet) have a mobile app, the PWA is very responsive and perfectly usable from anywhere.

I like Blinko’s layout and responsiveness. While I don’t rely heavily on tags in my notes, I appreciate the option to generate tags locally using AI (Ollama). This shows the developers understand the importance of privacy.

Blinko is fast and allows for both Blinkos and Notes, offering enough differentiation to be useful without becoming overwhelming or slow.

Bonus: The daily review feature is great for clearing out accumulated junk.

Managing “Read-It-Later” Content: Wallabag

The internet is full of interesting ideas, but distractions are everywhere. Wallabag acts as my filter, giving me a place to park articles and resources until I’m ready to process them. This tool ensures I can stay focused in the moment while knowing the best content will eventually make its way into the system.

Of course, I self-host Wallabag on the same home server that runs Blinko. The browser extension makes it easy to save anything I find online, and the mobile apps (tested on iPad and Android) are clean and efficient.

I particularly like how I can share links directly to the mobile app from anywhere, so I don’t need to interrupt my activities by switching between apps.

Bonus: Sorting articles by reading time is invaluable.

Organizing the Chaos: Obsidian

Obsidian is where saved ideas and information come together. After reviewing content in Wallabag, I distill the most valuable pieces into Obsidian. Sometimes, I directly save content to Obsidian when it’s obviously valuable at first glance. With its ability to link notes and create a dynamic, interconnected knowledge base, Obsidian turns fragments into a structured system that keeps evolving.

For me, the real power of Obsidian lies in its plugin system. While I’m a bit of a plugin nerd (and often end up with long startup times), some plugins are game-changers.

For example, I can fetch pages from a URL, lint them, format them with Prettier, auto-generate tags with Ollama, summarize them in a notebox (again, using Ollama), and do all of this in a single click using Commander. It’s incredible.

Bonus: You can self-host the LiveSync server, as I do, to maintain a fully private instance.

Note: You can check out my post on self-hosting a full AI stack locally, if you need it.

Journaling for Reflection

Journaling is the most personal part of my flow. Unlike the other tools, my journals are for slowing down and reflecting. Each one has a specific theme, as I’ve explained in a previous post. Journaling complements the system by helping me process and explore ideas on a deeper level.

I use journaling to jot down thoughts that require no further processing or to untangle complex ideas. It’s also a space to creatively “make a mess” and create tangible memories.

One habit I’ve established is always handwriting my journal entries. Whether using the Apple Pencil on my iPad, a ballpoint pen, or a fountain pen, I let my hand flow at the same pace as my mind. The act of handwriting helps me slow down my hyperactive brain and creates stronger memories.

Bonus: I get to buy a lot of cool-looking journals—yay, dopamine!

How It All Flows Together

Each tool plays a role in a larger flow: Blinko captures ideas quickly, Wallabag filters content for deeper review, Obsidian organizes what’s worth keeping, and journaling adds depth to my thinking. Together, they create a system that’s flexible, intuitive, and uniquely mine.

While many techniques and theories are compatible with this system, its main strength is that it evolved naturally, based on what’s efficient and enjoyable for me.

For this reason, please don’t copy it blindly. If it works for you, great—but don’t hesitate to adapt it to your unique, beautiful mind.

Conclusion

The beauty of the Modular Knowledge Flow is its adaptability. It’s not about perfection or rigid rules—it’s about creating a process that works for you. Whether you’re exploring ideas, organizing knowledge, or reflecting on what matters, the flow evolves with your needs. I hope this inspires you to build a system that fits your life.