The Problem with Today’s Tools
Today’s apps and AI split what should be a single, fluid process: AI reasoning happens in isolated chat threads, while your information is scattered across tabs and windows. This split prevents knowledge from compounding. Each conversation starts from scratch. Insights don’t connect to your existing work. You can’t build on past thinking. Valuable insights get buried in chat history, and you find yourself explaining the same context repeatedly. ThinkEx solves this by making context explicit, organized, and persistent.What is ThinkEx?
ThinkEx is a visual thinking environment where notes, media, and AI conversations compound into lasting knowledge. Think of a large desk where you spread out textbooks, notes, and papers to work. You look back and forth, connecting dots, comparing sources, and asking questions. ThinkEx brings that desk to your browser, where AI can help alongside you.Quick Start
Get up and running in minutes with your first workspace
Workspaces
Learn how to organize your thinking in visual workspaces
AI Features
Discover how AI helps you think, not just chat
Cards & Content
Explore all the ways to capture and organize information
Core Capabilities
See Everything
Bring PDFs, videos, and notes onto a visual canvas. Organize them spatially to make sense of the information.- Arrange content side-by-side on an infinite canvas
- Native PDF viewing with highlights and annotations
- YouTube videos with AI-powered video analysis
- Rich text notes with markdown support
Compare Sources
Look across your sources side-by-side. Spot patterns and contradictions that only emerge when everything is visible.- Visual spatial organization mirrors natural thinking
- No opaque retrieval mechanisms - you see what AI sees
- Pin important context permanently in view
- Work with multiple sources simultaneously
Targeted Reasoning
Select specific items on your desk for the AI to analyze. Point to a note and a paragraph and ask for the connection.- User-controlled context: Manually select exact cards, notes, or document sections
- Multi-model support: Switch AI models per task without lock-in
- Deep research: AI can conduct thorough research and synthesize findings
- Context persistence: AI sees your entire workspace history
Capture Insights
Extract findings into structured knowledge that become part of your permanent workspace.- Create notes, flashcards, and references that persist
- Generate quizzes from your content for active learning
- Share or export workspaces with others
- Version history tracks your thinking evolution
Why ThinkEx is Different
Nothing disappears into a black box. You see what AI sees and control what it works with. And it’s open source, so you get full transparency, no model lock-in, and a product driven by the community.
| Approach | Examples | What It Loses |
|---|---|---|
| Chat-First | ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude | Insights vanish into endless scroll and context resets every conversation |
| Notes-First | Notion, Obsidian | AI is bolted on and isolated from your info |
| Retrieval-First | NotebookLM | Sources are trapped behind the interface where you can’t see or work with them |
Built on Modern Technology
ThinkEx is built with a modern, open-source tech stack:- Framework: Next.js for a fast, responsive web application
- Styling: Tailwind CSS and Shadcn UI for beautiful, accessible interfaces
- Database: PostgreSQL with Drizzle ORM for reliable data storage
- State Management: TanStack Query and Zustand for reactive updates
- Authentication: Better Auth for secure, flexible user management
Get Started
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Self-Host ThinkEx
Run ThinkEx on your own infrastructure for full control