TutorialsFirst Workspace

Building Your First Workspace

Welcome to Lokus! In this tutorial, you’ll create your first knowledge base and learn the fundamentals of organizing information in Lokus.

What You’ll Learn

By the end of this tutorial, you’ll be able to:

  • Create and configure a new workspace
  • Add and format notes using markdown
  • Link notes together to build connections
  • Organize notes with tags and folders
  • Use basic search and navigation
  • Understand the Lokus interface and core concepts

Prerequisites

  • Lokus installed on your system
  • Basic familiarity with markdown (helpful but not required)
  • 20 minutes of focused time

Time Estimate

20 minutes - Perfect for a lunch break!

Step 1: Creating Your Workspace

Let’s start by creating your first workspace. Think of a workspace as a container for a specific area of knowledge.

1.1 Launch Lokus

Open Lokus on your system. You should see the welcome screen.

1.2 Create a New Workspace

  1. Click the “New Workspace” button
  2. Enter a name: My Knowledge Base
  3. Choose a location on your computer to store the workspace
  4. Click “Create”

Note: Pro Tip: Use descriptive workspace names like “Personal Wiki”, “Work Projects”, or “Learning Notes” to distinguish multiple workspaces later.

1.3 Understand the Interface

You should now see the main Lokus interface with three panels:

  • Left Sidebar: Navigation, folders, and tags
  • Center Panel: Your notes list and editor
  • Right Sidebar: Note metadata, backlinks, and graph view

Note: Success: Your workspace is created! You’re now looking at an empty knowledge base ready to be filled.

Step 2: Creating Your First Note

Now let’s add some content to your workspace.

2.1 Create a Note

  1. Click the “New Note” button (or press Cmd/Ctrl + N)
  2. You’ll see a blank note with an untitled header
  3. Click on “Untitled” and rename it to: Welcome to My Knowledge Base

2.2 Add Content

Copy and paste the following into your note:

# Welcome to My Knowledge Base
 
This is my first note in Lokus!
 
## Why I'm Using Lokus
 
I want to build a personal knowledge management system to:
- Organize my thoughts and ideas
- Track what I'm learning
- Build connections between concepts
- Never forget important information
 
## What I'll Track Here
 
- Book notes and summaries
- Project ideas
- Daily reflections
- Technical learnings

2.3 Understanding Markdown

Lokus uses markdown for formatting. Here are the basics:

# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3
 
**Bold text**
*Italic text*
 
- Bullet point
1. Numbered list
 
[Link text](URL)
![Image](image-url)

Note: Info: Lokus supports full markdown syntax plus additional features like wikilinks, which we’ll explore next.

2.4 Save Your Note

Lokus auto-saves, but you can manually save with Cmd/Ctrl + S. Notice the note now appears in your notes list on the left.

Step 3: Creating Linked Notes

The real power of Lokus comes from linking notes together. Let’s create a network of connected notes.

3.1 Create a Note About Books

  1. Create a new note (Cmd/Ctrl + N)
  2. Title it: Books I Want to Read
  3. Add this content:
# Books I Want to Read
 
## Non-Fiction
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- How to Take Smart Notes by Sönke Ahrens
- Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte
 
## Fiction
- Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
- The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin
 
---
 
Related: [[Reading Notes]]

3.2 Understanding Wikilinks

Notice the [[Reading Notes]] syntax? This is a wikilink - Lokus’s way of linking notes together.

When you type [[, Lokus will show an autocomplete menu of existing notes. If the note doesn’t exist yet, Lokus will create it when you click the link.

Note: Pro Tip: Use [[ to start typing a link, then press Tab or click to select from the autocomplete menu. This ensures you’re linking to the right note.

3.3 Create the Linked Note

  1. Click on the [[Reading Notes]] link you just created
  2. Lokus creates a new note called “Reading Notes”
  3. Add this content:
# Reading Notes
 
This is where I'll collect notes from books I read.
 
## Current Reading
 
Working on: [[Atomic Habits]]
 
## Reading Strategy
 
1. Read with intention
2. Take notes while reading
3. Review and summarize after finishing
4. Connect ideas to existing knowledge
 
---
 
Back to: [[Books I Want to Read]]

3.4 Create a Book Note

Now click on [[Atomic Habits]] to create another note:

# Atomic Habits
 
**Author:** James Clear
**Status:** Currently Reading
**Started:** 2024-01-15
 
## Key Concepts
 
### The Four Laws of Behavior Change
 
1. Make it obvious
2. Make it attractive
3. Make it easy
4. Make it satisfying
 
## My Takeaways
 
The idea that small habits compound over time is powerful. Instead of trying to change everything at once, focus on tiny improvements.
 
