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Quick Start

Your first 10 minutes with Noderium—from zero to productive.

Work in Progress

Noderium is currently in Phase 1 of development. Some features described below represent our product vision and are being actively developed. Currently available: Markdown editor with syntax highlighting, keyboard shortcuts, distraction-free hide markers, and theme switching. Features like AI-powered auto-organization and conversational retrieval are not yet available. Check our Roadmap for the current status.

The Aha Moment​

Noderium is designed so you experience value in under 10 minutes. Here's what that journey looks like:

Download → Open → Capture First Note → See Auto-Organization → Talk to Your Knowledge
                                                                        ↓
                                                             "This actually works."

Step 1: Open Noderium​

When you first open Noderium, you'll see a clean, focused interface. No configuration wizards. No decision fatigue.

What you'll notice:

  • A clean Markdown editor in the center (CodeMirror 6)
  • A navbar with theme toggle (light/dark mode)
  • A distraction-free writing experience

Currently Available Features​

The Markdown editor already supports:

FeatureDescription
Syntax HighlightingFull Markdown support including code blocks
Hide MarkersMarkdown syntax markers are hidden when cursor is not on that line
Keyboard ShortcutsCmd/Ctrl+B (bold), Cmd/Ctrl+I (italic), Cmd/Ctrl+E (inline code)
Theme ToggleSwitch between light and dark modes via navbar
Tab IndentationTab key for indenting text

Step 2: Capture Your First Idea​

Press Cmd+K (or Ctrl+K) to open the quick capture.

Type something simple:

AI will fundamentally change how we manage personal knowledge

Hit Enter.

What happens:

  1. Your note is saved instantly
  2. The system automatically detects this is an insight about AI and PKM
  3. Tags are suggested: #ai, #pkm, #trends
  4. Related topics are identified for future connections

Time spent: ~5 seconds

Step 3: See the Magic (Auto-Organization)​

Look at the sidebar. Your note appears, already organized.

  • No folder decisions needed
  • No manual tagging required
  • No taxonomy planning upfront

The system understood what you captured and placed it appropriately.

This is Pillar 2 (Invisible Organization) in action.

Step 4: Talk to Your Knowledge​

Here's where it gets interesting. Instead of searching, you'll talk to your knowledge.

Open the conversation panel (Cmd+Shift+K or Ctrl+Shift+K).

Ask:

What have I learned about AI?

The response:

Based on your notes, you've captured that "AI will fundamentally change how we manage personal knowledge." This suggests you're interested in the intersection of AI and PKM tools.

Source: [Your first note]

This is Pillar 3 (Conversational Retrieval) in action.

Step 5: Keep Going​

Now capture a few more ideas:

  1. An article insight: "The best teams share knowledge asynchronously"
  2. A task reminder: "Research local-first sync solutions"
  3. A quote: "Simple can be harder than complex" — Steve Jobs

Watch as:

  • Each note is automatically organized
  • Connections start forming (your graph grows)
  • You can ask increasingly sophisticated questions

What You've Experienced​

In under 10 minutes, you've seen all 5 pillars working:

PillarWhat You Experienced
1. Minimum-Effort CaptureCmd+K → type → done (<5 seconds)
2. Invisible OrganizationNotes auto-categorized, no decisions needed
3. Conversational RetrievalAsked a question, got a synthesized answer
4. Ownership & PrivacyAll data stored locally on your machine
5. Intentional OnboardingProductive in <10 minutes, no setup

Pro Tips​

Capture Everywhere​

  • Keyboard: Cmd+K from anywhere in the app
  • Menu bar: Quick access icon (coming soon)
  • Slash command: /capture in any note

Talk Naturally​

Don't think in search terms. Ask questions like you would to a colleague:

  • ❌ "negotiation tips" (search term)

  • ✅ "How have I approached negotiations in the past?" (question)

  • ❌ "meeting notes Q4" (search term)

  • ✅ "What decisions did we make in recent meetings?" (question)

Trust the System​

  • Don't create folders upfront
  • Don't plan your taxonomy
  • Just capture. The system handles the rest.

Next Steps​

Now that you've experienced the basics:

  1. Keep capturing for a week—let your knowledge base grow
  2. Explore connections in the graph view
  3. Ask deeper questions as you accumulate more notes
  4. Read the Vision to understand the philosophy behind Noderium

Common Questions​

"What if the auto-organization is wrong?"​

You can always adjust. The system learns from your corrections. But you'll find it's right 95%+ of the time.

"Where are my files stored?"​

In a folder you choose (or the default location). All files are Markdown—open them in any text editor.

"Is my data really private?"​

Yes. Everything runs locally. No data is sent anywhere unless you explicitly enable cloud features.

"Can I use my existing notes?"​

Absolutely. Point Noderium at any folder of Markdown files. It will index and organize them automatically.

The Philosophy​

Noderium doesn't want you to learn a new system. It wants to:

  1. Reduce friction so you capture more
  2. Handle organization so you think more
  3. Enable retrieval so you use more of what you know

Your job is to think and create. Noderium's job is everything else.

Ready to go deeper? Read about The Five Pillars that make this possible.