File over App

Updated 2026-04-09

Philosophy by Steph Ango: digital artifacts should exist as open, readable files, not be trapped inside proprietary app formats or cloud services.

Core Claim

“In the fullness of time, the files you create are more important than the tools you use to create them. Apps are ephemeral, but your files have a chance to last.”

“If you want your writing to still be readable on a computer from the 2060s or 2160s, it’s important that your notes can be read on a computer from the 1960s.”

Principles

  • Files should live in open, readable formats such as plain text or Markdown
  • No lock-in to cloud services or proprietary apps
  • Long-term readability matters: a note written today should still be readable in 100 years
  • Tools are temporary; content is what lasts
  • Even the creator of Obsidian knows that Obsidian itself may become obsolete one day, but the .md files do not

An Argument to Toolmakers

File over app is also a message to software builders: accept that every app is temporary, and give users control over their data.

Connection to This System

This knowledge base follows the principle directly: everything as .md files, stored locally, readable independently of any single tool.

Sources