## Quotes
 
> "You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems."
 
---
 
Related: [[Habits]], [[Personal Development]], [[Reading Notes]]

Note: Success: You’ve created your first network of linked notes! Notice how each note references others, creating a web of knowledge.

Step 4: Organizing with Tags and Folders

Let’s organize our notes using tags and folders.

4.1 Adding Tags

Tags are a flexible way to categorize notes. Add tags to your “Atomic Habits” note:

---
tags: [books, habits, personal-development, non-fiction]
---
 
# Atomic Habits
...

The frontmatter (content between --- markers) stores metadata about your note.

4.2 Create Folders

  1. Right-click in the left sidebar
  2. Select “New Folder”
  3. Name it: Books
  4. Drag your book-related notes into this folder

Create another folder called Meta for organizational notes like “Welcome to My Knowledge Base”.

Note: Warning: Folders are great for organization, but don’t rely on them exclusively. Links and tags create more flexible connections between ideas.

4.3 Understanding Organization Strategies

Lokus supports multiple organization methods:

MethodBest ForExample
FoldersBroad categoriesBooks/, Projects/, Journal/
TagsCross-cutting themes#important, #todo, #idea
LinksSemantic connections”X relates to Y”

Note: Pro Tip: Use all three methods together. Folders for structure, tags for attributes, and links for relationships.

Step 5: Navigation and Search

Now that you have several notes, let’s learn how to find information quickly.

5.1 Quick Switcher

The fastest way to navigate is the Quick Switcher:

  1. Press Cmd/Ctrl + P
  2. Start typing a note name
  3. Press Enter to open the note

5.2 Tag Browser

To see all notes with a specific tag:

  1. Open the left sidebar
  2. Click on the “Tags” section
  3. Click on any tag to see all notes with that tag

5.3 Basic Search

Try the search function:

  1. Press Cmd/Ctrl + F for quick search
  2. Or use the search bar at the top
  3. Type: habits
  4. See all notes containing that word

5.4 Backlinks Panel

Open any note and look at the right sidebar. The “Backlinks” section shows all notes that link to the current note.

For example, open “Reading Notes” and you’ll see “Books I Want to Read” listed as a backlink.

Note: Info: Backlinks are automatic - you don’t need to maintain them. They update whenever you add or remove links.

Step 6: Visualizing Connections

Let’s explore the graph view to see your knowledge network.

6.1 Open Graph View

  1. Look for the “Graph” icon in the right sidebar
  2. Click it to see a visual representation of your notes
  3. Each circle is a note, lines show connections

6.2 Interact with the Graph

  • Hover over nodes to see note names
  • Click nodes to open that note
  • Drag nodes to rearrange the layout
  • Zoom with mouse wheel or pinch gesture

6.3 Local vs. Global Graph

  • Local Graph: Shows connections for the current note only
  • Global Graph: Shows all notes and connections in your workspace

Toggle between views using the controls in the graph panel.

Note: Pro Tip: The graph view is great for discovering unexpected connections and identifying orphaned notes (notes with no links).

Step 7: Building Your Knowledge System

Now that you know the basics, let’s establish good habits for growing your knowledge base.

7.1 Daily Notes

Create a new note called 2024-01-15 Daily (use today’s date):

# January 15, 2024
 
## What I Did Today
- Set up my first Lokus workspace
- Created notes about books I want to read
- Learned about linking and organization
 
## Ideas
- Start taking notes while reading books
- Create a template for book notes
- Maybe track daily habits here?
 
## Links to Explore
- [[Habit Tracking]]
- [[Daily Review Process]]
 
---
 
Yesterday: [[2024-01-14 Daily]] | Tomorrow: [[2024-01-16 Daily]]

7.2 Index Notes

Create a note called Home as your workspace homepage:

# Home
 
Welcome to my knowledge base! Start here to navigate my notes.
 
## Quick Links
 
- [[Books I Want to Read]]
- [[Reading Notes]]
- Daily Notes: [[2024-01-15 Daily]]
 
## Categories
 
- [[Books/]] - Book notes and reading lists
- [[Projects/]] - Project documentation
- [[Learning/]] - Things I'm learning
 
## Recent Thoughts
 
- The power of linked notes is amazing
- Need to develop a consistent note-taking workflow
- Excited to build this system over time

Note: Info: Index notes (also called MOCs - Maps of Content) are hub notes that link to many related notes. They’re great entry points for exploring topics.

