Obsidian MCP Server

# Usage Examples for Zettelkasten Workflows This document provides practical examples of using the Obsidian MCP server for Zettelkasten note-taking workflows. ## Basic Setup Before using these examples, ensure: 1. Obsidian is running with Local REST API plugin enabled 2. Environment variables are configured 3. Your LLM client is configured with the MCP server ## Example 1: Creating Your First Atomic Note ### Scenario You're reading about systems thinking and want to create a permanent note. ### Workflow **Step 1: Search for existing related notes** ``` Ask LLM: "Search my vault for notes about systems thinking" LLM will use: obsidian_simple_search Parameters: {"query": "systems thinking", "context_length": 100} ``` **Step 2: Review related notes if found** ``` Ask LLM: "Show me the contents of these related notes" LLM will use: obsidian_batch_get_file_contents Parameters: {"filepaths": ["Zettelkasten/note1.md", "Zettelkasten/note2.md"]} ``` **Step 3: Create new atomic note** ``` Ask LLM: "Create a new Zettelkasten note titled 'Systems Thinking - Feedback Loops' with these key points: [your points]. Add appropriate tags." LLM will use: obsidian_write_note Parameters: { "filepath": "Zettelkasten/202411061430 Systems Thinking Feedback Loops.md", "content": "# Systems Thinking - Feedback Loops\n\n[content]...", "mode": "create", "frontmatter": { "tags": ["zettelkasten", "systems-thinking", "feedback"], "created": "2024-11-06", "type": "permanent-note" } } ``` ## Example 2: Building Connections Between Notes ### Scenario You've created several notes and want to link them together. ### Workflow **Step 1: Find notes in a topic cluster** ``` Ask LLM: "Find all my notes about mental models" LLM will use: obsidian_simple_search or obsidian_complex_search ``` **Step 2: Add links to related notes section** ``` Ask LLM: "Add links to these three related notes in the 'Related Concepts' section of my Systems Thinking note" LLM will use: obsidian_patch_content Parameters: { "filepath": "Zettelkasten/202411061430 Systems Thinking.md", "target_type": "heading", "target": "Related Concepts", "operation": "append", "content": "\n- [[202411061445 Mental Models]]\n- [[202411061502 Second Order Thinking]]\n- [[202411061518 Causal Loop Diagrams]]" } ``` ## Example 3: Adding New Insights to Existing Note ### Scenario You've had a new insight that relates to an existing note. ### Workflow **Step 1: Find the relevant note** ``` Ask LLM: "Find my note about emergence" LLM will use: obsidian_simple_search ``` **Step 2: Add new insight** ``` Ask LLM: "Add this new insight to my emergence note: [your insight about how emergence relates to complexity]" LLM will use: obsidian_patch_content or obsidian_append_content ``` ## Example 4: Organizing Notes with Tags ### Scenario You want to reorganize your notes by adding consistent tags. ### Workflow **Step 1: Check current tags on a note** ``` Ask LLM: "What tags does my note about systems thinking have?" LLM will use: obsidian_manage_tags Parameters: { "filepath": "Zettelkasten/202411061430 Systems Thinking.md", "action": "list" } ``` **Step 2: Add missing tags** ``` Ask LLM: "Add the tags 'mental-models' and 'complexity' to this note" LLM will use: obsidian_manage_tags Parameters: { "filepath": "Zettelkasten/202411061430 Systems Thinking.md", "action": "add", "tags": ["mental-models", "complexity"] } ``` ## Example 5: Literature Notes to Permanent Notes ### Scenario You have literature notes from a book and want to extract atomic concepts. ### Workflow **Step 1: Read your literature note** ``` Ask LLM: "Read my literature note for 'Thinking in Systems' by Meadows" LLM will use: obsidian_get_file_contents ``` **Step 2: Extract atomic concepts** ``` Ask LLM: "Extract 3 key atomic concepts from this literature note and create permanent notes for each" LLM will: 1. Use obsidian_simple_search to check if concepts already exist 2. Use obsidian_write_note to create each permanent note 3. Use obsidian_patch_content to add references back to literature note ``` ## Example 6: Creating Index/MOC Notes ### Scenario You want to create a Map of Content (MOC) for a topic area. ### Workflow **Step 1: Find all related notes** ``` Ask LLM: "Find all my notes tagged with 'systems-thinking'" LLM will use: obsidian_complex_search with tag query ``` **Step 2: Get metadata about notes** ``` Ask LLM: "Get information about these notes including their tags and creation dates" LLM will use: obsidian_get_notes_info ``` **Step 3: Create MOC** ``` Ask LLM: "Create a Map of Content note for Systems Thinking that links to all these notes, organized by subtopic" LLM will use: obsidian_write_note Parameters: { "filepath": "MOCs/Systems Thinking MOC.md", "content": "# Systems Thinking - Map of Content\n\n## Core Concepts\n- [[note1]]\n...", "mode": "create", "frontmatter": {"tags": ["moc", "systems-thinking"]} } ``` ## Example 7: Daily Reflection to Permanent Notes ### Scenario You want to process ideas from your daily notes into permanent notes. ### Workflow ``` Ask LLM: "Review my daily note from today and suggest atomic notes I should create from the ideas mentioned" LLM will: 1. Use obsidian_get_file_contents to read daily note 2. Use obsidian_simple_search to check for existing related notes 3. Suggest new atomic notes with titles and initial content 4. Use obsidian_write_note to create them upon your approval ``` ## Advanced: Batch Processing ### Scenario Add a standard section to multiple existing notes. ### Workflow ``` Ask LLM: "Add a 'Questions' section to all my permanent notes about systems thinking" LLM will: 1. Use obsidian_simple_search to find relevant notes 2. For each note, use obsidian_patch_content to add the section: { "target_type": "heading", "target": "Questions", # or creates if doesn't exist "operation": "append", "content": "## Questions\n\n- " } ``` ## Pro Tips ### Always Search First Before creating a new note, always search to avoid duplicates: ``` "Before I create this note, search for any existing notes about [topic]" ``` ### Use Safe CREATE Mode When creating new notes, default to CREATE mode: ``` "Create a new note (don't overwrite if it exists)" ``` ### Batch Operations Process multiple notes efficiently: ``` "Get information about all my notes tagged 'systems-thinking'" ``` ### Structured Content Use heading paths for precise editing: ``` "Add this to the 'Examples/Real World' subsection" ``` ### Frontmatter First Add metadata when creating notes: ``` "Create this note with tags [x, y, z] and type 'permanent-note'" ``` ## Common Patterns ### The Zettelkasten Inbox Processing Pattern 1. Search for related notes 2. Read related notes for context 3. Create atomic permanent note 4. Link back to source (literature note or daily note) 5. Add to relevant MOC ### The Connection Building Pattern 1. Search for notes in topic area 2. Get metadata about notes 3. Add cross-references in "Related Concepts" sections 4. Update MOC if exists ### The Review and Refine Pattern 1. List notes in directory 2. Get metadata about notes 3. Read notes needing attention 4. Update tags or add missing sections 5. Add new connections --- ## Getting Started **Your First Session:** 1. "List the directories in my vault" 2. "Search for notes about [your topic]" 3. "Create a new Zettelkasten note about [concept]" 4. "Add this note to my [topic] MOC" **Remember:** The LLM will intelligently choose the right tools based on your natural language requests!