web: update blog categories and categorize all articles

apps/web/content-collections.ts

@@ -93,11 +93,12 @@ const articles = defineCollection({
     ready_for_review: z.boolean().default(false),
     category: z
       .enum([
-        "Case Study",
-        "Products In-depth",
-        "Char Weekly",
-        "Productivity Hack",
+        "Product",
+        "Comparisons",
         "Engineering",
+        "Founders' notes",
+        "Guides",
+        "Char Weekly",
       ])
       .optional(),
   }),

apps/web/content/articles/ai-meeting-summary-tools.mdx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ meta_description: "Find the best AI meeting summary tool for your team. Compare
 author: "John Jeong"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/ai-meeting-summary-tools/cover.png"
 date: "2025-10-06"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 You're in back-to-back meetings, someone just mentioned three critical action items, and you're already forgetting what was decided in the call before this one.

apps/web/content/articles/best-ai-meeting-assistant-for-taking-notes.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ meta_description: "Discover the best AI meeting assistants for automated note-ta
 author: "Harshika"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/best-ai-meeting-assistant-for-taking-notes/cover.png"
 date: "2025-08-04"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 This comprehensive guide reviews the seven best AI meeting assistants for taking notes in 2025, helping you choose the right tool for automated transcription, intelligent summarization, and actionable meeting insights.

apps/web/content/articles/best-ai-notetaker-for-in-person-meetings.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ meta_description: "Compare the top AI notetakers for in-person meetings. Find to
 author: "Harshika"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/best-ai-notetaker-for-in-person-meetings/cover.png"
 date: "2025-09-03"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 In-person meetings shouldn't mean going back to pen-and-paper note-taking. The right AI notetaker can capture every detail while you stay engaged in the conversation, but not all tools handle face-to-face meetings equally well.

apps/web/content/articles/best-ai-notetaker-for-microsoft-teams.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ meta_description: "Looking for the best AI notetaker for Microsoft Teams? Compar
 author: "John Jeong"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/best-ai-notetaker-for-microsoft-teams/cover.png"
 date: "2025-09-09"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 ## TL;DR

apps/web/content/articles/best-ai-notetaker-for-zoom.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ meta_description: "Find the best AI notetaker for Zoom with our 2025 guide. Comp
 author: "Harshika"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/best-ai-notetaker-for-zoom/cover.png"
 date: "2025-09-06"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 We tested dozens of AI-powered meeting assistants specifically for their Zoom integration capabilities, transcription accuracy, and practical utility in real-world scenarios. Here are the ten tools that consistently delivered the best results.

apps/web/content/articles/best-ai-notetaker.mdx

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ display_title: "What Are the Best AI Note-Taker Apps in 2026?"
 meta_description: "Overwhelmed by messy notes? I tested the top AI note takers in 2026 so you don't have to. From Char to Obsidian, find the best tool for your workflow here."
 author: "John Jeong"
 featured: false
-category: "Productivity Hack"
+category: "Comparisons"
 date: "2026-01-18"
 ---
 

apps/web/content/articles/best-ai-notetakers-google-meet.mdx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ author: "John Jeong"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/best-ai-notetakers-google-meet/cover.png"
 featured: false
 date: "2026-02-11"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 With millions of professionals using Google Meet daily, you'd expect Google to nail AI-powered meeting notes. They tried with "Take notes for me" - automatic meeting notes powered by Gemini AI, organized in Google Docs.

apps/web/content/articles/bot-free-ai-meeting-assistants.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ meta_description: "Want AI meeting notes without bots joining your call? Here's
 author: "John Jeong"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/bot-free-ai-meeting-assistants/cover.png"
 date: "2025-08-27"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 I'm tired of AI bots crashing my meetings uninvited. You know the drill - you're in a sensitive client call, and suddenly "OtterPilot has joined the meeting." Awkward silence. "Who invited the bot?"

