"Экзокортекс — это как я хочу мыслить — не в ловушке линейных документов или иерархических папок, а в живой паутине смыслов, растущей вместе со мной."
A cognitive infrastructure that augments human intelligence through semantic knowledge organization, ontology-driven reasoning, and AI integration.
Exocortex is not just a knowledge management tool — it's a companion to consciousness. A system designed to:
- Transform chaotic information flow into a coherent worldview supporting decision-making
- Help people live more consciously through structured management of knowledge and goals
- Augment human cognition without replacing it — a companion, not a crutch
"Life is the goal. Awareness is the methodology. Exocortex is the instrument."
Exocortex is an instrument for becoming Übermensch (Nietzsche):
- Overcoming reactive behavior through conceptual awareness
- Super-individualism — the ability to create your own values
- Striving for infinite self-improvement
- Human as a transitional stage between animal and superhuman
- Awareness as Methodology — The system increases awareness, not replaces thinking
- Exocortex as Spirit Manifestation — Not just a utility, but a way to materialize your inner world
- Ontological Precision — Knowledge structured through formal ontologies
- Information-Centrism — Information as the foundation of reality
| Traditional Tools | Exocortex |
|---|---|
| Files and folders | Semantic graph of knowledge |
| Tags and links | Ontology-driven relationships |
| Full-text search | SPARQL semantic queries |
| AI chatbot | Cognitive partner working with your knowledge graph |
| Data storage | Domain model of consciousness |
Key difference: Exocortex cannot hallucinate!
- AI hallucinates (generates non-existent information)
- Exocortex operates only with verified data from knowledge graph
- AI is a tool of exocortex, but not a replacement for its function of reliable knowledge storage
Asset is the atomic unit of knowledge, like a quantum in physics:
---
exo__Asset_uid: 965fd5c2-808e-4c7e-8242-e2e5d85bd996
exo__Instance_class: ims__Concept
exo__Asset_label: "Exocortex"
exo__Asset_relates:
- "[[PKM]]"
- "[[Semantic Web]]"
---
Knowledge content in Markdown...Key Insight: Knowledge is an emergent property of the asset graph. Individual assets are just information. When connected through relationships, knowledge emerges — like life emerges from molecules.
DCC is Exocortex's killer feature — communication without conversion between different worldviews.
Problem: Conceptual miscommunication — people use the same words but mean different things.
Solution: Each concept has:
- Formal definition (
ims__Concept_definition) - Relationships with other concepts (
ims__Concept_broader,ims__Concept_related) - Mapping between different users' ontologies
DCC = ExoAPI — semantic contract between exocortexes.
| Module | Purpose |
|---|---|
| IMS (Information Management) | Knowledge, concepts, relationships. Classes: Simulacrum, Concept, Note, Person |
| EMS (Effort Management) | Tasks, projects, time. Classes: Task, Project, Meeting |
| ZTLK (Zettelkasten) | Atomic notes methodology |
STIR (Space, Time, Importance, Relatedness) — universal model for information organization:
| Parameter | Question | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Space | Where? | Spatial localization, context, domain |
| Time | When? | Temporal relevance, deadlines, validity period |
| Importance | How important? | Priority, impact on goals |
| Relatedness | What is it related to? | Connections, dependencies, cluster membership |
The Exocortex project encompasses a comprehensive vision for cognitive augmentation. Here are the core concepts that make this system unique:
| # | Idea | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asset as Knowledge Quantum | Atomic unit of knowledge with UUID, class, label, and semantic relationships |
| 2 | DCC (Direct Conceptual Communication) | Communication without worldview conversion — semantic contract between exocortexes |
| 3 | ExoBlockchain | Immutable knowledge provenance tracking — who, when, and how created each fact |
| 4 | ExoEcoSystem | Federation of exocortexes forming collective intelligence network |
| 5 | Modular Ontology System | IMS (concepts), EMS (tasks), ZTLK (notes), PTMS (personality), Observation (world tracking) |
| 6 | Simulacrum | Digital representation of external entities (people, companies) for modeling interactions |
| 7 | ExoLang | Domain-specific language for knowledge operations and transformations |
| 8 | Inference Engine | Logical reasoning over knowledge graph — deriving new facts from existing |
| 9 | BOM (Brain Object Model) | Inspired by DOM — programmatic access to consciousness structure |
| 10 | Ontological Relativity | Each user has their own ontology, mapped to others through DCC |
| # | Idea | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | ExoRDF | Extended RDF with temporal and provenance dimensions |
| 12 | ExoProphet | Prediction engine based on personal patterns and knowledge graph |
| 13 | Braindance + IoT | Integration with wearables (HR, glucose, location) for context enrichment |
| 14 | Action Tracking | Every action becomes data — browsing, reading, communication patterns |
| 15 | "Not AI" Principle | Exocortex stores verified facts; AI generates but cannot be trusted alone |
| 16 | ExoTag | Semantic tags with inheritance and property propagation |
| 17 | Life Integration | System becomes invisible layer over life, not separate application |
| 18 | Local-First Architecture | Data stays on device, cloud is optional synchronization |
