> Tagging/labelling with attributes is the only viable solution that I've found. The only solution I've found is being utterly ruthless about deleting things.

> Tagging/labelling with attributes is the only viable solution that I've found. The only solution I've found is being utterly ruthless about deleting things. YAGNI, YAGNI. Alongside this, topic-based folders are fine. Not many things are in both "econ" and "sf&f", and when something is relevant to both, such as Krugman's paper on interstellar trade, it's easy to decide where it goes (econ) and where an empty file called "Krugman, Interstellar Trade: see econ" goes. Empty file with a textual reminder, not a softlink or hardlink. Those are brittle. So are attributes. Use broad categories, though. "sf&f", not "SF&F - Fantasy - Urban Noir - West Coast - Mermaids". The definition of "broad" depends on your areas of expertise.