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Tag: Obsidian

  • The Official Obsidian CLI: A Comprehensive Guide

    The Obsidian CLI allows you to control the Obsidian desktop application directly from your terminal. Whether you want to script daily backups, pipe system logs into your daily notes, or develop plugins faster, the CLI bridges the gap between your shell and your knowledge base.

    ⚠️ Early Access Warning: As of February 2026, the Obsidian CLI is in Early Access. You must be running Obsidian v1.12+ and hold a Catalyst license to use these features.

    1. Prerequisites & Installation

    Before you begin, ensure you meet the requirements:

    • Obsidian Version: v1.12.x or higher (Early Access).
    • License: Catalyst License (required for early access builds).
    • State: Obsidian must be running (the CLI connects to the active app instance).

    Setup Steps

    1. Update Obsidian: Go to Help → Check for updates. Ensure you are on the latest installer (v1.11.7+) and update to the v1.12.x early access build.
    2. Enable the CLI:
      • Open Settings → General.
      • Scroll to “Command line interface” and toggle it On.
      • Follow the prompt to “Register” the CLI. This sets up the necessary PATH variables.
    3. Restart Terminal: You must restart your terminal session for the new PATH variables to take effect.
    4. Verify: Run obsidian help. If you see a command list, you are ready.

    2. Core Concepts & Syntax

    The CLI operates in two modes: Single Command (for scripting) and Interactive TUI (for exploration).

    Interactive Mode (TUI)

    Simply type obsidian and hit enter.

    • Features: Autocomplete, command history (Up/Down arrows), and reverse search (Ctrl+R).
    • Usage: Type commands without the obsidian prefix (e.g., just daily).

    Command Structure

    The general syntax for single commands is:

    obsidian <command> [parameters] [flags]

    Parameters & Flags

    • Parameters (key=value): Quote values if they contain spaces.

      Example: obsidian create name="My Note" content="Hello World"

      Multiline: Use \n for newlines.

    • Flags: Boolean switches to change behavior.
      • --silent: Suppress output/window focusing.
      • --copy: Copy the output to the system clipboard.
      • --overwrite: Force an overwrite if a file exists.

    Targeting Vaults & Files

    • Vault Selection:
      • Default: Uses the vault in your current working directory. If not in a vault, uses the active Obsidian window.
      • Explicit: obsidian vault="My Vault" daily
    • File Selection:
      • Wikilink Style: file=Recipe (Resolves just like [[Recipe]]).
      • Exact Path: path="Folder/Subfolder/Note.md" (Relative to vault root).

    3. Essential Workflows

    Daily Notes Management

    The CLI excels at quick capture and logging without breaking your flow.

    Open Today’s Note:

    obsidian daily

    Quick Capture (Append):
    Adds text to the end of the note without opening the window.

    obsidian daily:append content="- [ ] Call Client regarding Project X" silent

    File Operations

    Create a Note:

    obsidian create name="Project Alpha" content="# Goals\n1. Launch"

    Search & Copy:
    Finds notes containing “TODO” and copies the list to your clipboard.

    obsidian search query="TODO" --copy

    Version Control

    Diff Versions:

    # Compare current file to previous version
obsidian diff file=Recipe from=1

    4. Automation & Scripting Patterns

    These patterns are ideal for shell scripts (.sh) or launchers like Alfred/Raycast.

    Pattern A: The “Inbox” Scraper

    Create a system-wide hotkey that runs this script to capture ideas instantly:

    # Appends to daily note with a timestamp
timestamp=$(date +%H:%M)
obsidian daily:append content="- $timestamp: $1" silent

    Pattern B: Automated Reporting

    Generate a file based on system data.

    # Create a note with directory listing
ls -la | obsidian create name="System Log" --stdin

    5. Troubleshooting by OS

    Windows

    Windows requires a specialized redirector because Obsidian is a GUI app.

    Fix: You may need the Obsidian.com file (available via the Catalyst Discord). Place this file alongside Obsidian.exe in your installation directory.

    macOS

    Registration usually handles this automatically. If it fails:

    Fix: Add the following to your ~/.zprofile or ~/.bash_profile:

    export PATH="$PATH:/Applications/Obsidian.app/Contents/MacOS"

    Linux

    Fix: If the symlink is missing, create it manually:

    sudo ln -s /path/to/Obsidian-AppImage /usr/local/bin/obsidian

    Command Reference Cheat Sheet

    Category Command Example Usage
    General open, search obsidian open file="Project A"
    Daily daily, daily:append obsidian daily:prepend content="Urgent!"
    Files create, move obsidian create name="Log" overwrite
    Reading read, outline obsidian read file=Recipe

    Note: Commands and syntax are subject to change during Early Access. Always rely on obsidian help within your specific build.

  • Obsidian vs Reflect.app: Which Note-Taking App is Best for Your Workflow?

    Alright, here’s how it really breaks down.

    Obsidian and Reflect.app aren’t just “note-taking” apps; they’re frameworks for building your own knowledge network. They both let you organize information, but the way they do it is entirely different, and each caters to a specific style of thought.

    Obsidian: For the Power User Who Wants Complete Control

    Obsidian is Markdown-based, plain and simple. Everything you write is a local Markdown file, meaning you fully own your notes, and they’re not locked into any proprietary format. You get to store your notes wherever you want: local drives, external disks, even a custom cloud if that’s your style. Obsidian’s model is about giving you control and flexibility, so if you’re paranoid about data privacy or want maximum portability, this is your app.

    The real draw? Obsidian’s extensibility. There are endless plugins and customizations. Want to turn your notes into a literal mind map? There’s a plugin for that. Need spaced repetition? Done. Obsidian’s plugin community is relentless, and if you have the patience to fine-tune it, the possibilities are endless.

    However, with freedom comes complexity. If you’re someone who needs quick notes and isn’t up for managing syncing solutions, Obsidian’s setup can feel cumbersome. Yes, there’s a paid Obsidian Sync option, but plenty of people just use third-party cloud services to handle it.

    Reflect.app: For the Minimalist Who Values Simplicity and Daily Journaling

    Reflect.app takes a very different approach. Unlike Obsidian’s “you own your data” philosophy, Reflect is cloud-based and built to be as frictionless as possible. Think of it as more of a digital journal or a personal logbook. Everything you write is synced in real-time, and Reflect includes bi-directional linking to help you connect ideas—just enough of a knowledge graph to keep things interesting without requiring any setup.

    Reflect is all about simplicity. This means you won’t be finding dozens of plugins, custom themes, or different Markdown parsers here. The focus is on ease of use and speed. You open it up, write, link ideas if needed, and close it down. That’s it. Reflect was built for users who value immediacy and don’t want the fuss of endless customization.

    Privacy, Daily Notes, and Why It Matters

    In Reflect, your data is encrypted and stored in the cloud, which might be a turn-off if you’re someone who prefers to control where their files live. Obsidian, on the other hand, allows full local storage, which many people find reassuring. If you don’t trust third-party servers with your thoughts, Reflect won’t be a good fit.

    Daily notes? Both apps have them, but Reflect practically revolves around them. If you’re serious about journaling or maintaining a personal timeline, Reflect offers a very structured way to do this, whereas Obsidian’s daily notes are just a feature among many.

    Who Should Use What?

    • Go with Obsidian if you’re a power user who wants to tweak, customize, and fully control your data. It’s for people who are building an interconnected web of knowledge and need the flexibility of plugins and local file management.
    • Choose Reflect.app if you want something simple, quick, and cloud-synced, where you can just write, link, and move on. It’s ideal for daily journaling or light knowledge management with minimal setup.