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Agent skill

Obsidian Vault Operations

by ballred in ballred/obsidian-claude-pkm

Reads, creates and edits notes in an Obsidian vault while preserving wiki-links, YAML frontmatter, tags and template variables.

MITAuto-check passedKnowledge Management

Install Obsidian Vault Operations

skills CLI
$ npx skills add ballred/obsidian-claude-pkm --skill obsidian-vault-ops -a claude-code

Project install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.

GitHub CLI
$ gh skill install ballred/obsidian-claude-pkm obsidian-vault-ops --agent claude-code

Project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

Manual copy
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/ballred/obsidian-claude-pkm.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/vault-template/.claude/skills/obsidian-vault-ops .claude/skills/obsidian-vault-ops && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.

Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/

Facts

Skill name
obsidian-vault-ops
GitHub stars
1.9k
Token cost
~652 tokens
SKILL.md length
221 words
Files
1
Skills in repo
13
Repo updated
First seen
Licence
MIT

At a glance

Reads, creates and edits notes in an Obsidian vault while preserving wiki-links, YAML frontmatter, tags and template variables.

  • Works in 4 steps: Check if note already exists → Use appropriate template if available → Add YAML frontmatter with date and tags → …
  • Creating a new note with frontmatter, tags and links to related notes
  • SKILL.md covers Vault Structure, File Operations, Wiki-Link Format and YAML Frontmatter, plus 3 more sections
  • Instructions only: no scripts, shell commands, URLs or credentials in SKILL.md

What it does

This skill gives the agent the basic rules for working with files in an Obsidian vault. It reads CLAUDE.md first for vault context, finds notes with glob patterns, and checks for wiki-links to related notes. When creating a note it checks whether the note already exists, uses a template if one is available, adds YAML frontmatter with date and tags, and inserts wiki-links; edits preserve frontmatter, existing links, heading hierarchy and tag format.

It documents the wiki-link forms (plain, aliased and section links), a standard frontmatter shape, and template variables for dates and times that are replaced when a template is processed, such as today, yesterday, tomorrow and the current time. Common patterns include creating a daily note in a Daily Notes folder from a template, finding related notes by searching for key terms and suggesting links, and a tag scheme for priority, status and context. The allowed tools are file read, write, edit, glob and grep only.

When your agent uses it

  • Creating a new note with frontmatter, tags and links to related notes
  • Generating today's daily note from a template
  • Editing notes without breaking existing wiki-links or frontmatter

Example prompts

  • “Create today's daily note from my template.”
  • “Add a note about the Q3 budget review and link it to related notes in the vault.”
  • “Find notes related to this one and suggest wiki-links.”

Requirements

  • An Obsidian vault folder, ideally with a CLAUDE.md and a Templates folder
  • Pre-approved tools (allowed-tools): Read, Write, Edit, Glob, Grep

Workflow steps

4 steps, taken from the first numbered list in SKILL.md.

  1. Check if note already exists
  2. Use appropriate template if available
  3. Add YAML frontmatter with date and tags
  4. Insert wiki-links to related notes

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit ef1e4da. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.

  • Tool permissions

    Pre-approves these tools, so the agent can use them without asking each time:

    • Read
    • Write
    • Edit
    • Glob
    • Grep

    From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.

  • Runs code

    No scripts in the folder and no shell commands in SKILL.md (its code samples are markdown and yaml).

    From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.

  • Network

    No URLs in SKILL.md.

    From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.

  • Credentials

    Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.

    From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.

Context cost

Obsidian Vault Operations loads about 652 tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 49 tokens; SKILL.md has 221 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it
~49
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches
~652

Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.

Safety

Auto-check passed

The automated check found no risky patterns in SKILL.md.

Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.

SKILL.md

The full file from ballred/obsidian-claude-pkm at commit ef1e4da, republished under its MIT licence (© ballred). 221 words, ~652 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/obsidian-vault-ops/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder).
name
obsidian-vault-ops
description
Read and write Obsidian vault files, manage wiki-links, process markdown with YAML frontmatter. Use when working with vault file operations, creating notes, or managing links.
allowed-tools
Read, Write, Edit, Glob, Grep
model
sonnet

Obsidian Vault Operations Skill

Core operations for reading, writing, and managing files in an Obsidian vault.

