Obsidian CLI

Obsidian CLI

Always use the CLI over direct .md file edits — it runs through Obsidian's runtime so move updates links, create applies templates, property:set writes valid frontmatter.

Run obsidian help to discover commands. Run obsidian help <command> for params.

file=<n> resolves like a wikilink — no path or extension needed.
path=<path> requires exact path from vault root.

Vault Structure (PARA)

Organize vaults using PARA:

Vault/
├── Projects/    # active work with a defined end state
├── Areas/       # ongoing responsibilities, no end date
├── Resources/   # reference material, things learned
├── Archive/     # completed or dead projects
├── Daily Notes/
├── Templates/
└── Attachments/

Projects vs Areas: Projects have a finish line and move to Archive when done. Areas are permanent responsibilities that never "end".

Meeting notes live inside the relevant project folder, not a global folder.

Project Note Structure

Path: Projects/<Project>/<Project>.md

---
project: <name>
status: active
updated: <YYYY-MM-DD>
tags: [project]
---

# <Project Name>

## What & Why
What this is and why it exists.

## Current Status
Where things are right now.

## Decisions & Tradeoffs
- **<decision>** — why, and what was rejected

## Gotchas & Lessons
- Things that bit you or future-you needs to know

## Open Questions
- Unresolved things

Daily Note

Append tasks and quick references rather than creating new notes for small things:

obsidian daily:append content="- [ ] Task here"
obsidian daily:append content="- [[Project]] — note for references section"

PKM Conventions

Wikilink liberally. Any time a known project, person, or concept appears in a note, link it: [[Project Name]], [[Person]].

Check before creating. A note may already exist:

obsidian search query="<topic>" limit=5

Shallow structure. No nesting beyond Projects/<Project>/ except a Meeting Notes/ subfolder per project if needed.

Small tag set. Stick to: project, area, resource, decision, gotcha, question. Don't invent tags without a clear reason.

Archiving. Move don't delete:

obsidian move file="<Project>" to="Archive/"
obsidian property:set name=status value=done file="<Project>"

When "Make a Note of That"

1. Identify type:
   • Decision/tradeoff/gotcha → append to project note
   • Task → obsidian daily:append
   • Meeting → Projects/<Project>/Meeting Notes/<date> <topic>.md
   • Reference → Resources/<topic>.md
2. Check the target exists before appending
3. Create if missing, append if it exists
4. Update updated frontmatter with today's date
5. Confirm what was written and where