thio.dev
[DECISION RECORD][2026-07-19] 1 MIN READ[ACCEPTED]

ADR 001: Use Git + Markdown for Second Brain

#git#markdown#knowledge-management#architecture
  • Date: 2026-07-19
  • Status: Accepted

Context

We need a structure for our 'second brain' that ensures high portability, longevity, and easy parsing for LLMs without vendor lock-in. We evaluated several alternatives including Obsidian, Notion, vendor-locked LLM memory systems, and SQLite databases.

Decision

We decided to use a standard Git repository containing Markdown files.

Consequences

Pros:

  • LLM Portability: Markdown is natively and perfectly understood by all LLMs.
  • No Vendor Lock-in: Git and Markdown are universal standards.
  • Versioning: We get complete version history and backup for free through Git.

Cons:

  • We lack out-of-the-box UI features (like Notion's databases or Obsidian's graph view) and need to build any required automations or integrations manually.