---
title: Notion
description: My journey with Notion, workflow, theBlock channel, community docs, and the Sinophone ecosystem.
nav: true
order: 9
---

I've been a heavy :c[Notion]{href="https://notion.com" .i-logos-notion-icon} 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:

:workflow-pipeline

- **Capture**: Quick mobile thoughts usually start in Bear, then silently fly into Notion's inbox via custom :c[iOS Shortcuts]{.i-ph-arrows-split}. 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 :c[Books reading list]{href="/books" .i-ph-book-open}) are pulled and rendered live via the Notion API.
- **Public Output**: Matured ideas eventually manifest as essays, site updates, or open-source projects like :c[Nobelium]{href="https://github.com/craigary/nobelium" .i-ph-github-logo}.

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 :c[reading list]{href="/books" .i-ph-book-open}) via the Notion API. Years ago, I also created :c[Nobelium]{href="https://github.com/craigary/nobelium" .i-ph-github-logo}, 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 :c[theBlock]{href="https://the-block.club" .i-ph-globe} 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 :c[the-block.club/help]{href="https://the-block.club/help" .i-ph-book-bookmark}, keeping guides, formulas, and updates accessible for newcomers.

:community-cards