This repository contains early exploration and prototype work.
🚀 Active development has moved to: https://github.com/ProjectLiminality/InterBrain
About This Repository
This repository served as the initial exploration phase for the InterBrain vision, containing:
- Conceptual experiments and prototyping work
- Screenshots and recordings demonstrating core ideas
- Visual foundation for the current development approach
- Early validation of interaction patterns
Current Development
The InterBrain project has transitioned to a fresh, structured development approach with:
- Clean Obsidian Plugin implementation
- GitHub-native project management
- AI-centered development workflow
- Production-ready architecture
Stay Updated
Follow the active development at:
- Main Repository: https://github.com/ProjectLiminality/InterBrain
- Issues & Planning: https://github.com/ProjectLiminality/InterBrain/issues
- Development Progress: https://github.com/users/ProjectLiminality/projects/2
- Community Updates: https://opencollective.com/projectliminality
Thank you for your interest in the InterBrain journey! 🌱
This repository is preserved for historical reference and visual documentation of the conceptual foundation.
The InterBrain is an innovative knowledge gardening system that aims to revolutionize the way we collectively relate to our ideas and stories. It transcends the traditional "Second Brain" paradigm, popularized by PKM tools like Obsidian, shifting to a dynamic, relational approach to organizing knowledge as opposed to static, top-down categorization.
⚡️ Current Status:
The InterBrain is currently in its initial MVP phase, implemented as a standalone Electron/React desktop app. This implementation served as a rapid prototype to explore and validate core interaction patterns and ideas.
🚧 Next Step:
The project is now entering a transition phase: migrating from an Electron-based standalone app to a native Obsidian Plugin, preserving the React-based frontend while refactoring the backend logic for full integration into the Obsidian ecosystem.
🌱 Beyond the Plugin:
The InterBrain is designed as the foundation for a larger vision — DreamOS — a decentralized, AI-agent-powered operating system for collective sensemaking and human-computer symbiosis.
DreamOS will evolve into its own repository once the core functionality stabilizes.
💡 Roadmap Overview:
- ✅ Electron MVP (completed)
- 🔜 Obsidian Plugin implementation (in progress)
- 🪐 DreamOS system (future repository)
A detailed technical and conceptual roadmap for the Obsidian plugin development can be found in ROADMAP.md.
The fundamental unit of Project Liminality is the "Dream Node," which is implemented as a Git repository. Dream Nodes can embody two primary concepts:
- Dreams: Abstract ideas, concepts, or any form of knowledge.
- Dreamers: Representations of people or peers.
This dual nature allows for a flexible and interconnected knowledge structure.
Each Dream Node consists of two main components:
- Dream Talk: A concise, symbolic representation of the idea (like a thumbnail).
- Dream Song: A more elaborate explanation or exploration of the idea, containing multiple references to other Dream Talks.
Project Liminality structures knowledge based on social relationships and interactions, creating an "InteBrain." This approach allows users to organize information along the lines of their actual relational fields, transcending static, top-down categorization. Thus uniting the multiplicity of Second Brains into a singular, interconnected InterBrain structure.
Creating a new DreamNode is as easy as dragging and dropping a visual representation (DreamTalk) onto the interface. This will automatically create a new DreamNode with the same name as the file, containing the file. Using the Command-N keyboard shortcut you can also create an empty DreamNode with your name of choice.
By linking the ideas you hold to the people you share them with, DreamNodes self-organize into your unique "Liminal Web."
This allows you to navigate your knowledge in an intuitive and organic fashion, transcending the need for contrived categorization or hierarchical management.
Finding relevant DreamNodes is made easy and intuitive through semantic search - no need to worry about typos or remembering the exact name of any given idea! Just enter a search query that is close enough in meaning to what you're looking for and it will magically be revealed. (This existing feature is the basis for a yet-to-be-implemented realtime conversational copilot that always has the most relevant knowledge at hand for sharing during free-flowing conversation.)
Just like individual software modules can be combined into more sophisticated projects using git repositories, DreamNodes can be woven together into larger wholes. Using the Obsidian canvas, DreamTalk symbols can be woven together with text into DreamSongs. The resulting DreamSong can in turn again be distilled into a single DreamTalk symbol. This reciprocal and recursive many-to-one mapping between DreamSong and DreamTalk allows for the emergence of a vertical holarchy of DreamNodes. A universal pattern for performing the Hegelean Dialectic of ideas in the digital!
