About
Why we made Askesis
Spaced repetition is the most reliable way we know to remember what we learn. The method was never the hard part. Showing up every day was.
Good tools, hard habit
We used flashcards for languages, exams and work, and it always went the same way. A few good weeks, then a busy one, then a pile of overdue cards that made opening the app feel like a chore. The scheduling did its job. We just stopped coming back.
Most flashcard apps are built like tools: powerful, plain and easy to put off. Games are built the other way round, so that coming back tomorrow feels good. We wanted both in one place.
A game that respects the science
Askesis keeps proven scheduling, SM-2 or FSRS, and wraps it in a daily loop: streaks with freezes for the days life gets in the way, XP and levels, a daily chest, quests and trophies. Every review moves something forward, so even five minutes feels like progress.
The game never bends the memory science. Hard, Good and Easy pay the same XP, so there’s no reason to press Easy on a card you struggled with, and every card comes back when the scheduler says it should.
What we hold to
Free for everyone
Every feature is free, with no paywalls and no ads. Patrons pay for hosting and development time.
Private by default
No ads and no selling data. Analytics run only if you allow them, and your cards and review history stay yours.
Your data moves with you
Bring decks in from CSV files and other flashcard apps with their progress, and export everything whenever you like.
Built in the open
The code is public on GitHub. Run your own copy for yourself, your family, a school or a community.
The name
Askesis is Greek for training through practice. Athletes used the word for their exercise, and the Stoics borrowed it for the small daily exercises that build a habit of mind. That’s the idea here too: a little practice every day adds up.
Start with a free deck
Practice any public deck in your browser, no account needed. Sign up when you want your progress to follow you.
Questions or ideas? Get in touch.