GoCard – file-based spaced repetition system

GoCard is a file-based spaced repetition system built around ordinary Markdown files. Each flashcard is stored as a Markdown document with YAML front matter for study metadata, while directories act as natural deck groupings. This approach keeps the source material easy to inspect, edit with any text editor, back up, synchronise or place under version control.

The application presents those files through a keyboard-driven terminal interface. Learners can browse decks, start review sessions, reveal answers and rate recall without moving to a graphical application. Markdown is rendered inside the interface with support for richer formatting and syntax-highlighted code, which makes GoCard especially suitable for technical material where examples are more useful than plain one-line answers.

Scheduling is handled by an enhanced implementation of the SM-2 algorithm. Reviews use a five-point scale ranging from complete failure through to easy recall, and the resulting intervals are written back into the card metadata. GoCard also provides statistics for overall and per-deck progress together with a review forecast, giving a clearer picture of current workload and upcoming study requirements.

The storage model keeps the learning data close to the material itself rather than hiding everything inside a proprietary collection. A configurable deck directory can be supplied from the command line, and the application can be installed as a native Go program. The combination of Markdown, local files and a focused TUI makes it a good fit for users who already organise notes in plain text.

This is free and open source software.

Key Features

• Stores every flashcard as an ordinary Markdown file with YAML front matter for study metadata.
• Uses directories to organise cards into decks, making collections easy to manage with standard file tools.
• Implements an enhanced SM-2 spaced repetition algorithm with a five-point recall rating scale.
• Provides a keyboard-driven terminal interface for selecting decks and running study sessions.
• Renders Markdown content with support for syntax-highlighted code and richer formatted answers.
• Shows overall and per-deck learning statistics together with an upcoming review forecast.
• Writes review intervals and related scheduling data back to the Markdown card metadata.
• Keeps card collections suitable for Git version control, conventional backup tools and external text editors.
• Lets you specify the flashcard collection directory from the command line.
• Runs on Linux, macOS and Windows.

Website: github.com/DavidMiserak/GoCard
Support:
Developer: David Miserak
License: MIT License

GoCard is written in Go. Learn Go with our recommended free books and free tutorials.

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