Mnemosyne (software)

Mnemosyne

Developer(s)	Peter Bienstman
Initial release	February 8th, 2006
Stable release	1.2.2 / January 29, 2010; 21 months ago (2010-01-29)
Development status	Active
Written in	Python
Operating system	Windows, Linux, Mac OS X
Platform	Cross-platform
Size	3.4 Mo
Available in	Multi-language
Type	Accelerated Learning & Memory Software
License	GPL v2
Website	http://www.mnemosyne-proj.org/

Mnemosyne (named for the Greek goddess of memory, Mnemosyne) is spaced repetition software developed from 2003 until the present. The software is similar to SuperMemo, commercial software developed by Piotr Wozniak.

Mnemosyne uses an early version of the SuperMemo algorithm, SM-2^[1], with some modifications that deal with early and late repetitions.^[2]

Mnemosyne voluntarily collects data from its users. This data is available from the author, Peter Bienstman, upon request^[3] or via BitTorrent^[4], and is a research project on long-term memory.^[5]

Features

• Supports pictures, sound, HTML, and LaTeX
• Portable (can be installed on a USB stick)
• Categorization of cards
• Learning progress statistics
• Stores learning data (represented as decks of cards that each have a question and an answer side) in ".mem" database files, which are interoperable with a number of other spaced repetition applications

Software implementation

Mnemosyne is written in Python, which allows for its use on Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. Users of the software usually make their own database of cards, although pre-made Mnemosyne databases are available, and it is possible to import SuperMemo collections and text files.

Each day, the software displays each card that is scheduled for repetition. The user then grades their recollection of the card's answer on a scale of 0-5. The software then schedules the next repetition of the card in accordance with the user's rating of that particular card and the database of cards as a whole. This produces an active, rather than passive, review process.

See also

• Anki
• Flashcard Exchange
• List of flashcard software

References

1. ^ SM-2 Optimization of learning, Master's Thesis, University of Technology in Poznan, 1990 and adapted for publishing as an independent article on the web. (P.A.Wozniak, May 10, 1998)
2. ^ "Principles", The Mnemosyne Project, retrieved June 3rd, 2008
3. ^ http://groups.google.com/group/mnemosyne-proj-users/browse_thread/thread/e00801ebb3bbfa72
4. ^ Announcement; torrent index
5. ^ http://www.mnemosyne-proj.org/principles.php

External links

• Mnemosyne project website
  • Mnemosyne history
• Review of Mnemosyne and comparison with Anki and SuperMemo (Q1-Q2 2008)
• Review of Mnemosyne at foolsworkshop.com
• Review of Mnemosyne and comparison with Anki (Q1 2009)
• David Harding (2009). "Mnemosyne and Anki". Ubuntu User magazine article. http://www.ubuntu-user.com/Magazine/Archive/2009/2/Mnemosyne-and-Anki.