Vault Structure

vault-root/
├── CLAUDE.md           # Main context (always read first)
├── Daily Notes/        # YYYY-MM-DD.md format
├── Goals/              # Goal cascade files
├── Projects/           # Project folders with CLAUDE.md
├── Templates/          # Reusable note structures
└── Archives/           # Completed/inactive content

File Operations

Reading Notes
  • Use Glob to find files: *.md, Daily Notes/*.md
  • Read CLAUDE.md first for vault context
  • Check for wiki-links to related notes
Creating Notes
  1. Check if note already exists
  2. Use appropriate template if available
  3. Add YAML frontmatter with date and tags
  4. Insert wiki-links to related notes
Editing Notes
  • Preserve YAML frontmatter structure
  • Maintain existing wiki-links
  • Use consistent heading hierarchy
  • Apply standard tag format
markdown
[[Note Name]]                    # Simple link
[[Note Name|Display Text]]       # Link with alias
[[Note Name#Section]]            # Link to section

YAML Frontmatter

Standard frontmatter structure:

yaml
---
date: 2024-01-15
tags: [tag1, tag2]
status: active
---

Template Variables

When processing templates, replace:

  • {{date}} - Today's date (YYYY-MM-DD)
  • {{date:format}} - Formatted date
  • {{date-1}} - Yesterday
  • {{date+1}} - Tomorrow
  • {{time}} - Current time

Common Patterns

Daily Note Creation
  1. Calculate today's date in YYYY-MM-DD format
  2. Check if Daily Notes/{date}.md exists
  3. If not, read Templates/Daily Template.md
  4. Replace template variables
  5. Write to Daily Notes/{date}.md
  1. Extract key terms from current note
  2. Search vault for matching content
  3. Suggest wiki-links to related notes
Tag Operations
  • Priority: #priority/high, #priority/medium, #priority/low
  • Status: #active, #waiting, #completed, #archived
  • Context: #work, #personal, #health, #learning

Best Practices

  1. Always check CLAUDE.md for vault-specific conventions
  2. Preserve existing structure when editing
  3. Use relative paths for internal links
  4. Add frontmatter to new notes
  5. Link to relevant goals when creating tasks

© ballred, MIT. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file

Files

Just SKILL.md in vault-template/.claude/skills/obsidian-vault-ops of ballred/obsidian-claude-pkm.

Open the folder on GitHubat commit ef1e4da

Compare with similar skills

Obsidian Vault Operations next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.

Obsidian Vault Operations compared with similar skills
SkillStarsUsed inTokensAuto-checkLicenceRepo updated
Obsidian Vault Operations this skillballred/obsidian-claude-pkm1.9k—~652Automated safety check: PassMIT
Obsidian Canvas BoardsAgriciDaniel/claude-obsidian15k—~1.4kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Obsidian Wiki Log FoldAgriciDaniel/claude-obsidian15k—~1.2kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Obsidian Bases EditorAgriciDaniel/claude-obsidian15k—~1.2kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
My LLM WikiMartinLwx/dotfiles140—~2.7kAutomated safety check: PassNone
Obsidian Knowledge BuilderMichael-OvO/obsidian-knowledge-agent205—~917Automated safety check: PassMIT

Similar skills

  • Obsidian Canvas Boards

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  • Obsidian Wiki Log Fold

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  • My LLM Wiki

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    140 GitHub stars~2.7k tokensUpdated 2 days ago
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More from ballred/obsidian-claude-pkm

All 13 skills in this repo

  • Daily Notes Workflow

    ballred/obsidian-claude-pkm

    Creates today's daily note in an Obsidian vault and guides morning, midday and evening routines for planning, task review and reflection.

    1.9k GitHub stars~2k tokensUpdated 7 mo ago
    Auto-check passed

  • Cascading Goal Tracker

    ballred/obsidian-claude-pkm

    Tracks three-year, yearly, monthly, and weekly goals in linked Markdown files, calculating completion percentages and flagging stalled goals.

