obsidian-mcp-server

Transform Claude from a chat tool into an intelligent agent for your Obsidian vault.

Instead of copying and pasting from Claude's artifacts, get structured notes written directly to your knowledge system with smart templates, domain knowledge, and automated formatting.

Why This Feels Agentic

On its own, Claude can only hand you artifacts you copy-paste. On its own, the MCP server can only write files you explicitly tell it to. But together, they act like a lightweight "agent" inside your Obsidian vault: Claude detects the type of note you want, applies the right template, adds tags/links, and then the MCP server writes it directly into your vault. The result: structured notes, no copy-paste, and smart suggestions that make Claude feel like a vault-native collaborator.

Quick Start

Want to try it in 10 minutes? → Quickstart Guide

Need the full setup? → Continue reading below

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Overview

This Model Context Protocol (MCP) server enables Claude Desktop to create structured markdown notes directly in your Obsidian vault. The system consists of two components working together:

1. MCP Server (this repository) - Handles direct file writing to your Obsidian vault
2. Claude Project - Contains the prompt engineering and templates for structured content generation

Key Features:

• Direct file creation in Obsidian vault
• Structured note templates (Decision logs, Book notes, MOCs, etc.)
• Eliminates copy-paste workflow
• Configurable vault paths via environment variables
• Professional prompt engineering for consistent formatting

Prerequisites

Before installation, ensure you have:

1. Node.js (v16 or higher) - Download here
2. Claude Desktop - Download here
3. Obsidian with an existing vault - Download here

Complete Setup Guide

Step 1: Install the MCP Server

Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/BrandonDFairbanks/obsidian-mcp-server.git
cd obsidian-mcp-server

Install Dependencies

npm install

Configure Environment Variables

Create a .env file in the project directory:

cp .env.example .env

Edit the .env file and update the vault path:

OBSIDIAN_VAULT_PATH=/path/to/your/obsidian/vault

Finding your vault path:

• Open Obsidian
• Right-click any note → "Reveal in Finder" (macOS) or "Show in folder" (Windows)
• Copy the folder path up to your vault name

Configure Claude Desktop

Create or edit the Claude Desktop configuration file:

macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json Windows: %APPDATA%/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Add this configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "obsidian": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/full/path/to/obsidian-mcp-server/obsidian-mcp.js"]
    }
  }
}

Replace /full/path/to/obsidian-mcp-server/ with the actual path to your cloned repository.

Restart Claude Desktop

Quit Claude Desktop completely and reopen it for the configuration to take effect.

Step 2: Configure the Claude Project

The MCP server handles file writing, but you need a Claude project to generate the structured content.

Create the Claude Project

1. Create a new Claude project in Claude Desktop
2. Copy the complete instructions from claude-project-setup.md
3. Paste into your project's custom instructions field
4. Save the project

What the Claude Project Provides

• Domain knowledge about knowledge management workflows
• Template logic for different note types (Decision Logs, Book Notes, MOCs, General Notes)
• Output detection that switches between artifact and direct file creation
• Quality standards for consistent formatting and useful link suggestions

See claude-project-setup.md for complete templates, domain mappings, and detailed configuration.

Step 3: Complete Workflow

Start the MCP Server

node obsidian-mcp.js

The server will run continuously. Keep this terminal window open while using Claude.

Use the Integration

In your configured Claude project, use explicit commands to trigger direct file creation:

Decision Logs:

Use write_note to create a decision log about choosing our tech stack

Book Notes:

Create a book note using write_note for 'Atomic Habits'

MOCs (Maps of Content):

Build an MOC using write_note for Financial Planning

General Notes:

Use write_note to create a product management note about user story refinement

Expected Results

• Immediate file creation in your Obsidian vault
• Structured formatting with proper tags, links, and templates
• Confirmation message from Claude: "Created note: [filename] in your Obsidian vault"
• No copy-paste required - files appear directly in your knowledge system

Usage Examples

Creating a Decision Log

Command: "Use write_note to create a decision log about whether to buy a camping trailer"

Result: Creates a structured decision log with:

• Pros/cons sections for multiple options
• Gut check and family input areas
• Follow-up tracking for 3 and 6 months later
• Relevant links to explore

Creating a Book Note

Command: "Create a book note using write_note for 'The Creature from Jekyll Island'"

Result: Creates a book note with:

• Auto-filled author (G. Edward Griffin)
• Appropriate category (Monetary Theory)
• Domain-specific tags (#finance)
• Structured sections for quotes, insights, and connections

Building an MOC

Command: "Build an MOC using write_note for Decision Making"

Result: Creates a Map of Content with:

• Organized sections for frameworks, methods, templates
• Empty placeholders for manual completion
• Logical structure for knowledge organization

Troubleshooting

Server Won't Start

# Reinstall dependencies
rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json
npm install

# Test basic functionality
node -e "console.log('Node.js working')"

Claude Can't See the Tool

1. Verify claude_desktop_config.json syntax is valid
2. Ensure file paths are absolute, not relative
3. Restart Claude Desktop completely (not just close window)
4. Check server is running in terminal

Files Not Appearing in Obsidian

1. Verify vault path in .env is correct
2. Test by creating a file manually in that directory
3. Check Obsidian vault permissions
4. Ensure Obsidian is pointing to the same vault location

Claude Project Not Working

1. Verify you copied the complete instructions from claude-project-setup.md
2. Ensure you're using the configured project (not a generic Claude chat)
3. Use explicit "write_note" commands
4. Check that both MCP server and Claude project are properly configured

Permission Errors

macOS: You may need to grant terminal access to files Windows: Run terminal as administrator if needed

Advanced Configuration

Customizing Note Templates

The Claude project templates can be modified for your specific needs:

1. Edit the templates in claude-project-setup.md
2. Adjust domain knowledge and tag mappings
3. Modify link suggestion patterns
4. Update the Claude project instructions

Adding New Note Types

To add new structured note types:

1. Create templates in the Claude project setup
2. Add recognition patterns and generation logic
3. Test with the MCP integration
4. No changes needed to the MCP server code

Technical Details

MCP (Model Context Protocol): Enables Claude to interact with external tools and systems securely.

Architecture: Node.js server that Claude Desktop connects to via stdio transport. The server exposes a write_note tool that handles file operations.

Security: Environment variables keep personal vault paths separate from shared code. No sensitive information is stored in the repository.

Development

Project Structure

obsidian-mcp-server/
├── obsidian-mcp.js          # Main server code
├── package.json             # Dependencies and metadata  
├── .env                     # Your local configuration (not tracked)
├── .env.example             # Template for environment variables
├── claude-project-setup.md  # Complete Claude project instructions
├── QUICKSTART.md            # 10-minute setup guide
└── README.md                # This file

Extending Functionality

The server can be extended to support additional tools:

• File reading capabilities
• Note searching and updating
• Custom template systems
• Integration with other knowledge management tools

Contributing

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Make your changes
4. Test thoroughly with both components
5. Submit a pull request

License

MIT License - see LICENSE file for details.

Support

For issues or questions:

1. Check the troubleshooting section above
2. Try the Quickstart Guide for a simplified setup
3. Verify both MCP server and Claude project are properly configured
4. Create an issue on GitHub with details about your setup
5. Ensure your environment matches the prerequisites

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Important: This system requires both the MCP server (for file writing) and the Claude project (for content generation) to function properly. The server must run continuously while using Claude, and explicit "write_note" commands are required to trigger direct file creation instead of artifact generation.