Productivity Tools Introduction
Written on March 10, 2026
This document introduces the productivity tools I use daily and their specific use cases. Each tool serves a distinct purpose in my workflow, from capturing fleeting thoughts to managing knowledge long-term.
Feishu
What it is: A collaboration and communication platform widely used in Chinese tech companies, combining messaging, docs, and meetings in one place.
Use cases:
- Meeting documentation – Use Feishu during meetings to take notes and document key decisions in real time.
- Meeting transcription with 录音豆 – Pair Feishu with 录音豆 (a recording tool) to record meetings and automatically convert audio into text transcripts, so nothing important gets lost.
Flomo
What it is: A lightweight note-taking app designed for capturing quick thoughts and ideas, similar to a digital memo pad.
Use cases:
- Multi-device sync (多端同步) – Access your notes seamlessly across phone, tablet, and desktop, making it easy to capture ideas wherever you are.
- Output to image – Convert notes into shareable images, which is convenient for posting to social platforms like 微博 and 小红书.
- Capturing small thoughts – Ideal for jotting down fleeting ideas, observations, or inspirations that don’t need a full article – just a quick note before the thought slips away.
Obsidian
What it is: A powerful markdown-based knowledge management tool that stores all your data locally.
Use cases:
- Local knowledge storage – All notes are stored as plain markdown files on your own device, giving you full ownership and privacy over your data.
- Connecting notes – Use bidirectional links and graph views to connect related ideas, building a personal knowledge network where insights emerge from the relationships between notes.
- AI-powered organization with Claude Code – Leverage Claude Code to help organize, restructure, and generate content within your vault, turning Obsidian into an intelligent knowledge workspace.
Why All Three? They’re Complementary, Not Redundant
While Flomo and Obsidian are both note-taking tools, they serve different moments and mindsets. Each tool has its own role, and the real productivity gain comes from using them together.
| Tool | Role | Mindset |
|---|---|---|
| Feishu | Collaboration & meetings | “I’m working with others” |
| Flomo | Instant capture | “I just had a thought” |
| Obsidian | Deep knowledge building | “I want to think deeply and connect ideas” |
The Workflow: Capture → Process → Connect
Flomo (capture) ──→ Obsidian (organize & connect)
↑
Feishu (meetings) ──────────┘
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Capture on the go (Flomo) – Throughout the day, jot down fleeting ideas, observations, or inspirations in Flomo. It’s fast, it syncs across devices, and after three years of use it’s pure muscle memory. Don’t overthink it – just get the thought down.
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Document meetings (Feishu) – During meetings, use Feishu to take notes and 录音豆 to record and transcribe. This keeps meeting knowledge from getting lost.
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Process and connect (Obsidian) – Periodically review your Flomo notes and Feishu meeting notes. Move the important ones into Obsidian, link them to related ideas, and let your personal knowledge network grow over time.
The key insight: Flomo is where ideas are born, Obsidian is where they mature. Trying to do everything in one tool adds friction – quick capture needs to be effortless, while deep thinking needs structure and connections.