On making my own tools: a Readwise-to-PDF Archiver
I’ve been spending time lately refining my knowledge management system. I want to be sure I’m archiving permanent PDFs of the material that is really key to the projects I’m working on—not just the stuff I save to Readwise, but the articles I actually take the time to annotate and think through.
To make that easier, I used Gemini CLI to help me build a little archiver utility. I’ve shared it on GitHub here: Readwise_PDFArchiver_Public.
This is the third workflow utility I’ve created for myself now. Each time I do this, it gets a bit easier. I’m learning how to ask for things more efficiently, I know to clarify the architecture at the beginning, and I’m getting better at working through the technical hurdles that come up.
It’s interesting to look at these three small utilities—two of them don’t use AI at all in the final code; I just used AI to write them. The other one does use it for some analysis. What AI has really opened up for me is the option to use Python for these routine tasks that just make the maintenance of my digital systems work better.
It’s about building a bespoke workflow. The trick is keeping it only on the things that are just mine, like my PKMS. Versus workflows that are shared or nested in a broader collaboration. All of it has me thinking about how I improve my own computing environment and how we have a solid set of organizational Standard Operating Procedures so that we can be orchestrated in our team-wide or organization-wide efforts.