├── CHANGELOG.md ├── README.md └── examples ├── hamster-folder_example.zip ├── superfolder-workflow_screenshot-example.png └── superfolder-workflow_screenshot-example2.png /CHANGELOG.md: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | ## +1.0 UNRELEASED 2 | 3 | - Renamed as Hamster-system once Superfolder grew as a framework of 3 organizational methods. 4 | - Simplification. 5 | 6 | (hamster folder) 7 | - Changed: CURRENT folder is now called INBOX. 8 | - Changed: *[ ]* now means colection, *#* project and *@* subproject. 9 | 10 | (hamster flow) 11 | - Changed: inspired by Todo.txt and OBTF (One Big Text File), Evernote was ditched for plain text files. 12 | - Changed: recommendation of YAML (masked as markdown for easier text editor navigation) for data exchange. 13 | - Changed: date are now enclosed by *[ ]* instead of parentheses. 14 | 15 | (hamster budget) 16 | - Added: a stress free personal budget strategy. 17 | 18 | ## +0.8 (2016-10-12) 19 | 20 | (hamster folder) 21 | - Changed: project status folders use now capital letters. 22 | 23 | ## +0.7 (2016-07-20) 24 | 25 | (hamster flow) 26 | - Changed: to improve compatibility with other systems/apps, everything is a note now. Therefore *notes* are now called *references* and *actions* are now called *tasks*. *Briefing* stand-alone type was removed. 27 | 28 | ## +0.6 (2016-06-08) 29 | 30 | (hamster folder) 31 | - Removed: [project scope] folders were removed. Scopes can be settled with private folders. 32 | - Changed: *[ ]* notation now marks a folder as private. 33 | - Changed: project (and subproject) releases use a simplified version of *SemVer*. 34 | 35 | (hamster flow) 36 | - Changed: tags and notebooks were renamed. 37 | 38 | ## +0.5 (2016-03-25) 39 | 40 | (hamster-flow) 41 | - Added: all actions should have a due date. Unknown dates are represented as *(soon)* or *(someday)*. 42 | - Removed: *.when* *1-Next* tag was removed from Evernote. Actions with this tag moved to a paper notebook. 43 | - Changed: non actionable items could be called *notes* or *references*. Now they are only called *notes*. 44 | 45 | ## +0.4 (2016-03-05) 46 | 47 | (hamster folder) 48 | - Changed: files use now BranchVer as archive system. Releases of projects (and subprojects) keep using SemVer. 49 | 50 | (hamster-flow) 51 | - Changed: *Cabinet* notebook was renamed as *Notes*. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /README.md: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | # Hamster system 2 | 3 | Boost productivity and reduce stress by organizing your documents, workflow and personal budget with an ultra-simple system loosely inspired in [GTD](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting_Things_Done), [Todo.txt](https://github.com/todotxt/todo.txt), OBTF (One Big Text File), [Bullet journal](https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/advice/finally-understand-how-to-keep-a-bullet-journal/) (notes on paper), spreadsheets, index cards, inbox zero and desktop zero. 4 | 5 | ### So, how can you start? 6 | 7 | - [hamster folder](#hamster-folder---organize-your-documents): organize your (digital) documents 8 | - [hamster flow](#hamster-flow---organize-your-workflow): organize your workflow 9 | - [hamster budget](#hamster-budget---organize-your-money): organize your money 10 | - [TLDR - what does this stuff solve?](#tldr) 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | --- 16 | ## Hamster folder - organize your documents 17 | 18 | *'Every document belongs to a project'.