Background
What is Flipnem?
Flipnem is a browser-based flashcard platform built on the same spaced repetition science that powers Anki.
Flipnem is local-first: each device keeps its own copy of your decks. Studying, scheduling, and card rendering all happen right on the device. You can keep studying with a spotty connection or none at all.
What is Spaced Repetition?
Spaced repetition is the practice of reviewing material at increasing intervals based on how well you know it. The basic idea: a card you just learned needs a short follow-up review. A card you've mastered can wait days, weeks, or months before resurfacing. This mirrors the natural curve of human memory.
The result is that you spend nearly all your review time on cards that are about to slip away — not on cards you already know. Studies show this is an efficient path to long-term retention.
The FSRS Algorithm
Flipnem uses FSRS (Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler), arguably the primary algorithm used in modern Anki. FSRS models your memory using three variables for each card:
- Stability — how long the memory is expected to last before you forget it
- Difficulty — an intrinsic measure of how hard the card is for you personally
- Retrievability — the estimated probability you can recall it right now
Every time you rate a card after a study session, FSRS updates all three values and schedules the next review at the optimal moment — the point just before your recall probability would drop below a target threshold (default: 90%).
Your First Study Session
- Import or create a deck. Use the Import button on the Decks page to bring in an
.apkgfile, or create a new deck and add cards. - Open the deck and tap Study. This launches the FSRS-driven Study Session. New cards are introduced gradually; due reviews are surfaced automatically.
- Rate each card honestly. After revealing the answer, choose one of four ratings: Again, Hard, Good, or Easy. Your honest rating is what teaches the algorithm about your memory.
- Come back tomorrow. The scheduler will have a fresh queue waiting. Consistency matters more than session length — ten minutes daily beats an hour once a week.
Rating Guide
| Rating | Meaning | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Again | Forgot completely | Could not recall the answer at all |
| Hard | Recalled with difficulty | Remembered, but it took real effort |
| Good | Recalled correctly | Came to mind without much struggle |
| Easy | Instant recall | Felt obvious — you knew it |
Be honest. Rating a borderline card as Easy when it was actually Hard trains the scheduler to back off too quickly, and you will forget it sooner.