apps/web/content/articles/business-is-not-a-perfect-game.mdx

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ meta_title: "Business Is Not a Perfect Game: Lessons for Aspiring Founders"
 meta_description: "A candid reflection on entrepreneurship, YC, and what actually matters early on. Why business is not a perfect game, and how focusing on essentials, real customers, and long-term work makes the difference."
 author: "John Jeong"
 date: "2025-12-10"
+category: "Founders' notes"
 ---
 
 There is a version of entrepreneurship that looks perfect from the outside. Clean fundraise. Clear narrative. Obvious traction. Fast growth.

apps/web/content/articles/can-you-transcribe-meetings-without-sending-data-to-cloud.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ meta_description: "Learn how to transcribe meetings without sending data to the
 author: "Harshika"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/can-you-transcribe-meetings-without-sending-data-to-cloud/cover.png"
 date: "2025-08-22"
+category: "Guides"
 ---
 
 Short answer: Absolutely. And it's called local transcription.

apps/web/content/articles/chatgpt-for-meeting-notes.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ meta_description: "Learn how to use ChatGPT for meeting notes with Record Mode &
 author: "Harshika"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/chatgpt-for-meeting-notes/cover.png"
 date: "2025-09-25"
+category: "Guides"
 ---
 
 <Image src="/api/images/blog/chatgpt-for-meeting-notes/chatgpt-1.webp" alt="chatgpt record mode" />

apps/web/content/articles/choosing-a-cms.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ display_title: "Choosing a CMS in 2025: A Guide for Technical Teams"
 meta_description: "A deep guide to choosing a CMS in 2025. Compare Git-based CMS, headless CMS like Sanity and Payload, Nextra-style frameworks, GitBook, and when you shouldn't use a CMS at all."
 author: "John Jeong"
 date: "2025-11-28"
+category: "Engineering"
 ---
 
 # Choosing a CMS in 2025: A Guide for Technical Teams

apps/web/content/articles/company-handbook-in-public.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ display_title: "Why We're Publishing Our Company Handbook"
 meta_description: "Why early-stage companies are built on founder philosophy, not just products—and why we're publishing our company handbook openly at Char."
 author: "John Jeong"
 date: "2025-12-12"
+category: "Founders' notes"
 ---
 
 In the early days of a startup, engagement doesn't come from feature lists or polished landing pages.

apps/web/content/articles/developer-documentation-tools.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ display_title: "Docs Edition: What to Use for Developer Documentation"
 meta_description: "A practical guide to choosing the right developer documentation stack in 2025. Compare file-based docs, Git-based CMS, headless CMS, hosted docs platforms, and fully custom documentation systems."
 author: "John Jeong"
 date: "2025-12-02"
+category: "Engineering"
 ---
 
 Documentation is not the same thing as blogging.

apps/web/content/articles/dont-use-a-cms.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ display_title: "Don't Use a CMS Until You Absolutely Need One"
 meta_description: "Most teams adopt a CMS far too early. Here's when a CMS actually makes sense—and why Git + MDX is often the faster, safer choice for early teams."
 author: "John Jeong"
 date: "2025-11-29"
+category: "Engineering"
 ---
 
 There's this recurring mistake I see early teams make: they pick a CMS way too early.

apps/web/content/articles/enterprise-ai-notetaking-tools.mdx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ meta_description: "Compare enterprise AI notetaking solutions on security, compl
 author: "John Jeong"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/enterprise-ai-notetaking-tools/cover.png"
 date: "2025-10-02"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 If you're evaluating AI notetaking tools for your organization, you're probably dealing with questions like: "Can our legal team actually use this?" "What happens to our data?" or "Will IT have a meltdown when I suggest this?"

apps/web/content/articles/fathom-ai-alternatives.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ meta_description: "Discover the 5 best alternatives to Fathom AI in 2025. Get be
 author: "John Jeong"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/fathom-ai-alternatives/cover.png"
 date: "2025-10-15"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 If bots make you nervous, privacy is on your mind, and you want more than simple note-taking and unlimited free recordings, then it's time to start looking beyond Fathom AI.