    1.9k GitHub stars~1.5k tokensUpdated 7 mo ago
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  • Obsidian Project Tracker

    ballred/obsidian-claude-pkm

    Creates, tracks and archives projects linked to yearly goals in an Obsidian vault, with a status dashboard and a CLAUDE.md context file for each project.

    1.9k GitHub stars~1.1k tokensUpdated 7 mo ago
    Auto-check: notes

  • Push

    ballred/obsidian-claude-pkm

    Commit and push vault changes to Git with smart commit messages.

    1.9k GitHub starsUsed in 1 repo~745 tokens
    Auto-check: notes

  • Obsidian PKM Vault Upgrade

    ballred/obsidian-claude-pkm

    Updates an obsidian-claude-pkm vault's system files to the latest version, with a backup, per-file diff review and no changes to your own notes.

    1.9k GitHub stars~1.1k tokensUpdated 7 mo ago
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  • Obsidian Vault Adoption

    ballred/obsidian-claude-pkm

    Scans an existing Obsidian vault, maps its folders to PKM roles with your confirmation and generates configuration for the Claude PKM system without a template.

    1.9k GitHub stars~2.6k tokensUpdated 7 mo ago
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Works with

Categories

Questions about Obsidian Vault Operations

What does Obsidian Vault Operations do?

Reads, creates and edits notes in an Obsidian vault while preserving wiki-links, YAML frontmatter, tags and template variables. This skill gives the agent the basic rules for working with files in an Obsidian vault.md first for vault context, finds notes with glob patterns, and checks for wiki-links to related notes.

When should I use Obsidian Vault Operations?

Obsidian Vault Operations fits situations like: creating a new note with frontmatter, tags and links to related notes; generating today's daily note from a template; editing notes without breaking existing wiki-links or frontmatter.

How do I install Obsidian Vault Operations in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add ballred/obsidian-claude-pkm --skill obsidian-vault-ops -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (vault-template/.claude/skills/obsidian-vault-ops in ballred/obsidian-claude-pkm) into .claude/skills/obsidian-vault-ops in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install Obsidian Vault Operations in Codex?

Run `npx skills add ballred/obsidian-claude-pkm --skill obsidian-vault-ops -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (vault-template/.claude/skills/obsidian-vault-ops in ballred/obsidian-claude-pkm) into .agents/skills/obsidian-vault-ops in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Obsidian Vault Operations in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?

Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add ballred/obsidian-claude-pkm --skill obsidian-vault-ops -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/obsidian-vault-ops, .gemini/skills/obsidian-vault-ops, .github/skills/obsidian-vault-ops and .opencode/skills/obsidian-vault-ops in your project.

What does Obsidian Vault Operations need to run?

SKILL.md names no scripts, command-line tools or credentials: Obsidian Vault Operations is instructions for the agent only. Our summary lists: An Obsidian vault folder, ideally with a CLAUDE.md and a Templates folder. Its frontmatter pre-approves these tools: Read, Write, Edit, Glob, Grep.

Does Obsidian Vault Operations access the network?

SKILL.md contains no URLs. Any network use would come from the scripts or tools the agent runs. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is Obsidian Vault Operations safe to install?

Our automated static check of SKILL.md found no risky patterns, such as piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files or hidden Unicode. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.

What licence does Obsidian Vault Operations use?

Obsidian Vault Operations is published under the MIT licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.

How many tokens does Obsidian Vault Operations use?

About 652 tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 2.6k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full.

What are the alternatives to Obsidian Vault Operations?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Obsidian Vault Operations: Obsidian Canvas Boards (AgriciDaniel/claude-obsidian, 15k stars), Obsidian Wiki Log Fold (AgriciDaniel/claude-obsidian, 15k stars), Obsidian Bases Editor (AgriciDaniel/claude-obsidian, 15k stars) and My LLM Wiki (MartinLwx/dotfiles, 140 stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains Obsidian Vault Operations?

ballred (a GitHub user) maintains it in ballred/obsidian-claude-pkm, which has 1,877 GitHub stars. The repository holds 13 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on February 18, 2026.

Source: ballred/obsidian-claude-pkm on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.