5 ms·

Theory / 2 Cents: don't just work on a GUI for spaced repetition cards, invent an open file format for spaced repetition (perhaps an XML plus an schema, or a JS

Theory / 2 Cents: don't just work on a GUI for spaced repetition cards, invent an open file format for spaced repetition (perhaps an XML plus an schema, or a JSON based file format, a subset of HTML or markdown, etc...). The idea is that you create a file format spec, perhaps even some open source libraries to operate on the file format. And then you sell a really nice GUI for editing that (perhaps a web page, perhaps a mobile app, perhaps both?). If your format is good people will use it, perhaps create new editors for it: if you have competition on GUIs it means you succeeded :-). Some people may be willing to pay for a hosted version or an app, others will likely host it themselves, I'm sure people would donate to you, the main developer if that was the case.

tasogare 6y ago
I created a file format designed for sharing data in-between language learning apps (JSON based + signature). It’s not released yet but if someone is interested please reply below. It would be great to have software other than mine using it.
- andreaorru 6y ago
  I'm definitely interested.
  - tasogare 6y ago
    Thanks for your interest! I'll edit the spec draft a little more, write a quick big picture explanation and then send you an email.
- tkuichooseyou 6y ago
  I’m interested as well!
- wkrause 6y ago
  I would also like to learn more when it is ready
- adsjhdashkj 6y ago
  I'm interested, though primarily because i'm duplicating the work you're describing - hah. I'm interested in writing two main components: 1. Information storage, with retention / etc. My initial feature scope is likely going to focus on retention (spaced rep) and storage (archiving sources), long term i want to dog food a general purpose knowledge base. 2. Data storage. Unfortunately every time i start working on the schemas for the information storage i end up reinventing so many features of general purpose data storage, like versioning, data deduplication, etc - i end up with a clone of Git :( So i'd love to hear some words of wisdom on this subject. I imagine you - sanely - focus more on #1, but that's not an area i've obsessed about yet too much. This whole topic does interest me though - part of the reason i'm writing the data layer is because i want a git-like behavior to be able to slice other sources of information up with the ease and safety of git. So the idea of information source interop is close to my hear - but the idea of IO with external formats has not been big on my radar. As i make progress with the information side of things, i'll have to keep that in mind. My model embraced self-hosting and i really want to avoid information hostage. So this convo has already been valuable :)
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
knubie 6y ago
This is how Mochi[0] works. It exports a .EDN file that describes the cards, decks and review history. There are a few libraries out there that work with the format[2] but no one has adopted the format in their own apps AFAIK. Anki also has an export format but it's not documented. [0] https://mochi.cards/ https://mochi.cards/ [1] https://mochi.cards/faq.html#how-can-i-create-my-own-mochi-files- https://mochi.cards/faq.html#how-can-i-create-my-own-mochi-f... [2] https://github.com/knubie/subs2srs https://github.com/knubie/subs2srs
- DAllison 6y ago
  The Anki Database format (.anki2) is documented here: https://github.com/ankidroid/Anki-Android/wiki/Database-Structure https://github.com/ankidroid/Anki-Android/wiki/Database-Stru...
ape4 6y ago
How about a directory (or zip file) of .txt files for the format of the cards.
- allenu 6y ago
  Anki does it sort of like this. It's just a zip file but instead of a txt file, it stores cards in a Sqlite database. All the resources are in the same folder. Unfortunately, the data schema is not great (in my opinion) and so it has some limitations on how it can be extended. I'm working on my own flash cards app (see my other comment) and decided to do something similar. I actually want people to create tools to create new decks. I think the ideal is something like what Anki has in Ankiweb, a place to share decks with others.
andymatuschak 6y ago
Agreed. I'm working on a set of specs like this[1] to expand on the mnemonic medium[2][3] work Michael Nielsen and I started last year. I'll be interested to see how the ecosystem evolves… [1] https://www.patreon.com/posts/bringing-ideas-36925173 https://www.patreon.com/posts/bringing-ideas-36925173 (despite the URL, this is an unlocked post describing the high-level concept) [2] https://quantum.country https://quantum.country [3] https://numinous.productions/ttft/ https://numinous.productions/ttft/
- mathnmusic 6y ago
  Hi Andy, Is it possible to see the draft spec for the file format? A standards-based approach sounds great and I'd like to support this in LearnAwesome.org and perhaps contribute in development too?
  - andymatuschak 6y ago
    (for those following the thread, I replied on Twitter: Yes, that’d be great! I want to spend some more time working with authors before formalizing as a spec, but certainly will reach out when things feel less molten. https://twitter.com/nileshtrivedi/status/1287150574480134145 https://twitter.com/nileshtrivedi/status/1287150574480134145)
mathnmusic 6y ago
Love this idea! I had built a widget so that any website anywhere can embed practicable flashcards (like quantum.country) by storing user's progress in localStorage. But the idea of an open file format that can be imported in any app of user's choice would be a better approach. https://github.com/learn-awesome/flashcard https://github.com/learn-awesome/flashcard

tasogare 6y ago

I created a file format designed for sharing data in-between language learning apps (JSON based + signature). It’s not released yet but if someone is interested please reply below. It would be great to have software other than mine using it.