| 19 | IExE (Inference x Exocortex) | Intelligence-enhanced reasoning combining human and machine cognition |
| 20 | ExoProtocol | Communication standard between exocortex instances |
| # | Idea | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Echoization | Every external information piece gets internal representation with personal context |
| 22 | ExoAdapter | Integration layer for external services (calendars, email, social) |
| 23 | Dynamic Naming | Assets can have multiple names based on context and audience |
| 24 | Human as Execution Organ | Exocortex plans, human executes — partnership model |
| 25 | Knowledge Monetization | Verified knowledge as tradeable asset in ExoEcoSystem |
| 26 | Trigger System | Automated reactions to patterns in knowledge graph changes |
| 27 | No Permanent Self | Identity is emergent property of knowledge graph, not fixed entity |
| 28 | Breadcrumbs | Automatic trail of attention and reasoning for later reconstruction |
| 29 | GTD Integration | Getting Things Done methodology as native workflow |
| 30 | ExoLayout | Flexible views over knowledge graph for different cognitive tasks |
| # | Idea | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Property Polymorphism | Same property behaves differently based on subject class |
| 32 | Life Streams | Parallel timelines of different life aspects (work, health, learning) |
| 33 | Human Consciousness Schema | Formal model of consciousness structure (perception, memory, will) |
| 34 | Meta-Position | Ability to observe your own cognitive processes through the system |
| 35 | 7 Levels of Abstraction | From raw data to wisdom, with explicit transformations |
| 36 | ExoFocus | Attention management based on goals and current context |
| 37 | Cognitive Load Balancing | Automatic task distribution based on mental energy patterns |
| 38 | Knowledge Decay Model | Tracking and refreshing knowledge that becomes stale |
| 39 | Semantic Versioning of Beliefs | Tracking how your understanding evolves over time |
| 40 | ExoMirror | Reflection interface showing patterns in your cognition |
| 41 | Collective Wisdom Extraction | Aggregating insights from ExoEcoSystem while preserving privacy |
| 42 | Consciousness Continuity | Exocortex as vehicle for cognitive persistence beyond biological limits |
The project adheres to core ethical principles:
- Human Primacy — Technology serves human flourishing, not replaces humanity
- Privacy by Design — Personal knowledge remains under user control
- Transparency — All inferences and recommendations are explainable
- Non-Manipulation — System informs, never manipulates
- Open Standards — Based on W3C Semantic Web standards (RDF, SPARQL, OWL)
Exocortex is a monorepo with five packages sharing Clean Architecture core:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Exocortex System │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐ │
│ │ Obsidian Plugin │ │ CLI │ │ Your App │ │
│ │ (@exocortex/ │ │ (@kitelev/ │ │ (REST API │ │
│ │ obsidian-plugin)│ │ exocortex-cli) │ │ coming soon) │ │
│ └────────┬─────────┘ └────────┬─────────┘ └────────┬─────────┘ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ └───────────────────────┼────────────────────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ ┌────────────▼────────────┐ │
│ │ Core Library │ │
│ │ (exocortex) │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ • Domain models │ │
│ │ • SPARQL engine │ │
│ │ • Inference rules │ │
│ │ • Storage adapters │ │
│ └─────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Adapters Layer │
│ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐ │
│ │ Obsidian │ │ CLI │ │ REST API │ │
│ │ Plugin │ │ Interface │ │ (planned) │ │
│ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ └─────────────────┘ │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Application Layer │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Use Cases / Commands / Queries │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Domain Layer │
│ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌─────────┐ │
│ │ IMS │ │ EMS │ │ ZTLK │ │ ... │ │
│ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └─────────┘ │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Infrastructure Layer │
│ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐ │
│ │ Markdown │ │ SPARQL │ │ N-Triples │ │
│ │ Parser │ │ Engine │ │ Storage │ │
│ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ └─────────────────┘ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
| Package | npm | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| exocortex | Private | Core business logic, domain models, SPARQL engine, 35+ services |
| @exocortex/obsidian-plugin | Private | Interactive UI: 24+ components, 6 renderers, 34+ commands, 11 modals |
| @kitelev/exocortex-cli | @kitelev/exocortex-cli |
CLI for automation, archive/unarchive, SPARQL queries, AI agent integration |
| @exocortex/test-utils | Private | Shared test utilities, mock factories, flaky test reporter |
| physics-wasm | Private | WebAssembly force simulation for 3D graph visualization |
Best for: Visual knowledge management, daily planning, interactive exploration.
- Install BRAT plugin from Obsidian Community Plugins
- Open BRAT settings → Add Beta Plugin
- Enter repository:
kitelev/exocortex - Click Add Plugin and enable Exocortex in Community plugins
BRAT will automatically keep the plugin updated with new releases.
Best for: Automation, AI agents, batch operations.
npm install -g @kitelev/exocortex-cli
# Query your knowledge graph
exocortex-cli sparql query "SELECT ?task ?label WHERE {
?task exo:Instance_class ems:Task .