7.3 Note-Taking Best Practices

As you grow your knowledge base, follow these principles:

  1. Atomic Notes: One idea per note
  2. Descriptive Titles: Make titles searchable and clear
  3. Link Generously: Create connections between related ideas
  4. Review Regularly: Revisit notes to strengthen memory
  5. Refactor Often: Reorganize as your understanding grows

Step 8: Customizing Your Workspace

Let’s personalize your workspace settings.

8.1 Workspace Settings

  1. Click the gear icon or go to Settings
  2. Navigate to “Workspace Settings”
  3. Customize:
    • Default note location
    • Auto-save frequency
    • Link format preferences
    • Theme (light/dark mode)

8.2 Editor Preferences

Configure the editor to your liking:

  • Line numbers: On/Off
  • Spell check: Enable for writing
  • Vim mode: For vim enthusiasts
  • Font size: Adjust for comfort

8.3 Templates

Create a template for book notes:

  1. Create a note called Template - Book Note
  2. Add this content:
# [Book Title]
 
**Author:**
**Status:**
**Started:**
**Finished:**
 
## Overview
 
Brief description of the book.
 
## Key Concepts
 
Main ideas and concepts from the book.
 
## My Takeaways
 
Personal insights and how I'll apply this.
 
## Quotes
 
> Notable quotes
 
## Related
 
- [[Reading Notes]]
- Tags: #books #

Now you can copy this template whenever you start a new book!

Note: Pro Tip: Create templates for recurring note types: daily notes, meeting notes, project plans, etc. This ensures consistency and saves time.

Step 9: Your First Week Workflow

Here’s a suggested workflow for your first week with Lokus:

Day 1 (Today)

-Create workspace -Add first notes -Learn linking and organization

  • Next: Add notes about something you’re currently learning

Day 2-3

  • Import existing notes (if you have them)
  • Create more book/article notes
  • Experiment with tags and folders
  • Practice using Quick Switcher

Day 4-5

  • Start using daily notes
  • Create your first index note
  • Review and refine your organization
  • Add more links between related notes

Day 6-7

  • Explore the graph view
  • Identify orphaned notes
  • Create templates for common note types
  • Develop your personal workflow

Common Beginner Mistakes

Avoid these pitfalls:

Over-organizing Too Soon

Don’t spend hours creating the perfect folder structure. Start simple and let organization emerge naturally.

Not Linking Enough

The power of Lokus comes from connections. When you mention a concept, create a link to it.

Making Notes Too Long

Break long notes into smaller, focused notes. Each note should cover one main idea.

Being Too Precious

Don’t worry about making perfect notes. Lokus is flexible - you can always refactor later.

Instead, Do This

  • Start capturing notes immediately
  • Link as you write
  • Keep notes atomic and focused
  • Review and reorganize regularly

Troubleshooting

Q: My notes aren’t saving

A: Check that you have write permissions to the workspace folder. Lokus auto-saves, but verify the status indicator shows “Saved”.

Q: Links aren’t working

A: Make sure you’re using the correct syntax: [[Note Name]]. The note name must match exactly (case-sensitive).

Q: I can’t find a note I created

A: Use Quick Switcher (Cmd/Ctrl + P) or the search function. Check if the note is in a folder you’re not currently viewing.

Q: The graph view is cluttered

A: Use filters to show only specific tags or folders. Zoom in on areas of interest.

Next Steps

Congratulations! You’ve built your first Lokus workspace and learned the fundamentals. Here’s where to go next:

Continue Learning

Practice Exercises

  1. Create 10 more notes about topics you’re interested in
  2. Link at least 5 notes together
  3. Create an index note for a topic area
  4. Use tags to categorize your notes
  5. Explore the graph view and identify patterns

Join the Community

  • Share your workspace setup in the community forum
  • Ask questions and get tips from experienced users
  • Explore shared templates and workflows

Summary

In this tutorial, you learned:

How to create and configure a workspace How to create and format notes with markdown How to link notes together using wikilinks How to organize with folders and tags How to navigate and search your knowledge base How to visualize connections with graph view Best practices for building a knowledge system

You now have the foundation to build a powerful personal knowledge base. The key is consistency - spend 10-15 minutes daily adding and linking notes, and your knowledge base will grow into an invaluable resource.

Happy note-taking!

Resources:

Estimated Completion Time: 20 minutes Difficulty: Beginner Last Updated: January 2024

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