Sync Dashboard
Updates ~/obsidian/research-dashboard.md with recent research documents, status changes, and task updates.
When to Use
- After creating significant research documents
- When project status or decisions change
- When user explicitly asks to sync or update dashboard
- Weekly task refresh
Workflow
1. Archive Current Dashboard
When to archive (before updating):
- Major status changes (phase transitions)
- New research with changed conclusions
- Weekly review (7+ days since last archive)
- NOT required for minor content additions
Run the archive script to capture current state:
bash ~/.claude/scripts/archive-dashboard.sh
This creates timestamped snapshot and diff before making changes.
2. Scan Recent Research
Find documents created/modified in the last 7 days:
find ~/obsidian/Research -name "*.md" -type f -mtime -7 -exec ls -lt {} + | head -20
Read each recent document to understand:
- What it covers
- Key findings or decisions
- Numbers or projections (confirmed vs modeled)
- What needs validation
3. Read Current Dashboard
cat ~/obsidian/research-dashboard.md
Note current state:
- Active project and stage
- This week's tasks (what's checked/unchecked)
- Latest documents section
- Key numbers and decisions
4. Identify Changes
Compare recent documents to dashboard:
- New research documents not yet linked
- Changed status (validation phase → implementation, etc.)
- Completed tasks that should be checked off
- New numbers that replace old assumptions
- Decisions made that update "Key Decisions Needed"
- New critical questions answered
5. Apply Updates
Use Edit tool to update dashboard sections:
- Latest Research Documents: Add new links chronologically
- Current Status: Update phase/stage
- This Week's Critical Tasks: Check off completed, add new
- Key Decisions Needed: Update or remove resolved decisions
- What We Actually Know: Move items from "Need Validation" to "Confirmed"
- Key Numbers: Update with new data, note if still modeled
6. Verify
Read the updated dashboard to confirm:
- All new documents linked
- Status accurate
- Tasks reflect reality
- Numbers current
- No broken links
Guidelines
Maintain Existing Structure
Do NOT redesign the dashboard. Preserve:
- Section order and headers
- Formatting style (markdown lists, bold, etc.)
- Tone and language
- Date format (YYYY-MM-DD)
Chronological Organization
Latest Research Documents section:
- This Week section first (current week's docs)
- Previous Week section below
- Move docs from "This Week" to "Previous Week" when they age
- Within each section: newest first
Link Format
Use Obsidian wikilink format with display text:
- **[Document Title](Research/Subfolder/2026-01-08-filename.md)** - Brief description
Facts vs Assumptions
When updating numbers:
- Mark clearly if "Confirmed" or "Modeled"
- In "What We Actually Know" section, only move to Confirmed if there's actual validation
- Keep modeling assumptions visible
Task Hygiene
- Check off completed tasks:
- [x] Task name - Remove tasks that are no longer relevant (don't leave them unchecked)
- Add new tasks discovered during research
- Keep list focused: 3-5 critical tasks
Date Management
Update "Last Updated" field at top:
**Last Updated:** YYYY-MM-DD
Use current date when syncing.
Example Updates
Adding New Document
Before:
### This Week (Jan 6-8)
- **[User Interview Quick Start](Research/Project-A/2026-01-08-user-interview-quick-start.md)** - 10 critical questions
After:
### This Week (Jan 6-8)
- **[Risk Analysis Framework](Research/Project-A/2026-01-09-risk-analysis.md)** - Default rates and liquidity risks
- **[User Interview Quick Start](Research/Project-A/2026-01-08-user-interview-quick-start.md)** - 10 critical questions
Completing Tasks
Before:
- [ ] **User Interviews:** 8-10 target users (Wed-Fri)
After:
- [x] **User Interviews:** 8-10 target users (completed 10 interviews)
Updating Status
Before:
## Current Status: Validation Phase
**Stage:** Active validation - user interviews happening this week
After:
## Current Status: Decision Phase
**Stage:** Validation complete - analyzing results, making GO/NO-GO decision
Important Notes
- Always archive before updating (captures history)
- Preserve user's voice and formatting
- Focus on factual updates, not editorializing
- Keep dashboard scannable: concise bullets, clear structure
- Link to actual files (verify paths exist)
Paths Reference
- Dashboard:
~/obsidian/research-dashboard.md - Archive script:
~/.claude/scripts/archive-dashboard.sh - Research root:
~/obsidian/Research/ - Active project folder: Check dashboard for current project path
Note: Paths can be customized in ~/.claude/config/paths.env
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