obsidian-cli
Use the Obsidian CLI to read, create, search, and manage vault content, or to develop and debug Obsidian plugins and themes from the command line.
Best use case
obsidian-cli is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Use the Obsidian CLI to read, create, search, and manage vault content, or to develop and debug Obsidian plugins and themes from the command line.
Teams using obsidian-cli should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/obsidian-cli/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How obsidian-cli Compares
| Feature / Agent | obsidian-cli | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Use the Obsidian CLI to read, create, search, and manage vault content, or to develop and debug Obsidian plugins and themes from the command line.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Obsidian CLI Use the `obsidian` CLI to interact with a running Obsidian instance. Requires Obsidian to be open. ## When to Use - Use when managing vault content through the Obsidian CLI. - Use when developing or debugging Obsidian plugins and themes from the command line. - Use when the user wants shell-driven interaction with a running Obsidian app. ## Command reference Run `obsidian help` to see all available commands. This is always up to date. Full docs: https://help.obsidian.md/cli ## Syntax **Parameters** take a value with `=`. Quote values with spaces: ```bash obsidian create name="My Note" content="Hello world" ``` **Flags** are boolean switches with no value: ```bash obsidian create name="My Note" silent overwrite ``` For multiline content use `\n` for newline and `\t` for tab. ## File targeting Many commands accept `file` or `path` to target a file. Without either, the active file is used. - `file=<name>` — resolves like a wikilink (name only, no path or extension needed) - `path=<path>` — exact path from vault root, e.g. `folder/note.md` ## Vault targeting Commands target the most recently focused vault by default. Use `vault=<name>` as the first parameter to target a specific vault: ```bash obsidian vault="My Vault" search query="test" ``` ## Common patterns ```bash obsidian read file="My Note" obsidian create name="New Note" content="# Hello" template="Template" silent obsidian append file="My Note" content="New line" obsidian search query="search term" limit=10 obsidian daily:read obsidian daily:append content="- [ ] New task" obsidian property:set name="status" value="done" file="My Note" obsidian tasks daily todo obsidian tags sort=count counts obsidian backlinks file="My Note" ``` Use `--copy` on any command to copy output to clipboard. Use `silent` to prevent files from opening. Use `total` on list commands to get a count. ## Plugin development ### Develop/test cycle After making code changes to a plugin or theme, follow this workflow: 1. **Reload** the plugin to pick up changes: ```bash obsidian plugin:reload id=my-plugin ``` 2. **Check for errors** — if errors appear, fix and repeat from step 1: ```bash obsidian dev:errors ``` 3. **Verify visually** with a screenshot or DOM inspection: ```bash obsidian dev:screenshot path=screenshot.png obsidian dev:dom selector=".workspace-leaf" text ``` 4. **Check console output** for warnings or unexpected logs: ```bash obsidian dev:console level=error ``` ### Additional developer commands Run JavaScript in the app context: ```bash obsidian eval code="app.vault.getFiles().length" ``` Inspect CSS values: ```bash obsidian dev:css selector=".workspace-leaf" prop=background-color ``` Toggle mobile emulation: ```bash obsidian dev:mobile on ``` Run `obsidian help` to see additional developer commands including CDP and debugger controls. ## Limitations - Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above. - Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review. - Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.
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