Org as a workspace (an impromptu reflection)

[Juan Manuel Macías]

Hi all,

Since I use Org Mode I have been noticing a gradual change in the way I
work with a computer (as a simple user). It is not something consciously
sought, but I have to say that I see it as a positive evolution. I've
always been used to (or rather resigned to) the typical Unix
directory/file scheme: everything must be a file and everything must be
stored in a directory. When one has many and varied interests and tasks,
and manages a wide variety of files and folders, it is certainly hard to
maintain order and 'digital hygiene' within that scheme. Before using
Gnu Emacs as a shell and as a desktop environment, I used KDE and Gnome for
quite a while. The indexers and file search tools in these environments
(especially the GnomeShell one, tracker) were somewhat helpful in
keeping things tidy and close at hand. But, at the end of the day, the
directory/file scheme was always present.

With Org something curious has happened. I've gotten used to working
around nodes (regardless of what documents those nodes are in), rather
than around folders or files. Little by little, a kind of virtual world
of ideas, objects, etc., all intertwined with each other, is being
built. What amazes me about Org is that all of this is tremendously
transparent and simple. I'm not saying that the detachment of the
directory/file schema is complete: directories and files are there,
actually, but at least they don't show up when working. It is somewhat
akin to being in a play, where there is a suspension of disbelief.

Of course, there are tools that I find indispensable. Helm-org-ql, for
example, is what I use to nimbly navigate that virtual world of nodes. I
also make heavy and obsessive use of org-attach and org-capture (I
barely use the classic 'Documents', 'Images', 'Videos', 'Music', etc.
style directories, but everything is stored in folders associated with
nodes). And since I've started using org-transclusion, a new dimension
has been opened to that virtuality that I mentioned before. Sometimes I
wonder if this isn't a working style similar to that of the old Lisp
machines, a subject I find exciting but know little about, so I
apologize if that statement sounds too ignorant ;-).

I don't know if anyone has had a similar experience...

Best regards,

Juan Manuel