Video summary

Claude just killed ALL Note-Taking, Planner, and Health Apps. Here is proof.

Main summary

Key takeaways

Technology

Summary of the video (technological/product concepts & features)

The speaker argues that a “local folder” PKM (Personal Knowledge Management) approach, paired with Claude (AI) running via the local filesystem, can replace (or eliminate reliance on) many subscription-heavy note-taking, planning, health, and document apps. The key claim is that they “killed” tools by making everything local-first, interlinked, and AI-interactable.

1) Tool stack history → “local folder” approach

The creator describes migrating through many PKM/note tools over the years, including:

  • Apple Notes
  • Notability / GoodNotes
  • Evernote
  • Roam / Obsidian
  • Notion
  • Mem / Tana
  • Heptabase

They emphasize the final architecture:

  • Everything lives in one downloadable local folder (distributed via “myICOR”).
  • The folder is structured as wiki-linked Markdown files, allowing easy compatibility with Obsidian.
  • Their workflow is presented as a repeatable “scaffold” approach for community members.

2) New interface built on top of the local folder (free via myICOR)

A major feature is a custom web/GUI “hub” they built that:

  • Launches a local server and opens a UI in the browser
  • Is local-only (no sign-up, no subscription for the interface)
  • Can be accessed on phone via the same network (remote access via VPS/web app is mentioned, though the demo is local)

What the interface provides

A) “PKM cockpit” / PKM system visualization

The local folder’s contents become viewable through an interface that includes visual hubs for:

  • My Life
  • Key elements
  • Goals
  • Habits
  • Projects
  • Topics
  • Journal

It also includes:

  • “Today’s actions”
  • A “today’s calendar” view

B) Action + planning merged into one tool

They claim they replaced Sunsama and planning workflows with their own planner view inside the hub.

Planner functionality shown:

  • Pulls in calendar events and Todoist tasks
  • Clicking tasks supports “Open in Todoist”, with changes syncing back to the planner view
  • Time-blocking UI:
    • Morning/afternoon split
    • Lunch break
    • Work hours configuration
    • Remaining time indicators in the afternoon block
  • “Highlight of the day” and “weekly goals” determine what gets done

C) “Central place” across tools

They argue the hub is necessary because life planning isn’t only Todoist:

  • Mentions ClickUp for business/project management alongside personal tasks
  • Described as tool-agnostic in principle, using APIs where available

3) AI integration: “Personal Knowledge Assistance (PKA)”

Instead of forcing AI into third-party PKM plugin systems, they build an AI layer that works directly with the folder.

Key points:

  • Notes are readable and editable locally (Markdown + attachments stored in the folder)
  • AI is used to:
    • Automatically create/edit wiki links (reducing manual PKM friction)
    • Provide “Discuss with AI” per note using Claude with full folder context
    • Use “terminal”/Claude calls to answer questions grounded in local data
  • They also argue this avoids paywalls/token costs common in other PKM tools that charge extra for AI

4) Knowledge graph + navigation improvements over Obsidian graph

The interface includes a knowledge graph described as more useful than Obsidian’s for their navigation style.

It supports:

  • Viewing connections/cross-links
  • Clicking nodes to open linked notes
  • Displaying metadata
  • Running AI discussion with context from the selected note

5) Visual deep thinking (“whiteboards”) + fleeting notes

Two creative-thinking features are showcased:

A) Whiteboard-like visual workspace

  • Supports node/edge connections between concepts
  • Clicking/creating notes from within the visual canvas
  • Connections can be expanded to reveal contextual meaning
  • AI discussion can be invoked with the selected connection/context

B) Fleeting notes

A fast capture editor that includes:

  • Markdown styling + headings via hashtags
  • Collapsible headers (triggered via command shortcuts)
  • Attachments (e.g., screenshots) stored locally
  • Pinning key fleeting notes to bring them quickly to the hub

Everything is stored as local files and cross-linked back into the Markdown knowledge base.

6) Journal + cross-linked meeting insights

  • The journaling section is shown as cross-connected to:
    • People/contacts
    • Key elements
    • Other notes and documents
  • Mentions long-term journaling sources, including:
    • Backfilled from tools like Day One (used for over 10 years)
  • Includes images/attachments tied into entries, with navigable backlinks

7) Health tracking and workout tracking (local-first; “replaces health apps”)

The video strongly claims the same local-folder + AI context approach can replace health apps.

Highlights include:

  • Health data:
    • 15 years backfilled weight, nutrition entries, and workouts (demo account)
    • Blood test/lab values included locally
  • Updates:
    • An “auto export app” exports health data into the local folder
    • Each day when launching Claude, data is pulled/updated in the local database
  • AI-driven insights:
    • Detects patterns from journal entries and health logs
    • Shows habit tracking tied to goals
      • Example: “Run 10K under 55 minutes” → habit “morning run”
  • Habit tracking:
    • Visual progress for individualized habits
    • Meal logging via photos (example: Claude creates entries from images)
  • Workouts:
    • Route/map view similar to Strava-style tracking
  • Safety caveat:
    • Positioned as not a replacement for a doctor, but helpful for contextual symptom awareness

8) Document library + Team Inbox for scanned files

  • Mentions external scanner hardware feeding into a Team Inbox folder on the local filesystem
  • Document ingestion:
    • PDFs/images stored locally
    • AI organizes into a document library
    • Each document includes notes/context and sometimes related files (e.g., GPX data)
  • Work-in-progress / deliverables:
    • A deliverables area lists active projects with timestamps/titles
    • Clicking deliverables opens formatted Markdown with backlinks and AI-driven editing/review

9) Integrations & secrets: API keys stored locally

  • The interface supports connecting other services (e.g., Linear, ClickUp, Todoist)
  • API keys handling:
    • Uses local .env files stored inside the folder
    • Keys are not pushed to GitHub
    • AI reads the folder and can “wire up” integrations referencing local env variables

10) Backups and remote access

Backups

  • Uses Time Machine to back up the local folder
  • Cloud backup options are mentioned, with warnings against syncing setups that can cause failures

Cloud sync warning (important)

  • If using iCloud, ensure “Keep Downloaded” to avoid offloading that creates “ghost” files and breaks AI/context consistency

Remote usage

  • Can upload the folder or access via VPS
  • Mentions using Claude app with commands like:
    • /remote
    • /desktop to continue working with the same folder

11) Claude tooling preference: Claude Code over Cowork

  • The speaker recommends Claude Code for professionals due to multi-agent workflows and deeper coding/automation control
  • They explicitly say they would not use “Cowork” due to efficiency/feature limitations

Overall “product thesis” in the video

A local, wiki-linked Markdown knowledge base + a custom local UI + Claude AI with full filesystem context can unify:

  • Notes / PKM
  • Planning (actions + calendar + time blocking)
  • Journaling
  • Knowledge graphs
  • Visual deep thinking
  • Health tracking and habit management
  • Documents and deliverables

…and reduce dependency on multiple subscription apps.

Main speakers/sources

  • Tom (primary speaker; frequently referenced as “Tom”)
  • Paco Cantero (mentioned as co-founder; also demonstrates/creates related planning interface behavior)
  • Claude (AI system used throughout)
  • Third-party tools referenced for integration: Todoist, ClickUp, Calendar, Apple Watch, Day One, Obsidian, Heptabase, Sunsama, and scanning hardware (unnamed)

Original video