path: root/doc/gnosis.org

#+TITLE: Gnosis User Manual
#+AUTHOR: Thanos Apollo
#+email: [email protected]
#+language: en
#+options: ':t toc:nil author:t email:t num:t
#+startup: content
#+macro: stable-version 0.1.5
#+macro: release-date 2023-01-29
#+macro: development-version 0.1.6-dev
#+macro: file @@texinfo:@file{@@$1@@texinfo:}@@
#+macro: space @@texinfo:@: @@
#+macro: kbd @@texinfo:@kbd{@@$1@@texinfo:}@@
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#+texinfo_filename: gnosis.info
#+texinfo_dir_category: Emacs misc features
#+texinfo_dir_title: Gnosis (γνῶσις): (gnosis) 
#+texinfo_dir_desc: Spaced Repetition System For Note Taking And Self-Testing
#+texinfo_header: @set MAINTAINERSITE @uref{https://thanosapollo.org,maintainer webpage}
#+texinfo_header: @set MAINTAINER Thanos Apollo
#+texinfo_header: @set MAINTAINEREMAIL @email{[email protected]}
#+texinfo_header: @set MAINTAINERCONTACT @uref{mailto:[email protected],contact the maintainer}


Gnosis (γνῶσις), pronounced "noh-sis", /meaning knowledge in Greek/, is
a spaced repetition system implementation for note taking and self
testing.

#+texinfo: @noindent
This manual is written for Gnosis version {{{stable-version}}}, released on {{{release-date}}}.

+ Official manual: <https://thanosapollo.org/user-manual/gnosis>
+ Git repositories:
  + main:               <https://git.thanosapollo.org/gnosis>
  + sourcehut (mirror): <https://git.sr.ht/~thanosapollo/gnosis>

#+texinfo: @insertcopying

* Introduction
Gnosis is a spaced repetition note taking and self testing system,
where notes are taken in a Question/Answer/Explanation-like format &
reviewed in spaced intervals.

Gnosis can help you better understand and retain the material by
encouraging active engagement. It also provides a clear structure for
your notes & review sessions, making it easier to study.

* Installation

Gnosis is not currently available in any ELPA, the recommended way to
install gnosis is via straight.el:

   <https://github.com/radian-software/straight.el>
  
** Using straight.el
If you have not installed straight.el, follow the instructions here:

   <https://github.com/radian-software/straight.el>

Once you have installed straight.el, you can install gnosis using the
following emacs lisp snippet:

#+begin_src emacs-lisp
  (straight-use-package 
   '(gnosis :type git
  	  :host nil
  	  :repo "https://git.thanosapollo.org/gnosis"))
#+end_src

** Installing manually from source
Gnosis depends on the ~compat~ & ~emacsql~ libraries which are available
from MELPA. Install them using ~M-x package-install RET <package> RET~
or you may also install them manually from their repository.

+ Clone gnosis repository
  
  #+begin_src shell
    $ git clone https://git.thanosapollo.org/gnosis ~/.emacs.d/site-lisp/gnosis
  #+end_src

+ Add this to your emacs configuration
  
  #+begin_src emacs-lisp
    (add-to-list 'load-path "~/.emacs.d/site-lisp/gnosis")
    (load-file "~/.emacs.d/site-lisp/gnosis/gnosis.el")
  #+end_src

* Adding notes
Creating notes for gnosis can be done interactively with:
  =M-x gnosis-add-note=


Advanced/Power users may prefer to use =gnosis-add-note--TYPE=

Example: 

#+begin_src emacs-lisp
  (gnosis-add-note--basic :deck "DECK-NAME"
  			:question "Your Question"
  			:answer "Answer"
  			:hint "hint"
  			:extra "Explanation"
  			:image "Image displayed before user-input" ;; Optional
  			:second-image "Image displayed after user-input" ;; Optional
  			:tags '("tag1" "tag2"))
#+end_src

By default, the value of image and second image is nil. Their value
must a string, the path of an image, from inside ~gnosis-images-dir~.

Each note type has a =gnosis-add-note-TYPE= that is used
interactively & a "hidden function" =gnosis-add-note--TYPE= that handles
all the logic.

Every note type has these values in common:

 + ~extra~ string value, extra information/explanation displayed after user-input
 + ~image~ Image displayed /before/ user input
 + ~second-image~ Image displayed /after/ user input

The following sections will cover the important differences you have
to know when creating new notes.

* Note Types
** Cloze

A cloze note type is a format where you create sentences or paragraphs
with "missing" words. Almost all note types can be written as a cloze
type in a way. Ideal type for memorizing definitions.

To get the most out of gnosis, you have to become familiar with cloze type notes.

