Getting started with StarJot: A quick guide to your new second brain

Welcome to StarJot. You have stripped away the loading screens, the databases, and the subscriptions. You are left with a blisteringly fast, perfectly private space to think.

But a blank page can sometimes be intimidating. To help you hit the ground running, here is a quick cheatsheet on how to get the absolute most out of StarJot, from basic writing to building a complex constellation of ideas.

1. Writing at the speed of thought

You don't need a PhD in software management to write beautiful notes. We have designed the editor to be completely frictionless.

• The power user menu: Want to add an image, create a checklist, or insert a code block? Simply type / anywhere on the page to instantly open the block menu. You can format your entire document without your fingers ever leaving the keyboard.
• Rearrange with ease: If you decide a paragraph or an image belongs somewhere else, you don't need to clumsily highlight and cut. Just click the up/down arrows next to any block to instantly move it up or down the page.
• Undo and recover: Made a mistake? The native Undo feature has your back.
• Revisions: If you accidentally delete a large chunk of text or want to look back at an earlier draft of your thought process, use the Revisions feature. It acts as a time machine for your notes, ensuring you never permanently lose a spark of genius.

2. Connecting your ideas

The true magic of StarJot happens when you start linking your thoughts together.

• Instant backlinks: Type [[ to instantly link to an existing note, or search for one by typing [[text-to-search.
• Create as you go: If an idea strikes you mid-sentence, type [[New Note Title. StarJot will automatically create that new note and link it for you, allowing you to stay perfectly in the flow of your writing.
• Seamless navigation: As you start jumping between linked ideas, use the back/forward arrows (just like a web browser) to effortlessly retrace your steps through your thought process.

3. Organising your workspace

As your universe of notes expands, you will want to keep things tidy. You don't need complex folders; you just need to manage what is visible.

• Use tags: Add #tags anywhere in your notes to group similar ideas together. Clicking a tag will show you every note that shares it.
• Hide sub-notes from the sidebar: Remember that "Weekly To-Dos" hierarchy we mentioned above? You probably don't want all those detailed sub-notes cluttering up your main sidebar. By adding the tag #hidden (or #archive, #private, #trash) to a note, it will vanish from the sidebar but remain perfectly accessible via search or its backlink.
• Deep-hidden notes: For absolute privacy, start the note's title with a full stop (e.g., .My Private Note). It will become completely invisible to the sidebar, tags, and search. You can read our full guide on mastering hidden notes here.

4. Securing your universe

Your data is yours. Unlike web-based apps, you have complete control over your files.

You can choose exactly where to store your notes—whether you want them kept strictly offline on your device, or securely synced across your Apple ecosystem. If you choose to sync your notes, we highly recommend setting up Apple's Advanced Data Protection for true end-to-end encryption.

(P.S. If you are using an external keyboard on your iPad, check out our quick tip for hiding the onscreen shortcut bar for a cleaner writing experience!)

Capture. Connect. Done. You now have everything you need to start building your universe. Happy jotting!