jonotes

Jonotes is a term used to describe a lightweight, plain-text approach to note taking and a small, community-driven ecosystem around organizing information. The concept emphasizes portability, human readability, and simple cross-linking between notes, rather than reliance on heavy proprietary formats or complex software.

Origin and concept

Jonotes emerged from online discussions among note-taking enthusiasts who preferred minimal structure and long-term accessibility. It is not tied to a single application or vendor, and practitioners typically store jonotes as individual text files within a folder hierarchy or in a version-controlled repository. The emphasis is on durable data that remains usable with basic tools over time.

Format and features

A jonote is generally a plain text file containing a concise note, sometimes accompanied by optional metadata. Common conventions include a lightweight header or front matter for title, date, and tags, and a simple linking syntax to reference other notes. Cross-linking can be implemented through file names or inline references, and tags or topics may be added to improve navigation. While styling is deliberately minimal, some implementations allow optional lightweight markup or dedicated conventions for organization.

Applications and use cases

Jonotes appeal to students, researchers, writers, and knowledge workers who value control over their data, ease of portability, and long-term access. The approach aligns with broader personal knowledge management practices and shares principles with methods like Zettelkasten, while intentionally staying flexible and unprescribed.

Variations and limitations

There is no universal standard for jonotes, leading to variations in metadata, linking syntax, and organizational schemes. This flexibility fosters customization but can impede interoperability across different tools and workflows.

See also

Zettelkasten, plain text, personal knowledge management, note-taking.