[Buttons840]

I would add that somewhere in there should be a spaced repetition algorithm.

Spaced repetition is very effective, but it's really really clunky to use. My unpopular opinion is that we all have Stockholm syndrome when it comes to creating "cards", and people talk about how valuable creating cards is; but I think it stucks, it takes a lot of time.

If AI is already teaching me math (let's say), it would be nice to tell the AI/app "quiz me on this periodically", and then the AI makes up a fresh polynomial to factor (or whatever) and presents that to you according to a spaced repetition algorithm.

Behind the scenes, the AI should have access to what has happened the last several times a specific topic has been quized, so the AI can watch to see that certain mistakes are resolved, and the AI might also know better how to correct the user if it has context about previous quizzes of that topic.

[tired-turtle]

But the very act of making and organizing your card deck is part of the SRS! It “sucks” because you get no dopamine hit from a fresh desk, as the reward system is not yet in place.

[Buttons840]

Again, I really think this is a viewpoint we've talked ourselves into to help us feel better about how cumbersome creating the cards are.

I'm willing to grant that there is some value in choosing what to put in the cards, but most of the awkwardness around making cards is UI related. Nobody creates cards on their phone, or while they're walking (AI could do both of these) - people create cards sitting at their computer (like cavemen!) usually clicking through a clunky UI and managing thousands of cards with thousands of clicks. That sucks, and people probably wont realize it sucks until something better comes along.

[fragmede]

> Nobody creates cards on their phone, or while they're walking

Wait, when are you doing it then? No wonder you think it sucks! Adopt some modern tools, yo. Use Anki, or vibe code your own app.

[fn-mote]

> Use Anki

Anki is great for studying, but the card creation experience sucks. To be specific: I found creating any custom card type immediately dropped me into the bowels of CSS. It felt like writing HTML by hand.

Is there any facility for re-using shared pieces?

I felt like it needed a static site generator type tool to move up a layer of abstraction and reduce the copying of chunks into my card. Is there one? Please mention if so.

[cheesecakegood]

I really never thought it would come up in a HN thread but I’m actually working on a modified version of Anki as a personal project (not quite ready yet though, but will open source probably in a few weeks) where improving the editing/curating/creating experience is a big focus. I’m trying to make it markdown-based too.

Just to pick your brain real fast, when creating new cards (from scratch?) what would a better experience look like for you?

[BeetleB]

Write a tool to reduce the friction.

I use an Emacs based SRS tool. I have a capture template to quickly make a card.

For anything tedious, it's critical to reduce the friction!

[fragmede]

It's rather nerdy, but QuickTurtle9 released mdfc on GitHub, https://github.com/bttger/markdown-flashcards a couple of years ago

Using that as the input file format standard, AI can generate what you're looking for, Android app, Webapp, iOS app, pdf.

[rsanek]

I rarely make cards by hand anymore. I would recommend forking something like https://github.com/jasperket/clanki and editing it (perhaps with an agent) so that it works exactly to your liking.

[golem14]

> I found creating any custom card type immediately dropped me into the bowels of CSS.

Ah, LaTeX syndrome.

[naasking]

> Spaced repetition is very effective, but it's really really clunky to use

Spaced repetition is just reviewing the same material periodically. It doesn't have to be a complicated system.

We already know how to learn and educate: spaced repetition (periodic review), and retrieval practice (frequent testing). This is how school used to be fore centuries; it's not sexy but it's effective.