Obsidian (software) - Wikipedia

# Obsidian (software)

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Note-taking software application

Obsidian
Developer(s) | Dynalist Inc.
Initial release | March 2020 (2020-03)
Stable release | 1.5.8[1] / January 15, 2024
Written in | TypeScript, JavaScript
Operating system | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, iPadOS
Type | Note-taking, personal knowledge management
License | Proprietary freemium
Website | obsidian.md

Obsidian is a personal knowledge management and note-taking software application that operates on Markdown files.[2] It allows users to make internal links for notes and then to visualize the connections as a graph. It is designed to help users organize and structure their thoughts and knowledge in a flexible, non-linear way.[3] The software is free for personal use, with commercial licenses and hosted services such as Obsidian Publish and Obsidian Sync available as paid add-ons.[4]

Obsidian is developed by Dynalist Inc., a company founded by Shida Li and Erica Xu. The application stores notes as plain-text Markdown files in a local folder called a "vault", allowing users full control over their data.[5] It supports a wide range of plugins and themes created by its open-source community.[6]

## History[edit]

Obsidian was created by Shida Li and Erica Xu, who previously developed the outliner application Dynalist.[7] The first public version was released in March 2020 as a desktop application for Windows, macOS, and Linux.[8] The application quickly gained a following among users interested in the Zettelkasten method and personal knowledge management workflows.[9]

Mobile versions for iOS and Android were released in 2021.[10] In October 2022, the application reached version 1.0, which included a new default theme, improved tab support, and a redesigned settings interface.[11]

Obsidian introduced Obsidian Publish, a paid service for publishing notes as a website, and Obsidian Sync, an end-to-end encrypted synchronization service.[12]

## Features[edit]

Obsidian stores all notes as plain-text Markdown files in a local folder on the user's device, referred to as a "vault".[13] This approach gives users complete ownership of their data and allows notes to be opened with any text editor.

### Linking and graph view[edit]

A core feature of Obsidian is its support for internal links between notes using a `[[wikilink]]` syntax.[14] These links create a network of connected notes that can be visualized through a built-in graph view.[15]

### Plugins[edit]

Obsidian supports an extensive plugin system that allows third-party developers to extend the application's functionality.[16] As of 2024, the community plugin repository contains over 1,500 plugins.[17]

## Reception[edit]

Obsidian has received generally favorable reviews from technology publications. The Verge praised the application for its flexibility and local-first approach, noting that "Obsidian is a powerful note-taking app that gives you full control of your data."[2] PC Magazine awarded it an Editors' Choice designation, highlighting its linking capabilities and customizability, though noting a steep learning curve for new users.[3]

The application has been compared to other note-taking tools such as Notion, Roam Research, and Logseq. Commentators have noted that Obsidian differentiates itself through its local-first storage model and emphasis on user data ownership.[18] However, critics have pointed out that the proprietary nature of the application itself limits user freedom compared to fully open-source alternatives.[19]

## See also[edit]

- Comparison of note-taking software
- Personal knowledge management
- Zettelkasten
- Roam Research
- Logseq

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Obsidian 1.5.8". Obsidian. January 15, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
2. ^ a b Brandom, Russell (September 12, 2023). "Obsidian review: a powerful note-taking app". The Verge. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
3. ^ a b Duffy, Jill (March 8, 2023). "Obsidian Review". PC Magazine. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
4. ^ "Pricing". Obsidian. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
5. ^ Cunningham, Andrew (August 15, 2022). "Obsidian is the Markdown note-taking app that could replace Evernote". Ars Technica. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
6. ^ "Community plugins". Obsidian. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
7. ^ Mehta, Ivan (April 5, 2023). "How Obsidian built a note-taking app used by millions". TechCrunch. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
8. ^ "Introducing Obsidian". Obsidian Blog. March 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
9. ^ Tietze, Christian (June 22, 2021). "Obsidian as a Zettelkasten tool". Zettelkasten.de. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
10. ^ "Obsidian Mobile is here". Obsidian Blog. July 12, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
11. ^ "Obsidian 1.0". Obsidian Blog. October 13, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
12. ^ "Obsidian Sync". Obsidian. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
13. ^ "Create a vault". Obsidian Help. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
14. ^ "Internal links". Obsidian Help. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
15. ^ "Graph view". Obsidian Help. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
16. ^ "Build a plugin". Obsidian Developer Docs. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
17. ^ Morrison, Sara (May 18, 2023). "Inside Obsidian's thriving plugin ecosystem". Vox. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
18. ^ Patel, Nilay (November 2, 2023). "Obsidian vs Notion vs Roam: which note-taking app is best?". The Verge. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
19. ^ Hoffman, Chris (December 1, 2023). "Is Obsidian really open source?". How-To Geek. Retrieved January 5, 2024.

## External links[edit]

- Official website
- Obsidian on GitHub
- Obsidian Community Forum

Categories:

- Note-taking software
- Personal information managers
- Proprietary software
- 2020 software
- Cross-platform software