* 19 | 20 | ### Container 21 | 22 | - root folder: **YOUR NAME** 23 | 24 | First of all create a folder in a partition of your disk. 25 | ALL your stuff will be stored here. 26 | 27 | - main folders: **PROJECT STATUS** 28 | 29 | Inside your root folder there are 2 folders: 30 | 31 | INBOX (folder to store your active projects) 32 | ARCHIVE (folder to store your inactive projects - often organized in collections) 33 | 34 | ### Project folders 35 | 36 | *[collection] #project @subproject -folders* 37 | 38 | - collection: **[ ]** 39 | 40 | Inside ARCHIVE folder you put [collection] folders: 41 | e.g: [large investor] 42 | 43 | - project (derived from twitter hashtag): **#** 44 | 45 | Inside INBOX, ARCHIVE or [collection] folders you put #project folders: 46 | e.g: #house in portugal 47 | 48 | - subproject (derived from twitter mention): **@** 49 | 50 | Inside #project folders you put @subproject folders: 51 | e.g: @building permit 52 | 53 | - storage folder [^1]: **-** 54 | 55 | Inside @subprojects you put -storage folders: 56 | e.g: -drawings 57 | 58 | And be pragmatic: 59 | 60 | When reasonable reduce unnecessary nesting by merging folders: 61 | Prefer: #project@onlyOneSubproject 62 | Instead of: #project / @onlyOneSubproject 63 | 64 | Prefix for temporary folders: _ 65 | e.g: _standby 66 | 67 | Folders to keep old versions of files: + 68 | e.g: -plans / + 69 | 70 | ### File naming 71 | 72 | - use a system that fits your needs[^2]. Some hints: 73 | 74 | Prefix for template / boilerplate files: $ 75 | e.g: $curriculum 76 | 77 | - version files by using a *modification date* suffix[^3]: **Calendar Versioning** 78 | 79 | e.g: yourfile+20241018 80 | 81 | ### Navigation 82 | 83 | - you only need one *permanent* desktop shortcut to navigate through your documents: 84 | 85 | Shortcut to INBOX folder 86 | 87 | A shortcut to ARCHIVE is optional - only inactive projects are there. 88 | 89 | - and/or a launcher-file finder[^4]. 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | --- 95 | ## Hamster flow - organize your workflow 96 | 97 | *'Manage a collection of inputs'.* 98 | 99 | - One text file[^5] and a paper notebook collect all inputs: 100 | - actionable inputs (*Tasks*) are managed in the paper notebook. Non-urgent tasks eventually move to the *Calendar* section of the text file[^6]. 101 | - non-actionable inputs are managed in the (markdown) text file. Hints: 102 | - One long file is easier to manage than many short files.[^7] See it as a *flat wiki* and use built-in search for navigation. 103 | - This file is not *write-only*: progressively summarize and *tree-shake* it each time you iterate your notes. You'll leverage your excitement instead of forcing discipline. 104 | - Ideally, notes are organized by *project*, not by category. It can be a catalyst for action and reviews. 105 | - Store things that surprise you, not stuff you already know. 106 | 107 | - Tasks listed in the *Calendar* section of the text file have a due date: **[ ]** 108 | 109 | Dates are inserted before the task description (allowing chronological sorting): 110 | 111 | e.g. inserting a scheduled date: [year-month-day=hour] 112 | [2024-11-29=9h] Doctor appointment 113 | 114 | e.g. inserting a trigger/fuzzy date: [date >>] 115 | [2024-10-10 >>] Waiting for client feedback after this date 116 | 117 | e.g. inserting a deadline date: [date <<] 118 | [2024-10-22 <<] Pay electricity bill until this date 119 | 120 | e.g. without knowing the due date: [soon] or [someday] 121 | [soon] Call Mom 122 | [someday] Bungee jumping with friends 123 | 124 | - Resuming (check also [screenshots](#screenshots)): 125 | 126 | on a paper notebook: 127 | Tasks (collection of tasks to be done ASAP) 128 | 129 | on a text file with 2 sections: 130 | Calendar (collection of tasks that can/must wait) 131 | Notes (collection of thoughts and bookmarks) 132 | 133 | ### Screenshots 134 | 135 | - *Calendar* section on Sublime text editor. 136 | 137 | ![superfolder-workflow-screenshot](https://github.com/galfarragem/superfolder/blob/master/examples/superfolder-workflow_screenshot-example.png) 138 | 139 | - Easy text-editor navigation with markdown. 140 | 141 | ![superfolder-workflow-screenshot-2](https://github.com/galfarragem/superfolder/blob/master/examples/superfolder-workflow_screenshot-example2.png) 142 | 143 | 144 | 145 | 146 | --- 147 | ## Hamster budget - organize your money 148 | 149 | *'You may not need a personal budget'.* 150 | 151 | Does it worth to spend cognitive bandwidth to know that last month I spent €321,83 on groceries? I already know that I spend *around* €300. **What I crave is to feel in control of my finances.