Developer Ditches Fitness Apps to Build a Markdown-Based Training Log in VS Code

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A software developer abandoned commercial fitness apps after finding their interfaces intrusive and replaced them with a plain-text workout logging system built inside VS Code. The solution uses Yamlink, a VS Code extension that converts Markdown files into a live knowledge graph via YAML frontmatter metadata. Each workout is stored as a simple text file with fields like exercise, sets, reps, and weight, requiring no proprietary platform or account login. Yamlink's live query blocks allow users to render, filter, and visualize workout data as interactive tables or charts directly from the same Markdown files. The developer argues the approach offers genuine utility — including graph-based links between workouts, programs, and goals — without the bloat of conventional fitness tracking apps.

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