Second Brain Starter

A small, local-first Markdown system for retaining the context behind work: decisions, handovers, methods, source boundaries and the next useful action.

It is not an inbox replacement, a requirement to document everything, or a claim that AI makes information true. It is a starter structure for turning selected context into records you can find and use later.

Start here

1. Read START-HERE.md.
2. Copy the templates you need from templates/.
3. Start with one active project, one decision and one repeatable method.
4. Use the local retrieval process only after you understand the privacy boundary.
5. When something repeats, use the maintenance process.

Read the privacy and source boundary before adding material from email, clients, research or external tools.

Structure

input/         local staging material; not canonical by default
library/       your canonical records
library/_catalog/ helper maps for finding canonical records faster
private/       ignored local-only sensitive records
templates/     reusable Markdown starting points
processes/     how to capture, retrieve and maintain context
skills/        optional, tool-agnostic operating instructions
system/        optional prompts, checklists and configuration examples
examples/      fictional demonstrations of the setup
docs/          reader-facing setup, privacy and release guidance
AGENTS.md      public-safe instructions for an AI assistant or collaborator
HANDOVER.md    current continuity record for this starter itself

Principles

• Keep the source, status and uncertainty visible.
• Capture what changes a future decision; do not archive everything by default.
• Move selected material from input/ into library/ only after its useful context and source boundary are clear.
• Treat library/_catalog/ as a helper index, not the source of truth.
• Treat local AI as a retrieval and drafting tool, not the source of truth.
• Select only the records relevant to a question. Do not expose an entire filesystem, inbox or client archive to a tool.
• Review repeated processes. Automation may flag stale information, but a human decides what is current, approved or safe to remove.

Public-release boundary

This starter is deliberately generic and released under the MIT License. Before publishing or accepting external contributions, complete the release checklist. Never copy client records, credentials, private paths, raw email, proprietary documents or private Git history into this repository.

Optional modules

• Customise your setup
• Run a first-week review
• Use Ollama locally
• Turn a method into a skill
• Create a useful handover
• Turn selected email into knowledge
• Browse the fictional example
• Choose review triggers and a scheduling route
• Understand the folder roles
• Set personal custom instructions