** 152 | 153 | **How to do it in a practical way? Track your net worth** in a spreadsheet: 154 | 155 | - List all your assets (cash, stocks, bonds, crypto, real estate, whatever) and sum them. List and sum your liabilities (if relevant). Every case is a case so you must build your own spreadsheet. 156 | - When your net worth feels too risky, find the main leaks and fix them. Once you’re comfortable, ease up where it matters most. That’s it. 157 | - I used to track it every month. I've loosen up to every quarter and eventually to semiannual.[^8] 158 | 159 | 160 | 161 | 162 | --- 163 | ## TLDR: 164 | 165 | ### What does this stuff solve? 166 | 167 | Complicated systems always fail on the long-term. Hamster-system aims to be *simple and practical*. 168 | 169 | - Hamster folder (organize your documents) 170 | - Transmission of projects with a predictable structure. 171 | - Prediction (with acceptable accuracy) of filenames and their location. A file finder is great when you remember the filename but less useful when you don't. 172 | 173 | - Hamster flow (organize your workflow) 174 | - Mix the *good parts* of many workflow management approaches using your favorite text editor, cloud and a paper notebook. Markdown - if necessary - can be easily adapted into other formats to facilitate data exchange and serialization. 175 | 176 | - Hamster budget (organize your money) 177 | - *Feel in control* of your finances spending a couple of hours every timeframe. Minimum overhead. 178 | 179 | ### Possible painpoint? 180 | 181 | This system doesn't have specialized apps nor I plan to add any. However, it is platform agnostic so you can easily adapt it to meet your needs. 182 | 183 | ### Is this the truth? 184 | 185 | Probably not but I test new options and *tree shake* existent ones agressively.[^9] 186 | 187 | --- 188 | 189 | [^1]: This is the deepest level you'll get. It's enough and keeps it simple. 190 | [^2]: e.g: relevant [naming system for architects](https://github.com/slowernews/archi-project). I use a great [free tool for batch renaming](https://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/#mainscreen). 191 | [^3]: After a long trial, Semver and then "builds" were deprecated. "Modification dates", aka [Calendar versioning (CalVer)](https://calver.org) are simpler. 192 | [^4]: After having tried most options for Windows (win+type, Keypirinha, Everything, Cerebro, Wox, Zazu, Launchy, FARR), I'm using [Listary](http://www.listary.com/). Pros: Launch and file search without external software, low memory usage (less than 40Mb on win7), fast and configurable. Cons: No calculator function. 193 | [^5]: Hosted in a cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc) if possible. 194 | [^6]: A full featured calendar (Google calendar, Apple calendar, etc) may pay off in "busy" lifestyles. 195 | [^7]: Try to keep it under 2K lines. If you can't, it may mean some excerpts should live independently or even in a more suitable format (e.g. spreadsheet or [public notes](https://github.com/slowernews/notebook)). 196 | [^8]: I will stop here. Longer timeframes imply too delayed signals. 197 | [^9]: Org-mode, «wiki notes» (Roam, Foam, Obsidian), Johnny-decimal, (...) 198 | 199 | Creative Commons License
Hamster-System by Enio Ferreira is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 200 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /examples/hamster-folder_example.zip: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/slowernews/hamster-system/7878079d7513a0df97e678da6cf246f15ee3dae0/examples/hamster-folder_example.zip -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /examples/superfolder-workflow_screenshot-example.png: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/slowernews/hamster-system/7878079d7513a0df97e678da6cf246f15ee3dae0/examples/superfolder-workflow_screenshot-example.png -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /examples/superfolder-workflow_screenshot-example2.png: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/slowernews/hamster-system/7878079d7513a0df97e678da6cf246f15ee3dae0/examples/superfolder-workflow_screenshot-example2.png --------------------------------------------------------------------------------