Git Backed Obsidian CLI Workflows

Use the official Obsidian CLI as the primary workflow surface. Treat Git sync as a write-only follow-up, not part of read/query operations.

Core rules

• Assume the official Obsidian CLI is already installed and usable.
• Use CLI-native read/query commands first for search, read, links, outline, tags, tasks, and related vault inspection.
• Use CLI-native write commands first for daily, daily:append, create, and similar lightweight note updates.
• After successful write operations, run the vault backup/sync script.
• Do not run Git sync after read-only operations.
• If a write-oriented CLI path is unavailable or unsuitable, fall back to direct file writing only when the workflow explicitly supports it.
• If sync fails after a successful write, report that the note was written but not synced.

Environment model

This skill is not server-only. Use it anywhere the official Obsidian CLI is already available:

• desktop Linux
• macOS
• Windows environments where the official CLI is working
• headless/server environments that have already been adapted

If the environment is a headless server and the official CLI is not yet usable, use obsidian-official-cli-headless first. That skill handles server adaptation and installation. This skill handles the day-to-day note workflows after the CLI works.

Fast path

1. Classify the request as either:
• read/query
• write/update
2. For read/query tasks, use the official CLI directly.
3. For write/update tasks, use the official CLI first, then run backup/sync.
4. Use fallback file writing only for supported write workflows when CLI writing is unavailable.
5. Report the target note/path, whether CLI or fallback was used, and whether sync succeeded.

Common read/query commands

Prefer commands such as:

obs search query="..."
obs read file="..."
obs daily:read
obs links file="..."
obs outline file="..."
obs tags
obs tasks daily
obs vault

Use exact commands supported by the installed official CLI.

Common write/update commands

Prefer commands such as:

obs daily
obs daily:append content="..."
obs create name="..." content="..."

After a successful write, run the backup script.

Bundled scripts

Use scripts/notes_workflow.py when you need a deterministic wrapper for:

• daily-note append with sync
• lightweight memo/inbox capture with fallback write
• simple note create/append workflows with post-write sync

Use scripts/backup.sh as the default post-write Git sync path for this skill.

References

• Read references/query-vs-write.md to choose whether a task should trigger sync.
• Read references/fallbacks.md for the fallback policy and reporting rules.
• Read references/workflow-surface.md to understand why the wrapper script supports a narrower write surface than the full official CLI.
• Read references/environment-note.md for the split between general CLI workflows and headless/server adaptation.

What not to do

• Do not use this skill to install or configure the official CLI environment; use obsidian-official-cli-headless for that.
• Do not force-push from automation.
• Do not expand into full vault restructuring, plugin setup, or GUI management.

What to report

Keep the result minimal:

• command or workflow used
• target note/path
• whether sync ran
• whether sync succeeded