?task exo:Asset_label ?label
}" --vault ~/vault
# Complete a task
exocortex-cli command complete "tasks/my-task.md" --vault ~/vaultBest for: Building custom applications.
import { SparqlService, NodeFsAdapter } from "exocortex";
const sparql = new SparqlService(new NodeFsAdapter("/path/to/vault"));
const results = await sparql.query(`
SELECT ?concept ?definition
WHERE {
?concept exo:Instance_class ims:Concept .
?concept ims:Concept_definition ?definition .
}
`);Ask complex questions about your knowledge:
# Find all tasks related to a specific concept
SELECT ?task ?label WHERE {
?task exo:Instance_class ems:Task .
?task exo:Asset_label ?label .
?task exo:Asset_relates ?concept .
?concept exo:Asset_label "Machine Learning" .
}Complete workflow from idea to completion with automatic timestamp tracking:
Draft → Backlog → Analysis → ToDo → Doing → Done
↓
Trashed
Organize knowledge domains hierarchically:
▼ Work
▼ Engineering
→ Backend
→ Frontend
▶ Design
▼ Personal
▶ Health
▶ Finance
Define custom status lifecycles for your tasks and projects. Skip unnecessary steps, add new statuses, or create per-project workflow overrides -- all using regular vault assets:
# List defined workflows
exocortex-cli workflow list --vault ~/vault
# Validate a workflow definition
exocortex-cli workflow validate <uid> --vault ~/vaultSee Workflow Customization Guide for step-by-step instructions and examples.
Create assets with forms generated from your RDF ontology — fields appear based on rdfs:domain, types detected from rdfs:range.
Long-term vision: cognitive ecosystem uniting multiple exocortexes into a semantically coherent, federated network:
ExoEcoSystem = Exocortex-as-agent
+ Interoperability Layer (DCC)
+ Shared Ontologies
+ Federated Reasoning
Key Principles:
| Principle | Description |
|---|---|
| Decentralization | Each node (exocortex) is autonomous |
| Meaning Federation | Personal ontologies aligned through mapping |
| Mesh Reasoning | Distributed logical inference between nodes |
| Respect for Subjectivity | Everyone defines their own access rules |
- Semantic knowledge graph will be self-organizing through AI analysis
- System will anticipate user needs
- Claude/GPT not as chatbot, but as cognitive partner working with your graph
On individual level — exocortex is a consciousness agent. On collective level — multiple exocortexes form noosphere.
"Exocortex will fully assume consciousness responsibilities when it possesses a worldview of equal or greater precision."
- Clean Architecture — clear layer separation
- SOLID Principles — especially Single Responsibility
- Domain-Driven Design — knowledge domain as system center
- Semantic Web — RDF, SPARQL 1.2, OWL, RDF-Star
- Local-first — your data stays local, cloud is optional
Exocortex implements key SPARQL 1.2 features:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| LATERAL Joins | Correlated subqueries for "top N per group" patterns |
| PREFIX* | Auto-import prefixes from well-known vocabularies |
| DESCRIBE Options | DEPTH and SYMMETRIC control for DESCRIBE queries |
| Directional Language Tags | RTL/LTR text direction support (@ar--rtl) |
| DateTime Arithmetic | Native date/time subtraction and duration operations |
| NORMALIZE/FOLD | Unicode normalization and case folding |
See SPARQL 1.2 Features for complete documentation.
- Installation Guide — Step-by-step setup
Obsidian Plugin:
- Command Reference — All 34+ commands documented
CLI:
- CLI Command Reference — Complete syntax
- Scripting Patterns — Automation examples
Core Library:
- Core API Reference — TypeScript API
- Architecture Guide — Clean Architecture patterns
- SPARQL User Guide — Tutorial from basics to advanced
- Query Examples — 30+ ready-to-use patterns
- SPARQL 1.2 Features — LATERAL, PREFIX*, directionality, and more
- SPARQL 1.2 Migration — Upgrading from SPARQL 1.1
- Graph View Overview — Introduction to 2D and 3D graph visualization
- 3D Visualization Guide — WebGL-powered 3D graph exploration
- Configuration Reference — All configuration options for graph views
- Inference & Reasoning Guide — RDFS/OWL inference, neighborhood exploration
Embed Layout definitions directly in your notes using the exo-layout code block:
```exo-layout
[[emslayout__UpcomingTasksLayout]]
```Features:
- Wikilink syntax — Reference any Layout note with
[[LayoutName]] - Loading state — Visual feedback while fetching data
- Error handling — Clear error messages when Layout fails to load
- Auto-refresh — Layout updates automatically when vault files change
- Interactive tables — Sortable columns and inline editing
git clone https://github.com/kitelev/exocortex
cd exocortex
npm install
npm run build
npm run test:allThis project is developed primarily by AI agents (Claude Code, GitHub Copilot) following documented patterns. Human contributions welcome!
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| CLAUDE.md | AI agent guidelines, worktree rules |
| AI Development Patterns | Lessons from 1250+ completed issues |
| Architecture Guide | Clean Architecture patterns |
| Architecture Decision Records | Key architectural decisions (ADRs) |
MIT License — see LICENSE
Exocortex — Your external brain for the semantic age.