How do I install the Obsidian Ref skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add davidvkimball/obsidian-ref-2 in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

What does the Obsidian Ref skill do?

Technical references, manifest rules, file formats, and UX guidelines for Obsidian. Load when checking API details, manifest requirements, or UI/UX standards. It is listed under Integrations & APIs on SkillMD.

Is Obsidian Ref safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Independent scanners report: SkillSpector: PASS, Skill Scanner: PASS. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Obsidian Ref?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Obsidian Ref free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Obsidian Ref?

davidvkimball (@davidvkimball) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Obsidian Ref by davidvkimball — Agent Skill

Name: Obsidian Ref
Author: davidvkimball

File contents

Obsidian Reference Skill

This skill provides comprehensive technical references and standards for the Obsidian ecosystem.

Purpose

To provide a central source of truth for API usage, file formats, and design standards.

Scope

This skill covers:

manifest.json requirements and validation
Obsidian API details and documentation
Obsidian-specific file formats (Markdown, Properties, Canvas)
UI text conventions and UX patterns
Mobile and platform compatibility

Core Rules

API Authority: The obsidian.d.ts file in the reference materials is the authoritative source for API details.
Terminology Consistency: Follow the "properties" and "Markdown" naming conventions strictly.
Mobile First: Consider mobile compatibility for all UI and file-handling features.

Bundled Resources

references/manifest.md: Detailed rules for manifest.json.
references/obsidian-file-formats.md: Specifications for Markdown, Properties, and Canvas.
references/ux-copy.md: UI text conventions and UX best practices.
references/references.md: External links and primary source locations.
references/mobile.md: Considerations for mobile compatibility.
references/performance.md: Best practices for performance.

Frequently asked questions

Obsidian Ref