Obsidian In Depth: The Basics (Part 1)
AppStories
Deep Dive
Why did the developers create Obsidian?
Obsidian was created by two developers during the lockdowns in 2020 to serve as a personal knowledge management (PKM) application. They were looking for a tool to manage their personal knowledge and notes.
What is a vault in Obsidian?
A vault in Obsidian is a folder containing Markdown files. It serves as the database for your notes and can be located in your file system on Mac, iOS, or Windows.
Why is data portability a significant advantage of Obsidian?
Data portability in Obsidian is a significant advantage because your notes are stored as plain text files in a folder. This means you can access and use them with any other application that can read text files, ensuring you always control your data.
What are internal links and backlinks in Obsidian?
Internal links in Obsidian allow you to reference other notes using a specific syntax (e.g., [[note name]]). Backlinks are links that show which other notes are referencing the current note, helping you discover connections between your notes.
How do internal links enhance writing and research in Obsidian?
Internal links in Obsidian help you cross-reference notes, making it easier to see connections and integrate information. For example, when writing a review, you can reference related notes and chapters, ensuring comprehensive and well-structured content.
What makes Obsidian different from other note-taking apps?
Obsidian stands out due to its flexibility, allowing you to quickly find and open notes using various methods like search, quick switcher, and slash commands. It also supports multiple open notes and a highly customizable interface, making it efficient for complex tasks.
Why is Obsidian an Electron app, and what are the trade-offs?
Obsidian is an Electron app to support cross-platform functionality and a vast ecosystem of plugins and themes. The trade-off is that it may not feel as native on Apple devices and can have some UI quirks, but it offers unmatched customization and power.
How do John and Federico use Obsidian for planning and organization?
John and Federico use Obsidian for weekly planning, task management, and research. They create notes for specific weeks, link to tasks and projects, and organize daily to-do lists. They also use it for writing, research, and storing reference materials.
What are some key features of Obsidian that will be covered in future episodes?
Future episodes will cover core plugins, community plugins, templates, and specific use cases such as organization, research, note-taking, and writing. The series will also delve into advanced features and integrations.
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