Adopt mode-based top-level structure (Atlas/Chronicles/Praxis)

Context and Problem Statement

Vault top-level was mixed mode-folders (Inbox, Projects) and content-type folders (Zettelkasten, People, Devices). Inconsistent organizational scheme. Convergent thinking across LYT, Diataxis, ReAct, Kolb, OODA showed mode-based decomposition is principled.

Considered Options

• Three mode-named top-level folders: Atlas/ (thinking), Chronicles/ (reflecting), Praxis/ (acting).
• Keep Zettelkasten/ as content folder name.
• Light rename to Notes/ only.
• Full ACE adoption (Atlas/Calendar/Efforts) per LYT.
• Pure flat (Matuschak style).

Decision Outcome

Chosen option: “Three mode-named top-level folders (Atlas / Chronicles / Praxis)”, because Greek-rooted naming provides classical aesthetic coherence — loosely evocative of Aristotle’s theoria/poiesis/praxis distinction. Mode framing reduces the “where does this go?” decision tax: ask “what mode am I in when I need this?”

Zettelkasten/ is renamed and absorbed into Atlas/Notes/. The “Zettelkasten” name described a methodology, not a content type.

Pros and Cons of the Options

Mode-based (Atlas/Chronicles/Praxis)

• Good, because principled (mode-based decomposition has cross-disciplinary support).
• Good, because reduces “where does this go?” decision tax.
• Good, because Greek-rooted classical aesthetic.

Keep Zettelkasten/ as content folder

• Bad, because methodology-named folders are beginner artifacts.
• Bad, because modern PKM voices (Doto, Tietze, Matuschak) push toward functional or flat naming.

Rename Zettelkasten/ to Notes/ only

• Bad, because doesn’t address broader mode-vs-type inconsistency.

Full ACE adoption

• Bad, because “Chronicles” and “Praxis” preferred over LYT’s terms for academic precision.

Pure flat (Matuschak)

• Bad, because 130+ files at root impractical.