andreaorru 6y ago
I'm definitely interested.
- tasogare 6y ago
  Thanks for your interest! I'll edit the spec draft a little more, write a quick big picture explanation and then send you an email.
tkuichooseyou 6y ago
I’m interested as well!
wkrause 6y ago
I would also like to learn more when it is ready
adsjhdashkj 6y ago
I'm interested, though primarily because i'm duplicating the work you're describing - hah. I'm interested in writing two main components: 1. Information storage, with retention / etc. My initial feature scope is likely going to focus on retention (spaced rep) and storage (archiving sources), long term i want to dog food a general purpose knowledge base. 2. Data storage. Unfortunately every time i start working on the schemas for the information storage i end up reinventing so many features of general purpose data storage, like versioning, data deduplication, etc - i end up with a clone of Git :( So i'd love to hear some words of wisdom on this subject. I imagine you - sanely - focus more on #1, but that's not an area i've obsessed about yet too much. This whole topic does interest me though - part of the reason i'm writing the data layer is because i want a git-like behavior to be able to slice other sources of information up with the ease and safety of git. So the idea of information source interop is close to my hear - but the idea of IO with external formats has not been big on my radar. As i make progress with the information side of things, i'll have to keep that in mind. My model embraced self-hosting and i really want to avoid information hostage. So this convo has already been valuable :)

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

knubie 6y ago

This is how Mochi[0] works. It exports a .EDN file that describes the cards, decks and review history. There are a few libraries out there that work with the format[2] but no one has adopted the format in their own apps AFAIK. Anki also has an export format but it's not documented. [0] https://mochi.cards/ https://mochi.cards/ [1] https://mochi.cards/faq.html#how-can-i-create-my-own-mochi-files- https://mochi.cards/faq.html#how-can-i-create-my-own-mochi-f... [2] https://github.com/knubie/subs2srs https://github.com/knubie/subs2srs

DAllison 6y ago
The Anki Database format (.anki2) is documented here: https://github.com/ankidroid/Anki-Android/wiki/Database-Structure https://github.com/ankidroid/Anki-Android/wiki/Database-Stru...

ape4 6y ago

How about a directory (or zip file) of .txt files for the format of the cards.

allenu 6y ago
Anki does it sort of like this. It's just a zip file but instead of a txt file, it stores cards in a Sqlite database. All the resources are in the same folder. Unfortunately, the data schema is not great (in my opinion) and so it has some limitations on how it can be extended. I'm working on my own flash cards app (see my other comment) and decided to do something similar. I actually want people to create tools to create new decks. I think the ideal is something like what Anki has in Ankiweb, a place to share decks with others.

andymatuschak 6y ago

Agreed. I'm working on a set of specs like this[1] to expand on the mnemonic medium[2][3] work Michael Nielsen and I started last year. I'll be interested to see how the ecosystem evolves… [1] https://www.patreon.com/posts/bringing-ideas-36925173 https://www.patreon.com/posts/bringing-ideas-36925173 (despite the URL, this is an unlocked post describing the high-level concept) [2] https://quantum.country https://quantum.country [3] https://numinous.productions/ttft/ https://numinous.productions/ttft/

mathnmusic 6y ago
Hi Andy, Is it possible to see the draft spec for the file format? A standards-based approach sounds great and I'd like to support this in LearnAwesome.org and perhaps contribute in development too?
- andymatuschak 6y ago
  (for those following the thread, I replied on Twitter: Yes, that’d be great! I want to spend some more time working with authors before formalizing as a spec, but certainly will reach out when things feel less molten. https://twitter.com/nileshtrivedi/status/1287150574480134145 https://twitter.com/nileshtrivedi/status/1287150574480134145)

mathnmusic 6y ago

Love this idea! I had built a widget so that any website anywhere can embed practicable flashcards (like quantum.country) by storing user's progress in localStorage. But the idea of an open file format that can be imported in any app of user's choice would be a better approach. https://github.com/learn-awesome/flashcard https://github.com/learn-awesome/flashcard