Software Engineering Life

Mar 13, 20263 min read

PKMS Taxonomy

Core Structure: The Four Descriptive Dimensions

This taxonomy is built on four key dimensions to categorize notes, ensuring clarity (What am I doing with it?), findability (What is it about?), and specificity (What kind of note is it?).

1. Status / Actionability (PARA Folders)

This is the highest level of organization, determining the note’s action status. All notes are placed within one of these four top-level folders:

FolderDescriptionPurpose
1. ProjectsGoals with a deadline. (Active & Temporary)Client Architecture Review, Presentation Draft, Study for Certification.
2. AreasOngoing responsibilities or permanent interests requiring maintenance. (Active & Permanent)Personal Finance, Health, Career.
3. ResourcesSubjects, topics, or interests for long-term reference. (Passive & Permanent)Programming Languages, History, Philosophy.
4. ArchiveCompleted projects, inactive areas, or obsolete notes. (Passive & Permanent)Project Post-Mortem, Old Configurations.

2. Topic / Subject Matter (My Custom Structure)

This defines the content of the note and lives within the 2. Areas and 3. Resources folders.

A. My Designated Areas (Ongoing Responsibilities)

Notes requiring routine checks, maintenance, and sustained effort.

  • Software Engineering / Solutions Architect:
    • Sub-Topics: Career Planning, Cloud Architecture MOC, Tech Stack Deep Dive, Leadership & Mentoring.
  • Personal Finance:
    • Sub-Topics: Budgeting & Tracking, Investments MOC, Debt Management, Tax Documentation.
  • Health & Fitness:
    • Sub-Topics: Workouts & Programming, Nutrition & Recipes, Medical Records, Mental Health.
  • Family & Relationships:
    • Sub-Topics: Key Contacts, Gift & Event Planning, Communication Strategies.

B. My Designated Resources (Long-Term Interests)

Notes for learning, reference, and future use.

  • Home Lab: Hardware Inventory, Virtualization MOC, Networking Configs, Self-Hosted Services.
  • Programming (Broad Scope): Algorithms & Data Structures, Specific Languages (Rust, Python), Web Development MOC.
  • Personal Knowledge Management (PKMS): PKMS Setup & Tools, Zettelkasten Method, Note-Taking Principles.
  • Music: Theory Basics, Instrument Lessons, Gear/Equipment Reviews, DAW Tips.
  • Gaming: Game Lore & Worlds, Strategy Guides, Hardware Specs & Tweaks, Game Design Principles.
  • Productivity: Time Management Techniques, Goal Setting Frameworks, Mindfulness & Flow, Tools & Apps Review.

Thematic Folders/Tags: For the actual notes.

  • Level 1 (Broad): Technology, Business, History, Creative Arts, Personal.
  • Level 2 (Specific): Programming, Investing, WWII, Photography, Exercise.
  • Level 3 (Granular): Python, Value Stocks, D-Day, Aperture, Strength Training.

3. Format & Source (The Tagging System)

These dimensions are implemented using tags to allow a single note to have multiple properties without needing to live in multiple folders.

Tag DimensionSuggested Tags (Use consistent format, e.g., #type/)Purpose
Format / Type#type/summary, #type/definition, #type/fleeting, #type/permanent, #type/reference, #type/templateIdentifies the structure of the information in the note.
Source / Origin#source/book, #source/article, #source/podcast, #source/conversation, #source/experienceIdentifies where the knowledge came from.

4. Transition Management Plan

To move from “bunch of notes” to this structure:

Phase 1: Establish the Container

  1. Create the four core PARA folders (1. Projects through 4. Archive).
  2. Create a temporary staging folder: 0. Inbox / Triage.
  3. Move all existing old notes into the 0. Inbox / Triage folder.
  4. Set up the main sub-folders/MOCs under 2. Areas and 3. Resources.

Phase 2: Triage and Conversion (Ongoing Daily Effort)

  1. Commit to 10 minutes or 5 notes per day from the 0. Inbox / Triage folder.
  2. For each note:
    • If useless/obsolete, move to 4. Archive.
    • If active and temporary, move to 1. Projects.
    • Otherwise, move it to the correct folder under 2. Areas or 3. Resources.
  3. Refine the Note: Rename it clearly, apply relevant #type/ and #source/ tags, and link it to an appropriate MOC if necessary.

Phase 3: Adopt the New Habit

  • Mandatory Rule: Any new note created from now on must be placed in the correct Projects, Areas, or Resources folder immediately.
  • The 0. Inbox / Triage is only for fleeting thoughts or the diminishing backlog of old notes.

📇 Additional Metadata

  • 🗂 Type::note
  • 🏷️ Tags::
  • 📡 Status::🌱

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