apps/web/content/articles/filesystem-is-coretex.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ display_title: "The Filesystem Is the Cortex"
 meta_description: "Why file-based systems matter in the AI era, and how Char fits into the future of note-taking."
 author: "John Jeong"
 date: "2025-12-30"
+category: "Engineering"
 ---
 
 Most businesses don't win because they have more features.

apps/web/content/articles/fireflies-ai-alternatives.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ meta_description: "Complete Fireflies.ai review plus 9 alternative comparisons.
 author: "Harshika"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/fireflies-ai-alternatives/cover.png"
 date: "2025-09-23"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 Looking for a Fireflies AI alternative? You're not alone. Whether it's the surprise billing charges, privacy concerns about meeting bots, or just wanting something that actually works well with accents and multiple languages, plenty of people are ready to move on from Fireflies.

apps/web/content/articles/free-ai-notetakers.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ meta_description: "Review of 9 genuinely free AI meeting assistants that provide
 author: "Harshika"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/free-ai-notetakers/cover.png"
 date: "2025-08-07"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 This guide reviews the best free AI notetakers that provide AI meeting summaries, real-time transcription, and meeting intelligence with permanent free access - no trials, no payment, no features that disappear when you need them most.

apps/web/content/articles/free-transcription-software.mdx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ meta_description: "Find truly free transcription solutions in 2025 that offer re
 author: "Harshika"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/free-transcription-software/cover.png"
 date: "2025-10-08"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 If you're looking for free transcription tools to automatically transcribe your meetings, video, or audio files, we have done the research for you.

apps/web/content/articles/google-gemini-meeting-notes.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ meta_description: "Can Google Gemini take meeting notes? Yes, but only in Google
 author: "John Jeong"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/google-gemini-meeting-notes/cover.png"
 date: "2025-09-24"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 If you've come to rely on Gemini for day-to-day admin tasks, you're probably wondering: can it handle my meeting notes too? Yes, but the devil's in the details.

apps/web/content/articles/granola-ai-alternatives.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ meta_description: "Looking for Granola AI alternatives? Compare top meeting assi
 author: "John Jeong"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/granola-ai-alternatives/cover.png"
 date: "2025-08-15"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 Granola AI has gained popularity as a bot-free meeting assistant that enhances your manual notes with AI transcription. However, many users are seeking alternatives due to privacy concerns, pricing issues, platform limitations, or missing features.

apps/web/content/articles/how-to-have-productive-one-on-one-meetings.mdx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ meta_description: "Stop wasting time on status updates disguised as 1:1s. Learn
 author: "John Jeong"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/how-to-have-productive-one-on-one-meetings/cover.png"
 date: "2025-11-10"
+category: "Guides"
 ---
 
 One-on-ones are supposed to reduce your management overhead, not add to it. They're supposed to catch small problems before they become crises. They're supposed to help your team grow.

apps/web/content/articles/how-to-participate-in-meetings-effectively.mdx

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ author: "John Jeong"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/how-to-participate-in-meetings-effectively/cover.png"
 featured: true
 date: "2025-11-07"
+category: "Guides"
 ---
 
 You've heard the advice. "Be an active listener." "Come prepared." "Ask thoughtful questions."

apps/web/content/articles/how-to-reduce-meeting-fatigue.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ meta_description: "Can't cut meetings? Learn how AI note-taking and smart system
 author: "John Jeong"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/how-to-reduce-meeting-fatigue/cover.png"
 date: "2025-10-31"
+category: "Guides"
 ---
 
 You've read the articles. You know the drill. "Cut unnecessary meetings!" "Block focus time!" "Just say no!"

apps/web/content/articles/how-to-transcribe-zoom-calls.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ meta_description: "Learn how to automatically transcribe Zoom calls using Zoom's
 author: "Harshika"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/how-to-transcribe-zoom-calls/cover.png"
 date: "2025-09-16"
+category: "Guides"
 ---
 
 Transcribing Zoom calls manually is time-consuming and error-prone. Fortunately, you can automate this process using either Zoom's built-in transcription feature or more powerful third-party AI tools.

