Concepts Overview
TypeMD is a local-first knowledge management tool built around one core idea: think in Objects, not files.
Objects, not files
Section titled “Objects, not files”Most note-taking tools organize content as files in folders. TypeMD takes a different approach — your knowledge is made of Objects. A book, a person, an idea, a meeting — each is an Object with a defined structure and typed connections to other Objects.
The file system is just a storage layer. You interact with Objects, not filenames.
Structure through Types
Section titled “Structure through Types”Every Object belongs to a Type that defines its structure. A book has an author and status; a person has a role and company. Types are defined as simple YAML schema files — you design the structure that fits your thinking.
Connections through Relations and Links
Section titled “Connections through Relations and Links”Objects connect to each other in two ways:
- Relations — structured, typed links defined in the schema. A book’s
authorrelation points to apersonObject. Relations can be bidirectional: updating one side automatically updates the other. - Links — inline references using
[[type/slug-ulid]]syntax in the Markdown body. Lighter than Relations, useful for ad-hoc connections. TypeMD tracks backlinks automatically.
Local-first, Markdown-native
Section titled “Local-first, Markdown-native”Everything is stored as plain Markdown files with YAML frontmatter. No cloud dependency, no lock-in. You can read, edit, and version-control your knowledge base with any tool.