A slip-box that links itself together
Write one idea per note, link it to the ideas around it, and let the connections do the thinking. Breef shows your Zettelkasten as a map and points out what’s missing.
Everything a slip-box needs
Short notes, links between them, and a way to see the whole.
Links in double brackets
Type [[ to link another note: Breef suggests titles as you type, and a title that doesn’t exist yet becomes a new note.
Backlinks on every note
Every note lists the notes that link to it, so you can walk the connections in both directions.
Your slip-box as a graph
Knowledge draws every note and link. Point at a note to bring its neighbours forward, or replay how the graph grew.
The notes you haven’t written
Missing topics suggests what a note builds on that isn’t in your slip-box yet, and adds it as a note when you want it.
Questions
What is a Zettelkasten?
A way of keeping notes made famous by the sociologist Niklas Luhmann: short notes, each about one idea, linked to each other, so that new thoughts grow out of the connections.
Does Breef use Markdown?
Yes. Your notes are plain Markdown with [[links]], formatted as you type: ## for a heading, - for a list, ** for bold.
Can I bring in an existing slip-box?
You can paste text or import a Markdown or text file into a note, one note at a time.
Is it free?
Yes. Writing, linking, backlinks, search and the graph are free, always.
More about Breef
Start with one note.
Free to start, nothing to install. Your notes are never sold, used for ads or used to train AI.