apps/web/content/articles/how-we-build-with-ai.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ display_title: "How We Build With AI at Char — And Why AI-First Teams Win"
 meta_description: "A personal look inside how Char works with AI every day. Why engineers who embrace AI become unstoppable, why business generalists are losing leverage, and why small AI-native teams now outperform large ones."
 author: "John Jeong"
 date: "2025-12-01"
+category: "Engineering"
 ---
 
 For the past year, I've heard endless takes about how "engineers are dead" because of AI.  

apps/web/content/articles/hyprnote-is-now-char.mdx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ meta_description: "From sales notes to AI notepad — why we renamed Hyprnote to
 author: "John Jeong"
 featured: true
 date: "2026-02-14"
+category: "Product"
 ---
 
 We're renaming Hyprnote to Char.

apps/web/content/articles/hyprnote-publishing-stack.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ display_title: "How We Built Char's Publishing Stack"
 meta_description: "A deep dive into how Char built a future-proof publishing system using MDX, GitHub workflows, custom components, and TanStack Start—and why this approach outlives most CMS platforms."
 author: "John Jeong"
 date: "2025-12-03"
+category: "Engineering"
 ---
 
 Most teams pick a CMS. We ended up building a publishing system.

apps/web/content/articles/is-ai-notetaking-legal.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ meta_description: "AI note-taking is legal, but selecting the wrong tool or miss
 author: "Harshika"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/is-ai-notetaking-legal/cover.png"
 date: "2025-08-26"
+category: "Guides"
 ---
 
 AI notetaking is legal, but the devil's in the details. While you can absolutely use these tools, certain missteps can trigger privacy violations, consent law breaches, and compliance nightmares that cost millions.

apps/web/content/articles/is-fireflies-ai-safe.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ meta_description: "Thinking about using Fireflies AI? We dug into their data col
 author: "John Jeong"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/is-fireflies-ai-safe/cover.png"
 date: "2025-09-23"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 You're in a Zoom call when suddenly "Fred from Fireflies" joins the meeting. That little bot starts recording everything you say, transcribing your conversation, and promising to send you a nice summary afterward.

apps/web/content/articles/is-otter-ai-safe.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ meta_description: "Otter AI faces a class-action lawsuit over privacy violations
 author: "John Jeong"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/is-otter-ai-safe/cover.png"
 date: "2025-08-18"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 [A federal class-action lawsuit](https://www.npr.org/2025/08/15/g-s1-83087/otter-ai-transcription-class-action-lawsuit) filed in August 2025 has thrust popular AI transcription service Otter AI into the spotlight, with allegations that the company "deceptively and surreptitiously" records private conversations without proper consent.

apps/web/content/articles/local-ai-privacy-tools.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ meta_description: "From DuckDuckGo to Proton, privacy-first apps have earned use
 author: "John Jeong"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/local-ai-privacy-tools/cover.png"
 date: "2025-07-28"
+category: "Engineering"
 ---
 
 ## Intro

apps/web/content/articles/meeting-minutes-software.mdx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ author: "Harshika"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/meeting-minutes-software/cover.png"
 featured: false
 date: "2026-01-10"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 If you’re worried about missing important details while taking minutes of the meeting, here are some tools you’ll definitely find useful. 

apps/web/content/articles/meeting-preparation-checklist.mdx

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ author: "John Jeong"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/meeting-preparation-checklist/cover.png"
 featured: true
 date: "2025-11-03"
+category: "Guides"
 ---
 
 Walk into your next meeting with clarity instead of chaos. This checklist walks through the preparation steps that [reduce meeting fatigue](/blog/how-to-reduce-meeting-fatigue) and help you run focused, effective meetings.

apps/web/content/articles/open-source-is-the-future.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ display_title: "The Codebase Is No Longer a Moat"
 meta_description: "AI has changed the economics of building software. Code is no longer scarce—taste, execution, and trust are. Why transparency is becoming the real competitive advantage."
 author: "John Jeong"
 date: "2025-11-30"
+category: "Founders' notes"
 ---
 
