# CODE Method Reference

> Source: Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte

## Table of Contents
- [Overview](#overview)
- [1. CAPTURE: Keep What Resonates](#1-capture-keep-what-resonates)
- [2. ORGANIZE: Save for Actionability](#2-organize-save-for-actionability)
- [3. DISTILL: Find the Essence](#3-distill-find-the-essence)
- [4. EXPRESS: Show Your Work](#4-express-show-your-work)
- [The CODE Cycle](#the-code-cycle)
- [Weekly Review Integration](#weekly-review-integration)

---

## Overview

CODE is the four-step workflow for building and using a Second Brain:

```
Capture → Organize → Distill → Express
```

Each step builds on the previous, creating a cycle of knowledge capture and creation.

---

## 1. CAPTURE: Keep What Resonates

### The Principle
Don't try to capture everything. Capture what **resonates** with you emotionally or intellectually.

### What to Capture
- **Inspiring**: Uplifting quotes, stories, ideas that move you
- **Useful**: Templates, processes, mental models, how-tos
- **Personal**: Your experiences, reflections, lessons learned
- **Surprising**: Challenges assumptions, offers new perspectives

### Capture Sources
- Highlights from books/articles
- Voice memos and quick thoughts
- Images and screenshots
- Meeting notes
- Quotes from conversations
- Social media saves
- Email excerpts

### The 12 Favorite Problems Filter

Richard Feynman's technique: Maintain 12 open questions you care about.

When you encounter new information, ask: "Does this relate to one of my 12 problems?"

Example problems:
- How can I be more productive without burning out?
- What makes a great leader?
- How do I build lasting relationships?

### Capture Best Practices
- Capture liberally, curate ruthlessly later
- Don't over-organize during capture
- Use whatever tool is fastest in the moment
- Trust that you'll find it later
- Add minimal context (source, date)

---

## 2. ORGANIZE: Save for Actionability

### The Principle
Organize information based on **when you'll use it**, not what it's about.

### The PARA System

```
01_Projects/  → Active projects with deadlines
02_Areas/     → Ongoing responsibilities
03_Resources/ → Topics of interest
04_Archives/  → Completed or inactive items
```

### The Key Question
"In what project will this be most useful?"

### Organization Flow

```
New Item Arrives
       ↓
Is it actionable with a deadline?
├── YES → Projects
└── NO → Is it an ongoing responsibility?
    ├── YES → Areas
    └── NO → Is it useful reference?
        ├── YES → Resources
        └── NO → Archive or Delete
```

### Organization Best Practices
- Process inbox within 48 hours
- Don't create categories that don't exist yet
- Move things between categories freely
- When in doubt, put in Resources
- Archive liberally - you can always retrieve

---

## 3. DISTILL: Find the Essence

### The Principle
Every time you touch a note, make it a little more useful for your future self.

### Progressive Summarization

Five layers of distillation:

#### Layer 0: Raw Capture
The original content, unprocessed.

#### Layer 1: Captured Notes
Initial highlights and excerpts you saved.

#### Layer 2: Bold Passages
**Bold** the most important 10-20% of your notes.

#### Layer 3: Highlighted Core
==Highlight== the top 10% of the bold passages.

#### Layer 4: Executive Summary
Write a brief summary in your own words at the top.

#### Layer 5: Remix
Transform into your own original content.

### When to Distill
- Don't distill everything upfront
- Distill when you encounter a note again
- Each touch adds value
- "Just-in-time" summarization

### Distillation Best Practices
- Highlight for your future self, not for completeness
- Ask: "What would make this useful in 6 months?"
- Use formatting consistently (bold, highlight, headers)
- Add your own thoughts and connections
- Don't over-distill - preserve enough context

---

## 4. EXPRESS: Show Your Work

### The Principle
The purpose of a Second Brain is not to collect, but to **create**.

### Types of Expression
- Blog posts and articles
- Presentations and talks
- Reports and proposals
- Creative projects
- Decisions and strategies
- Conversations and advice

### Intermediate Packets

Small, reusable pieces of work:
- Distilled notes
- Outlines and drafts
- Graphics and images
- Code snippets
- Checklists and templates

Benefits:
- Reduce activation energy to start
- Make progress visible
- Enable reuse across projects
- Allow collaboration

### The Archipelago of Ideas

Instead of starting with a blank page:
1. Gather relevant notes (islands)
2. Arrange them in rough order
3. Build bridges between them
4. Fill in the gaps

### Expression Best Practices
- Ship regularly, even if imperfect
- Reuse intermediate packets
- Link back to source notes
- Celebrate completions
- Archive finished projects (they're achievements!)

---

## The CODE Cycle

CODE is not linear - it's a cycle:

```
     CAPTURE
        ↓
    ORGANIZE
        ↓
     DISTILL
        ↓
     EXPRESS
        ↓
   (feeds back to CAPTURE)
```

What you create (Express) generates new insights to Capture.

---

## Weekly Review Integration

The weekly review keeps CODE flowing:

1. **Clear inbox** (Capture → Organize)
2. **Review projects** (check progress)
3. **Distill recent notes** (add value)
4. **Plan expression** (what will you create?)

---

*Reference compiled from "Building a Second Brain" by Tiago Forte.*