Notion

I’ve been a heavy Notion user since 2018. After cycling through countless productivity tools, it remains my definitive answer.

The reason is simple: most note-taking apps are easy to write in, but terrible to organize. As an “Architect” archetype, Notion’s databases give me building blocks instead of rigid folder trees. You can keep it as minimal as a blank canvas, or scale it into an operating system. That design restraint is why I still enjoy opening it every single day.

How My Data Flows

Over time, Notion has evolved from a simple notebook into the foundational headless database for my digital life.

My daily information flows through a clear pipeline:

• Capture: Quick mobile thoughts usually start in Bear, then silently fly into Notion’s inbox via custom iOS Shortcuts. Bookmarked posts on X/Twitter sync in automatically as well.
• Synthesis: When ideas need fleshing out—technical RFCs, component specs, or draft essays—they unfold inside Notion.
• Structured Hub: Active projects, roadmaps, and reading lists live in relational views. In fact, parts of this very website (like my Books reading list) are pulled and rendered live via the Notion API.
• Public Output: Matured ideas eventually manifest as essays, site updates, or open-source projects like Nobelium.

With the addition of native AI and API integrations, semantic search adds a third dimension on top of nested pages (hierarchy) and database properties (breadth), making it effortless to surface long-forgotten notes.

Building Around Notion

Parts of this website are powered directly by Notion as a headless CMS and database—pulling and rendering live content (such as my reading list) via the Notion API. Years ago, I also created Nobelium, an open-source static blog generator that let writers publish directly from their Notion workspaces.

To bridge the gap left by the lack of local operational presence in China, a few friends and I started theBlock to break down product updates and practical workflows. Alongside that, I’ve been continuously maintaining an unofficial Chinese edition of Notion’s help documentation at the-block.club/help, keeping guides, formulas, and updates accessible for newcomers.