My Obsidian Setup

Introduction

Transferring files and syncing them between devices can be a hassle, but with the right tools and setup, it becomes a seamless process. This guide focuses on using GitHub for syncing, especially for iPhone users, where the Working Copy app is a great complement. I'll share my approach to managing my Obsidian notes, avoiding merge conflicts, and efficiently handling images and to-dos.

GitHub Setup for Syncing

1. Creating Separate .obsidian Folders: To prevent merge conflicts, I use different .obsidian folders for each device. This allows for individual configurations without overlap.
2. Setting Up Obsidian: I initially set up Obsidian with all necessary plugins and then divided it into multiple configurations for each device.

Managing Notes and Templates

• Templates: I store templates in the Templates folder, with the most frequently used one being a note template for my classes, including date and other properties.
• Class Notes System: For each course, I create a base note (e.g., WebEssentials) and subsequent notes for each lesson (e.g., WebEssentials2). The base note serves as a reference point, and I can view all related notes through backlinks or by searching for the course name.

Using GitHub with a Custom Script on MacOS (UNIX)

• Custom Script: To replace the Git plugin, I created a script for adding, committing, and pushing files with a custom message. This script, added as an alias in my ~/zshrc file, looks like this:

gitpush() {
    echo "Enter commit message: "
    read commit_message
    git add .
    git commit -m "$commit_message"
    git push
}
alias gitalias='gitpush'

• After adding this, I run source ~/.zshrc to activate the command.

Managing Images in Obsidian

• Useful Plugins: The Clear Unused Images and Paste Image Rename plugins are essential for handling images efficiently.

Essential Plugins

• Remember Cursor Position: This plugin is invaluable and, in my opinion, should be part of the core plugins in Obsidian.

Syncing with Syncthing

• While I don't regularly use Obsidian on my phone, I have used Syncthing for file transfers. However, GitHub proves more efficient and easier to manage in the long run, despite some initial setup.

Organization and To-Dos

• Separate Folders: I maintain separate folders for personal and school-related documents.
• To-Do Management: I use a simple hashtag system for to-dos. Each to-do has a - [ ] format and a #todo tag. To review tasks, I search for the #todo tag and remove it once completed.

Publishing Notes

• If you also want to publish your obsidian notes you can use this plugin and the guide i followed

Conclusion

This setup, primarily using GitHub, offers a robust and efficient way to manage and sync files across devices. With the right plugins and a custom script, managing your Obsidian workspace becomes much more streamlined and tailored to your needs

Thank you ChatGpt for rewriting my messy text