Question 1

What is mindXflow and what makes it different?

Accepted Answer

mindXflow is a fractal mind mapping and brainstorming tool. Unlike traditional linear notes or mind maps, it allows you to take any idea and expand it into its own universe of supporting thoughts on an infinite canvas. This fractal structure mirrors how our minds naturally explore ideas, enabling deeper thinking, better organization of complex topics, and the discovery of unexpected connections.

Question 2

What is 'fractal mind mapping'?

Accepted Answer

Think of it like a snowflake. A simple pattern repeats to create infinite complexity. In mindXflow, the core pattern is a central idea surrounded by supporting thoughts. The 'fractal' part is that any of those supporting thoughts can become the center of a new grid, allowing you to explore topics to any depth without losing context or cluttering your main view.

Question 3

How do I connect ideas that are in different grids?

Accepted Answer

Using our wiki-linking feature. Simply wrap the exact title of another idea in double square brackets, like [[My Other Idea]]. If an idea with that title exists anywhere in your project, it will become a clickable link, allowing you to create a non-linear web of knowledge that goes beyond the grid's hierarchy.

Question 4

Where is my data stored? Is it secure?

Accepted Answer

All your data is stored exclusively in your web browser's local storage. It never gets sent to our servers, ensuring complete privacy and offline accessibility. This means your work is as secure as your own computer. To work across devices, you can use the 'Export' and 'Import' functions.

Question 5

How does the AI idea generation work?

Accepted Answer

When you start with an 'AI Brainstorm' template or have AI enabled, you'll see a 'Generate Idea' button in empty cells. When clicked, it sends your main idea and existing supporting ideas to the Google Gemini model. The AI then suggests a new, relevant idea to help you overcome creative blocks and explore new directions.

Question 6

Do I need my own API key for the AI features?

Accepted Answer

Yes. To keep your data private and costs transparent, mindXflow uses your personal Google Gemini API key. You can get a key from Google AI Studio (often with a generous free tier) and enter it via the 'AI Settings' button in the footer. Your key is also stored only in your browser.

Question 7

Can I customize the layout of my ideas?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. On the canvas view, you can click and drag any idea box to arrange it exactly how you like. This allows you to create visual clusters, flows, and layouts that make the most sense for your project. You can also resize each box using the handle in the bottom-right corner.

Question 8

What are the different ways to view my project?

Accepted Answer

mindXflow offers three powerful views: Canvas View (the default workspace), Mindmap View (a bird's-eye view of your entire project), and Linearmap View (a clean, hierarchical, document-style outline).

Question 9

How do I save and back up my work?

Accepted Answer

Your work is saved automatically to your browser's local storage. For backups or moving between computers, use the 'Export' button in the header to save your project as a single JSON file. You can then use the 'Import' button on another device to load it.

Question 10

What are some recommended use cases for mindXflow?

Accepted Answer

It's a versatile tool for writers (world-building, plot outlining), strategists (business planning, OKRs), students (thesis outlining, research notes), and anyone needing to think deeply about complex topics.

Question 11

What happens if I delete an idea that has its own expanded grid?

Accepted Answer

The application is designed to preserve your work. When you delete a 'parent' idea, the 'child' grid and all of its ideas are not deleted from the data structure, but they may become orphaned (not directly accessible from the main path). You can always use the search (Cmd/Ctrl+K) to find any idea.

Question 12

Are there keyboard shortcuts?

Accepted Answer

Yes! The key ones are: Cmd/Ctrl + K to open search, Cmd/Ctrl + Z to undo your last action, and Escape to close modals or the search bar.