Alan Chan

Writing

Selected essays from my blog, where I’ve written monthly since 2013.

Highlighted links are good places to start.

Vision

My Vision: Roadmap

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An introduction to the structure and roadmap of the Heptabase system.

My Vision: The Knowledge Lifecycle

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An introduction to Heptabase’s vision from the perspective of the lifecycle of human knowledge work.

My Vision: A Forgotten History

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The vision of computer pioneers and thinkers in the 1960s.

My Vision: A New City

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An explanation of what I mean by “the next generation of the internet.”

My Vision: The Context

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The context behind my vision of creating a new contextualized Internet.

Interview with Ness Labs: Building Heptabase

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This is one of the most in-depth interviews I've given on building Heptabase.

Life

Uncertainty

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My relationship with uncertainty.

Hammer

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My rant about a certain way of thinking.

Retrospection

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My retrospection of the past five years after dropping out of university.

Choice

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My rationale behind dropping out and starting a startup.

Moment

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The important moments in my life.

Life Mission

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A summary of my search for a mission in life during the gap years from 2017 to 2019.

Startup & Business

Startup Notes: Hiring & Focus

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What I’ve learned during the 1-10 stage.

Startup Notes: Seed Fundraising

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How we raised our seed round.

Startup Notes: Primary Metrics

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How we grew retention and revenue during YC.

Startup Notes: Before Y Combinator

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How we got into Y Combinator.

Startup Notes: Incorporation

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Incorporate your startup in the US as an international founder.

Startup Notes: 7 Lessons I learned

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7 lessons I learned after dropping out of college and starting a startup.

The Art of War

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A complete analysis of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War", ranked 2nd in Chinese Google search results.

Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future

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The philosophy of building a startup.

Perspective

World

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My world view at age 21, based on my understanding of physics, biology, computer science, neuroscience, complex systems, philosophy, and the technology industry.

The best way to acquire knowledge from readings

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An effective method for acquiring, retaining, and applying knowledge.

The best way to use AI for learning

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An effective method of learning complex knowledge with AI.

Co-evolution

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A common phenomenon I noticed that occurs in many different scenarios.

Technology / Science

What I've Learned About AI in the Past Two Months.

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An explanation of what I had learned about important progress in AI by the end of 2024.

Realtalk and visual end-user programming

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How Realtalk’s design aims to create a world in which everyone can use computers as a dynamic medium for studying and discussing complex systems.

Blockchain and Bitcoin

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An introduction to the principles of blockchain and Bitcoin from the perspective of mathematics and information engineering.

Deep Learning with Python

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An introduction to the principles and techniques of deep learning from the perspective of a programmer.

Electromagnetic wave

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A high school student's attempt to explain the electromagnetic wave in both mathematical and intuitive ways.

Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle

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A high school student's attempt to explain the uncertainty principle in both mathematical and intuitive ways.

Physics Olympiad

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How I learned physics and prepared for the Physics Olympiad in high school. It contains everything you need to know about the Physics Olympiad.