Backlinks

Skill: /backlinks [argument]

Audit the vault's backlink structure to surface orphaned notes, dead links, and one-way connections — the value is in finding what the knowledge graph has lost or never built.

Don't: use this to find conceptual bridges — that's /connect. Don't auto-fix findings — surface for Shane to act on.

Steps

1. Parse the argument/topic from Shane's request.
2. Follow Qwen Protocol with:
   • task: "Vault access (bash only, no MCP tools): obsidian search query='TERM' limit=10, obsidian read file='Note Name' (no .md), obsidian backlinks file='Note Name'. Audit the vault's backlink structure around '[argument]' (or broadly). Find orphaned notes, broken connections, and opportunities to strengthen the knowledge graph."
   • skill: "backlinks"
3. Review Qwen's result, synthesize if needed, and present to Shane.

Fallback

If Qwen is unavailable:

1. If [argument] is provided, run obsidian search query='[argument]' limit=10 via bash; otherwise run broad searches (e.g. obsidian search query='MOC OR index OR hub' limit=20) via bash to sample the vault
2. Read a set of notes by running obsidian read file='[note name]' via bash for each — look for [[wikilinks]] and [[note references]] embedded in them
3. Identify backlink health:
   • Orphaned notes: notes that exist but appear nowhere as a [[link]] in other notes
   • Dead links: [[links]] that reference notes that don't exist yet
   • One-way links: A links to B, but B never links back to A despite being clearly related
   • Hub notes: notes that are referenced frequently — check they're actually well-developed
4. If scoped to [argument], analyze the local backlink cluster; if broad, sample across the vault
5. Present findings as:
   • Orphaned notes (list with brief description of what's isolated)
   • Dead links / missing notes worth creating
   • Recommended reciprocal links to add
   • Hub notes that need more development
6. Prioritize the top 3–5 highest-value repairs