Every time any Dreamer weaves together DreamNodes into larger wholes, the Coherence Beacon is triggered. This mechanism automatically identifies the subset of peers with whom they share any of the input DreamNodes and offers them the higher order DreamNode (including all input DreamNodes they may or may not already hold). By accepting the invitation they extend the signal to all of their peers and so on. This way only coherent ideas spread based on how much they resonate with the network, solving the virality problem. Freedom of speech bound by meritocratic reach!
Since DreamNodes are based on git repositories, prominent AI pair-programming solutions like aider or cursor, being optimized for git, integrate seamlessly with the system. And just like the InteBrain generalizes git repos from computer code to all of knowledge, the same can be done out of the box with AI pair-programmers, using them as universal magical co-creators! With ever more powerful, local, multi-modal models on the horizon and deeper integrations through frameworks like Model Context Protocol (MCP) truly the sky is the limit in terms of what can be achieved collectively through the InteBrain!
Through realtime transcription of free flowing conversations (video call or in-person) combined with the existing semantic search functionality, the system will constantly filter for the most relevant DreamNodes, making them readily available for reference and sharing during the dialogue - all without interrupting the flow! Say goodbye to awkward interruptions due to not finding a reference! And the best part: referencing a DreamNode (implicitly or explicitly) automatically offers your peer to clone it. Which means sharing an idea and collaborating on it is the same thing in this system.
Everytime an idea is shared during a conversation, and thus the corresponding DreamNode is cloned, the relevant clip of the conversation is automatically added to the DreamNode as yet another way of expressing the idea. This way every DreamNode remembers the path it travels in a unique set of conversation clips - its Songline! Not only do Songlines allow for an organic, decentralized and emergent replacement for static textbook definitions, they also constitute an invaluable source of community-generated and -owned data for representing knowledge in the most effortless yet high bandwidth way. In anticipation of local, multi-modal LLMs with effectively infinite context windows these Songlines may turn out to be a game changer in terms of leveraging collective knowledge and wisdom into actionable projects.
Easily open any given DreamNode in your favorite git client of your choice.
The content within a DreamNode is visually accessible on the backside using the beautiful circle packing algorithm of D3. Instantly access files and folders directly from the InteBrain.
Reveal DreamNodes in your file system with just one click.
The InteBrain system transforms how we share and organize knowledge, creating an organic ecosystem where ideas and initiatives can flourish together.
- Real-time knowledge access: Conversational copilots filter relevant dream nodes based on discussion topics
- Enriched show notes: Share actual knowledge units rather than just superficial references
- Depth in knowledge transfer: Audience receives not just references but entire repositories of contextual information
- Emergent collective intelligence: Investigators can effortlessly combine evidence and knowledge
- Coherence Beacon in action: Automatically invites collaborators who hold relevant knowledge
- Scaling potential: Enables millions of citizen journalists to work together on complex cases
- Dissolving artificial boundaries: Between disciplines and between education and life itself
- Living classroom: Every conversation becomes an educational opportunity
- Emergent curriculum: Knowledge expands organically based on contextual relevance
- Symbolic teaching: Complex ideas transmitted through symbols backed by detailed dream nodes
- Source and product travel together: Creative works remain connected to their source files
- Open source everything: Any digital creation becomes remixable and extensible
- Infinite collaboration: Weave different creations together through dream weaving
- Context creation: Shift from "content creators" to "context creators" with living, evolving works
- Signal amplification: Filter out noise in competing narratives
- Perspective integration: Combine viewpoints to approach deeper truth
- Social resonance filter: Collective intuition helps identify coherent syntheses
- Propaganda immunity: System design makes manipulation difficult while healing divisive narratives
- Dream nodes for all initiatives: Any project can be represented as a dream node while maintaining independence
- Cross-pollination: Knowledge flows freely between initiatives while respecting autonomy
- Resonance-based connections: Projects naturally find their complementary partners
- No central authority: Collaboration emerges organically based on relevance and resonance
- Knowledge transfer across communities: Solutions developed in one place effortlessly reach others
- Contextual distribution: Learning finds exactly where it's needed based on relevance
- Social relationship propagation: Knowledge travels through trusted connections
- Emergent collective problem-solving: Communities evolve together rather than in isolation
- Project merging and spawning: Smaller initiatives can unify or new ones can form from combinations
- Solutions combine into higher-order solutions: Building blocks of knowledge stack meaningfully
- Universal pattern recognition: Similar challenges across different domains find common solutions
- Network of conversations: All collaboration is rooted in human connection and meaning
Project Liminality is released under the GNU AFFERO GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE.
Much of the philosophical foundation for this project has been created in conversation with my co-visionary and dear friend Anna Ziegler. Check out her one-of-a-kind work at https://goodfairy.gift