Summary
Folders and tags are both useful tools in personal knowledge management, but folders have advantages in terms of backwards compatibility and ease of use with file systems and the command line. Folders can also provide a clearer organizational structure for some users, while tags can become cluttered if used too liberally. The Johnny Decimal system offers a framework for organizing folders, but can be modified to suit individual needs. While tags can be useful when maintained with a controlled vocabulary, a more emergent system may lead to clutter and confusion.
Highlights
id656183862
The main thing that irritates me is when I see people say that folders are “old-fashioned” and therefore “pointless.” The fact that they’re old-fashioned is one of the big reasons why they’re valuable: more programs, especially at the lower levels of the file system that I prefer interacting with, support and extend their use.
id656199683
All but one of those tags are verbs — something I need to do. For me, my tags are the equivalent of putting a post-it note on a page in my journal so I know I still need to do something with that page.