Is a /Brain just a note vault?
No. A note vault can hold everything. A /Brain is the part designed to improve agent behavior and session quality.
How big should it be?
Smaller than most people expect. Startup files should stay compact. Deeper detail can live in supporting files, but session-start context should remain readable.
Do I have to use Obsidian?
No. A /Brain is just markdown files in a folder. Any editor works. But Obsidian adds three things that matter in practice: wiki-links that create a knowledge graph, reliable encrypted sync between machines, and an editing environment built specifically for interlinked markdown. If your AI agent runs on a different machine than you write on, the sync piece alone is worth it. Read Obsidian as the Foundation for the full case.
Is this only useful for one AI tool?
No. The model is tool-agnostic. The same core files can help across multiple tools as long as the startup read order is clear.
Does a /Brain replace search or retrieval?
No. It gives the agent a strong starting point. Search still matters when you need broader recall from deeper files. Your Brain works best when startup files stay small and search handles the rest.
Do I need to use BuildYourBrain to do this?
No. BuildYourBrain is one way to get started. The underlying /Brain model is bigger than any one app or questionnaire.
What is the hardest part in practice?
Usually maintenance, not setup. People can create a good structure quickly, then let now.md go stale or let the inbox pile up. The compounding benefit comes from review and consolidation.
Where should product-specific questions go?
BuildYourBrain app behavior, privacy, and installation guidance live in Product Help.
Next steps
- Read Getting Started if you want to build your first version
- Read Product Help if your question is about the BYB app itself