You can create a cloze note type using =M-x gnosis-add-note= and
selecting ~Cloze~, the question should be formatted like this:

#+BEGIN_QUOTE
{c1:Cyproheptadine} is a(n) {c2:5-HT2} receptor antagonist used to treat {c2:serotonin syndrome}
#+END_QUOTE

You can also format clozes like Anki if you prefer; e.g ~{{c1::Cyproheptadine}}~

+ For each `cX`-tag there will be created a cloze type note, the above
  example creates 2 cloze type notes.
  
+ Each `cX` tag can have multiple clozes, but each cloze must be a
  *UNIQUE* word (or a unique combination of words) in given note.

** Basic Type

Basic note type is a simple question/answer note, where the user first
sees a "main" part, which is usually a question, and he is prompted to
input the answer. 

** Double
Double note type, is essentially a note that generates 2 basic notes.
The second one reverses question/answer.

Ideal for vocabulary acquisition, creating vocabulary/translation
notes for a foreign language.

** MCQ (Multiple Choice Question)
MCQ note type, consists of a "stem" part that is displayed, and
"options" for the user to select the right one.

Answer must be the index NUMBER of the correct answer from OPTIONS.

Ideal for self testing & simulating exams

** y-or-n
y-or-n (yes or no) note type, user is presented with a question and
prompted to enter character "y" or "n".

When using the hidden function =gnosis-add-note--y-or-n=, note that the
ANSWER must be either 121 (~y~) or 110 (~n~), as those correspond to the
character values used to represent them.

* Customization & Extension

To make development and customization easier, gnosis comes with
=gnosis-dev= module, that should be used to create a custom database for
testing.

To use =gnosis-dev=, first you have to =(require 'gnosis-dev)= & run =M-x
gnosis-dev-test=. This will create a new directory 'testing' with a new
database.

To exit the testing environment, rerun =M-x gnosis-dev-test= and then
enter =n= (no) at the prompt "Start development env?"
** Adjust string comparison
You may adjust =gnosis-string-difference=, this is a threshold value
for string comparison that determines the maximum acceptable
Levenshtein distance between two strings, which identifies their
similarity

Let's illustrate with an example:
#+begin_src emacs-lisp
(setf gnosis-string-difference 1)
#+end_src

In this scenario, we set `gnosis-string-difference` to 1. This implies
that two strings will be recognized as similar if they exhibit a
difference of at most one character edit.

To demonstrate, 'example' and 'examples' will be recognized as
similar, considering that the latter involves just one additional
character."

** Creating Custom Note Types
Creating custom note types for gnosis is a fairly simple thing to do

+ First add your NEW-TYPE to =gnosis-note-types=

    #+begin_src emacs-lisp
    (add-to-list 'gnosis-note-types 'new-type)
  #+end_src

+ Create 2 functions; =gnosis-add-note-TYPE= & =gnosis-add-note--TYPE=

Each note type has a =gnosis-add-note-TYPE= that is used
interactively & a "hidden function" =gnosis-add-note--TYPE= that handles
all the logic.

Refer to =gnosis-add-note-basic= & =gnosis-add-note--basic= for a simple
example of how this is done.

+ Create =gnosis-review-TYPE=

This function should handle the review process, displaying it's
contents and updating the database depending on the result of the
review (fail/pass). Refer to =gnosis-review-basic= for an example of how
this should be done.

+ Optionally, you might want to create your own custom =gnosis-display= functions

** Customizing Gnosis Algorithm
*** Gnosis Algorithm Initial Interval

=gnosis-algorithm-interval= is a list of 2 numbers, representing the
first two initial intervals for successful reviews.

Example:

#+begin_src emacs-lisp
  (setq gnosis-algorithm-interval '(1 3))
#+end_src

Using the above example, after first successfully reviewing a note,
you will see it again tomorrow, if you successfully review said note
again, the next review will be after 3 days.

*** Gnosis Algorithm Easiness Factor

=gnosis-algorithm-ef= is a list that consists of 3 items.

The first item is the increase factor, used to increase the easiness
factor upon successful review.

Second item refers to the decrease factor, used to
decrease the easiness factor upon an unsuccessful review.

The third item is the initial total easiness factor, used to calculate
the next interval.

The basic's of how this is used is that it's being multiplied with the
last interval upon a successful review, e.g if you last reviewed a
note 6 days ago, and the easiness factor of this note is 2.0, your
next interval would be 6 * 2.0 & the total easiness factor would be
2.0 + increase-factor as well.

Example:

#+begin_src emacs-lisp
  (setq gnosis-algorithm-ef '(0.3 0.3 1.3))
#+end_src

*** Gnosis Algorithm Forgetting Factor

=gnosis-algorithm-ff= is a floating number below 1.

It's used to calculate the next interval upon an unsuccessful review,
by being multiplied with last interval.



Example:

#+begin_src emacs-lisp
  (setq gnosis-algorithm-ff 0.5)
#+end_src

For a note with a value of last-interval of 6 days and a ff of 0.5,
upon an unsuccessful review the next interval will be 6 * 0.5