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QJsonObject to QString

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 11:50:00 +0200

Created: 2023-06-22 11:50 #cpp #qt #json

With the following snippets you can convert a QJsonObject into a QString.

First convert the QJsonObject to a QJsonDocument. Then output the document as a QByteArray (the toJson method) and feed that to the QString init.

QJsonDocument doc(QJsonObject json);
QString jsonString(doc.toJson());

References

Backlinks are bad

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Backlinks are bad because they do not provide any additional information. Rather they take away in cognitive performance because there is another link you might follow. Rather links should come from a natural flow, because the note builds on a previous note, for example. Or to include an idea from another note.

I’ve come to believe that linking keywords within the idea to other notes is a better approach than a list at the bottom linking back and forth.

Sources

https://zettelkasten.de/posts/backlinks-are-bad-links/

How to Link Notes

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Notes should be linked, as is the basis of the Zettelkasten idea. However, to effectively link notes try the following:

Link to a more general idea.

Link to a more specific idea.

Link to a related topic.

See “tk notes” for when you don’t have note ready to link to.

Above is how we used to think about linking notes together. In the meantime we have learned that there is some truth to this manner, but having these as a list at the bottom of a note doesn’t work.

Linking notes in the body of the note itself works a lot better. This makes clear what you are linking to and puts some context behind the link.

Sources

https://medium.com/@philhoutz/make-your-notes-work-for-you-the-secret-sauce-of-zettelkasten-cb901a3cce00

Tags in Zettelkasten

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

In his Zettelkasten Luhman used tags sparringly, in this video explains that Luhman used tags more as doors into the Zettelkasten, rather than as a way of grouping things together. Additionally, it makes automatic searching for keywords harder and forces you to look through your ideas manually. Which improves the linking of notes.

Sources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TnUNN39NBU&list=WL&index=14

The Zettelkasten principles

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

There are a few principles attached to a Zettelkasten:

The principle of atomicity: A note should contain one idea, and one idea only. The reason for this is that you want to be able to link to an idea, and not some idea hidden on a card somewhere in the middle.
The principle of autonomy: Each note should be self-contained and comprehensible. This includes autonomy from other notes, but also from the sources. As the note in the Zettelkasten may outlive these. You still want the note to be readable in that case.
Always link your notes: Make sure to link notes to existing notes. According to Luhmann “A note that is not connected to the network will be lost, will be forgotten by the Zettelkasten”.
Explain why you’re linking notes: Explain why two notes are linked together. A future self needs to be able to understand the link.
Use your own words: In order to ensure that you understand the idea you need to write ideas in your own words.
Keep references: Add references to where the idea is coming from. Preventing plagiarism and making it easy to find the source again, when needed.
Add your own thoughts to the Zettelkasten: Add your own thoughts, keeping in mind the above principles.
Don’t worry about structure: Don’t worry about the categories or tags too much. The organization develops organically, as the kasten grows.
Add connection notes: These notes describe the relationship between notes.
Add outline notes: These denote themes, an outline note contains a sequence of links to other notes.
Never delete: Instead of deleting notes, create a new one detailing where the previous one is wrong. This strengthens the reasoning. Deals with hindsight bias and allows to revisit old ideas.
Add notes without fear: This might be the most important principle for a new Zettelkasten. There is never “too much” information in a Zettelkasten. At worst, the note won’t be used, it can’t break the system.

Sources

https://writingcooperative.com/zettelkasten-how-one-german-scholar-was-so-freakishly-productive-997e4e0ca125

When should you start a new note?

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The following image shows when you should start a new note for your slipbox. And what to do if there are similar notes:

Start by finding similar notes, if there aren’t any make a new note. If there are notes, but not related, make a new note.

Notes related to the topic exist, if these do not fit the idea create a new note but adhere to the keywords.

A few notes roughly match: creating a new zettel is a bit too much. In this case it is useful to compile the existing knowledge. Comment on the compilation and make links in both directions. Ignore the last line, backlinking is bad

When an exact match exists, you can simply extend what is already there.

This note is largely based on this documentation.

Sources

https://zettelkasten.de/posts/when-start-new-note/

Zettelkasten

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

#notes

A Zettelkasten is said to be a second brain. Through the linking of notes the system may surprise you in insightful ways.

What is a zettelkasten?

The word can be split into two ‘zettel’ and ‘kasten’. Zettel meaning a note and kasten simply box. So, a zettelkasten is a box of ideas. But what makes this box special/useful?

Ideas behind zettelkasten

Rather than writing notes down in categorized notebooks the notes should have a free-flowing category. This Medium article has some nice visualizations of this. Where the author starts with the ’normal’ system of notebooks, a set of dots (representing the notes) cast in concrete.

If the notes were kept on index cards it would more look like notes free-floating in air. Yet, impossible to track how notes relates to one another.

Putting these in rigid folders does organize them, but makes it too static. What if a note should be in two folders at the same time?

Tagging notes helps here. As notes can have multiple tags they can be part of multiple ‘categories’. See this why tagging should be used sparsely.

However, Luhmann went further, next to tagging notes he also linked notes together. Meaning that notes are not just grouped together, but also their connections are explicitly tracked. Creating a web of ideas. Additionally, it shows grouped topics. This means that categories naturally develop and are not forced upon notes beforehand.

Surprising factor

Claude Shannon realized that there is more information in a surprising message than a non-surprising message.

This relates to the Zettelkasten in the following way: Suppose the Zettelkasten is filled to the brim with forgotten ideas. Then with a question in mind you search the Zettelkasten stumbling upon all these ideas, surprising you.

The process

The process for writing a new note is explained here. The ID of a (new) note should follow these guidelines The principles of a Zettelkasten do need to be kept in mind.

What goes into the Zettelkasten?

The main thing that goes into a Zettelkasten are, ofcourse, notes. However, I think it is valuable to add quotes and thoughts too. It is important to detail the source though.

Sources

https://writingcooperative.com/zettelkasten-how-one-german-scholar-was-so-freakishly-productive-997e4e0ca125