Design goals for the Zettelstore
Zettelstore supports the following design goals:
- Longevity of stored notes / zettel
- Every zettel you create should be readable without the help of any tool, even without Zettelstore.
- It should be not hard to write other software that works with your zettel.
- Single user
- All zettel belong to you, only to you. Zettelstore provides its services only to one person: you. If your device is securely configured, there should be no risk that others are able to read or update your zettel.
- If you want, you can customize Zettelstore in a way that some specific or all persons are able to read some of your zettel.
- Ease of installation
- If you want to use the Zettelstore software, all you need is to copy the executable to an appropriate file directory and start working.
- Upgrading the software is done just by replacing the executable with a newer one.
- Ease of operation
- There is only one executable for Zettelstore and one directory, where your zettel are stored.
- If you decide to use multiple directories, you are free to configure Zettelstore appropriately.
- Multiple modes of operation
- You can use Zettelstore as a standalone software on your device, but you are not restricted to it.
- You can install the software on a central server, or you can install it on all your devices with no restrictions how to synchronize your zettel.
- Multiple user interfaces
- Zettelstore provides a default web-based user interface. Anybody can provide alternative user interfaces, e.g. for special purposes.
- Simple service
- The purpose of Zettelstore is to safely store your zettel and to provide some initial relations between them.
- External software can be written to deeply analyze your zettel and the structures they form.