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tolaria/getting-started-vault/why-plain-files.md

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---
title: Why Plain Files
is_a: Note
related_to: "[[Personal Knowledge Management]]"
author: "[[Luca Rossi]]"
date: 2024-11-05
---
I've used Notion, Roam, Bear, and Obsidian at different points. I kept switching. Here's what I eventually decided and why.
## The problem with databases
Notion stores your knowledge in a proprietary database. It's great for collaboration and structured data, but your notes are not really yours — they live in Notion's servers, in Notion's format. Export is lossy and awkward.
## The problem with sync-only tools
Obsidian keeps your files local, which I respect. But the sync story is fragile, and the plugin ecosystem means your setup is fragile too. I've lost time to broken plugins more than once.
## What I wanted
- Files I own, in a format that will be readable in 20 years
- Version history that actually works (not "version history" as a feature — real Git history)
- The ability to use AI to operate on my vault, which requires the AI to be able to read and write files
Markdown + Git gives me all three.
## Laputa's bet
Laputa is built on the same bet: your notes are files, your vault is a Git repo, and the app is just a great interface on top of that. If Laputa disappears tomorrow, your notes are still there, still readable, still version-controlled.
That's the kind of tool I wanted to build — and use.