Obsidian CEO endorses plain-text workflow

Steph Ango, the chief executive of Obsidian, used X on May 21 to argue for a plain-text approach to note-taking, telling users to think in terms of “FILE > APP” rather than tying their work to a single software product. The remarks landed in the middle of broader online discussions about “second brain” tools and long-term note storage. Obsidian’s own documentation makes the same case in more formal language, describing notes as plain-text Markdown files stored on a user’s local file system. ### What was Ango arguing for in practice? May 21 was the date attached to the social post cited in the source material, and the substance was straightforward: Ango said files last longer than apps. The point was not just about Obsidian as a product, but about keeping notes in a format that remains readable if a tool changes, shuts down, or is replaced. Obsidian’s help center frames the same idea in product terms. Its “Create your first note” page says notes are stored as plain text files, are “durable,” and are “not locked into a proprietary format,” adding that plain-text notes can “outlive any app—even Obsidian itself.” (stephango.com) ### How does Obsidian actually store notes? Obsidian says its notes are stored as Markdown-formatted plain text files inside a “vault,” which is simply a folder on the local file system. The company says users can create that vault anywhere their operating system allows. The same storage page says those files can be edited and managed with other text editors and file managers, and that Obsidian refreshes the vault when outside changes are made. (obsidian.md) That is the technical basis for the portability claim behind Ango’s “FILE > APP” formulation. ### Why does plain text matter more than an app format? Obsidian’s import documentation makes the portability argument directly. (obsidian.md) The company says “apps come and go, but your data should last,” and says its use of non-proprietary plain-text Markdown files gives users control over their data, including the ability to work offline and switch apps if needed. That language tracks closely with the broader point Ango made on X. (obsidian.md) A note saved as a standard text-based file can usually be opened in many editors, indexed by search tools, stored in common sync services, and migrated later without depending on one vendor’s database or export pipeline. That last point is an inference from Obsidian’s documented storage model and import options, not a separate quoted statement from Ango. (obsidian.md) ### Was this a new position for Obsidian? Steph Ango’s public profile says he became Obsidian’s CEO in February 2023. The company’s website and help pages already emphasize privacy, local storage, and open file formats, so the May 21 post appears consistent with Obsidian’s established product message rather than a new policy announcement. Obsidian’s homepage says the app uses open file formats so users are “never locked in.” Its import tools also support bringing in notes from products including Notion, OneNote, Evernote, Apple Notes and Google Keep. (obsidian.md) ### Where can readers see the approach spelled out? Obsidian’s help center lays out the model in three places: the getting-started page for creating a note, the data-storage page explaining vaults and local folders, and the import page describing migration from other apps. (stephango.com) Steph Ango’s profile page also identifies him as the company’s CEO and links to Obsidian-related projects. (obsidian.md 1) (obsidian.md 2)