# Steer

> Create or open an Obsidian note, attach hidden writing context, and focus the note for the user through the Steer CLI.

- Skill: `raine/steer` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add raine/steer`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/raine/steer/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: raine (https://skillmd.com/u/raine)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/raine/steer

---


# Steer handoff

Use this skill when the user wants to continue writing in Obsidian with context
from the current coding or investigation session.

## Requirements

- Obsidian Desktop 1.12.2 or later is open.
- The Obsidian CLI is installed.
- Steer is installed and enabled in the target vault.

Never edit the plugin's `data.json` directly. The running plugin owns its
in-memory settings and persists context through the CLI operation.

## Resolve the vault

Use the active vault instead of searching the filesystem:

```sh
vault="$(obsidian vault info=name | tail -n 1)"
```

If that produces no vault name, run `obsidian vaults verbose`. Use the only
listed vault automatically. Ask the user which vault to use only when multiple
vaults are listed and the intended one is ambiguous. Do not scan the home
directory or application bundle for the CLI or vault. Use `obsidian help`, not
`obsidian --help`, when command discovery is necessary.

## Create the handoff

Choose a vault-relative Markdown path. Create a private temporary request file
containing:

```json
{
  "version": 1,
  "path": "Messages/Feature announcement.md",
  "content": "# Feature announcement\n\n",
  "context": "The release promotes a tested immutable snapshot without rebuilding images. Publishing creates the named Helm chart, Git tag, GitHub Release, and changelog notes."
}
```

- `path` is required and must end in `.md`.
- `content` creates the note and is optional.
- `context` becomes hidden Steer context and is optional.
- Include at least one of `content` or `context`.
- For an existing note, omit `content`. The command never overwrites a note.
- An empty `context` clears context from an existing note.
- `context` contains reference material about the subject being written about.
  Include relevant facts, decisions, rationale, implementation details,
  tradeoffs, current status, unresolved questions, terminology, and useful
  links.
- Never put writing instructions in `context`. Exclude the requested document
  type, audience, tone, style, length, structure, emphasis, ordering,
  formatting, calls to action, and instructions such as what to lead with,
  mention, avoid, preserve, or clarify.
- Keep factual wording requirements only as subject facts. For example, record
  "10 of 17 stable team agents have migrated" without adding an instruction to
  use that sentence as the headline.
- When the user supplies a writing request, use it only to decide which subject
  facts are relevant. Do not copy or paraphrase the request itself into
  `context`.
- Synthesize the subject matter instead of copying a raw transcript. Exclude
  thinking traces, repetitive exchanges, secrets, irrelevant tool output, and
  details unrelated to the subject.

A safe shell pattern is:

```sh
request="$(mktemp)"
trap 'rm -f "$request"' EXIT
chmod 600 "$request"
cat >"$request" <<'JSON'
{
  "version": 1,
  "path": "Messages/Feature announcement.md",
  "content": "# Feature announcement\n\n",
  "context": "The feature is complete. It replaces mutable main-snapshot deployment pins with repository-owned named release pins."
}
JSON
obsidian vault="$vault" steer:handoff request="$request"
```

Put `vault="..."` before the command name. Parameters use `name=value` syntax.

## Verify the result

Parse the returned JSON. Success has this shape:

```json
{ "ok": true, "path": "Messages/Feature announcement.md", "created": true }
```

Treat `{"ok":false,"error":"..."}` as a failure and report the error. On
success, Obsidian opens the note, reveals its Steer view, and focuses the
editor.