Why generate an Anki deck with AI
Anki is arguably the best open-source spaced repetition tool, but its biggest limit has never been the algorithm: it's card creation. Typing 200 flashcards from a course is 4 to 6 hours of repetitive work. Many people quit Anki because of that barrier, not because of Anki itself.
AI solves this. From a PDF, Diane produces clean cards with crisp questions and plausible distractors if you opt for MCQ. You get in one minute what would take you hours, and you import into Anki to keep your usual routine.
Why use Diane instead of just Anki
Diane and Anki aren't opposed, they complement each other. Diane is for fast creation, Anki is for review in a familiar tool. The CSV export keeps you free to stay with Anki if you want.
That said, many users stay on Diane after trying. Three reasons come up: FSRS-5 is more modern than Anki's default SM-2, the mobile app is smoother than AnkiDroid, and you don't have to manage cross-client sync. But the Anki export stays available if you change your mind.
Generated card format
Diane's CSV follows Anki's standard format with two main columns: front and back. For complex cards (cloze, image occlusion), Diane adds the needed fields. At import time in Anki, pick the card type and field mapping in two clicks.
Tags are preserved: Diane auto-tags cards by PDF chapter so you can filter in Anki and review one chapter at a time.
Import an existing Anki deck
The reverse works too: export your existing Anki deck to CSV and import into Diane to benefit from FSRS-5 and AI to enrich the cards (add cloze, hints, reverse cards). Useful if you've already invested in Anki decks and want to modernize them.
Use cases
Med students: generate an Anki deck from anatomy or pharmacology lectures, leverage the Anki community. Language learners: create a vocabulary deck from a course PDF. Anki power users: keep your routine without manual creation drudgery.