 ## The Codebase Is No Longer a Moat

apps/web/content/articles/open-source-meeting-transcription-software.mdx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ meta_description: "Review of the best open source meeting transcription tools yo
 author: "Harshika"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/open-source-meeting-transcription-software/cover.png"
 date: "2025-10-23"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 Looking for meeting transcription tools that you can fork, fix, and make your own? Then this article is for you.

apps/web/content/articles/otter-ai-alternatives.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ meta_description: "Discover 14 Otter AI alternatives that solve privacy, languag
 author: "John Jeong"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/otter-ai-alternatives/cover.png"
 date: "2025-08-11"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 While Otter.ai has established itself as a popular meeting transcription tool, it's not the perfect fit for everyone—especially teams that prioritize data privacy and security.

apps/web/content/articles/otter-ai-review.mdx

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ coverImage: "/api/images/blog/otter-ai-review/cover.png"
 featured: false
 ready_for_review: true
 date: "2026-02-11"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 After using Otter AI across 200+ meetings, including sensitive client calls and chaotic team standups, I've learned what the marketing materials won't tell you.

apps/web/content/articles/plaud-ai-alternatives.mdx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ meta_description: "Looking beyond Plaud? Compare 6 AI voice recorder alternative
 author: "Harshika"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/plaud-ai-alternatives/cover.png"
 date: "2025-10-27"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 Plaud's credit card-sized recorder looked promising until you saw the subscription costs pile up. Or maybe you're tired of managing yet another piece of hardware. Perhaps you just want your meeting data to stay on your device instead of floating around in someone else's cloud.

apps/web/content/articles/post-yc-slump.mdx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ meta_description: "How Char founders avoided the post-YC slump by learning to di
 author: "John Jeong"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/post-yc-slump/cover.png"
 date: "2025-11-22"
+category: "Founders' notes"
 ---
 
 Post-YC slump is the thing we're trying to avoid at all cost.

apps/web/content/articles/sales-ai-note-takers.mdx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ meta_description: "We tested 20+ AI meeting tools to find the 5 best options for
 author: "Harshika"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/sales-ai-note-takers/cover.png"
 date: "2025-10-20"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 Trying to capture action items, buyer signals, and key objections while staying present in the conversation? It's nearly impossible to do both well.

apps/web/content/articles/see-zoom-meeting-history.mdx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ meta_description: "Step-by-step guide to viewing Zoom meeting history. See what
 author: "John Jeong"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/see-zoom-meeting-history/cover.png"
 date: "2025-11-05"
+category: "Guides"
 ---
 
 Need to find a past Zoom meeting? Whether you're tracking attendance, checking when a call happened, or looking up a meeting ID, Zoom's meeting history can help. Let's explore the steps to access it.

apps/web/content/articles/tldv-review.mdx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ meta_description: "Is tl;dv worth it? Complete 2025 review with pricing, feature
 author: "Harshika"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/tldv-review/cover.png"
 date: "2025-10-17"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 If you're considering tl;dv to handle your meeting notes and summaries automatically, and want to know whether it lives up to the hype, you're in the right place.

apps/web/content/articles/transcription-software-mac.mdx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ display_title: "Best Transcription Software for Mac in 2025"
 meta_description: "Find the best transcription software for Mac in 2025. Compare local-first tools like Char and MacWhisper with cloud options like Otter, Notta, and Descript."
 author: "John Jeong"
 date: "2025-10-07"
+category: "Comparisons"
 ---
 
 Finding transcription software that works well on Mac isn't as simple as it should be. Many popular tools are Windows-first ports, web apps that drain your battery, or subscription services that send your audio to the cloud.

apps/web/content/articles/using-ide-for-writing.mdx

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ author: "John Jeong"
 coverImage: "/api/images/blog/using-ide-for-writing/cover.png"
 featured: true
 date: "2025-11-24"
+category: "Engineering"
 ---
 
 There's this quiet assumption in a lot of teams that "writing" should happen somewhere else. Some separate workspace. Some browser tab. Some editor UI designed to hide the machinery. Maybe that works for some people.