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Dex Obsidian Setup

Community
davekilleen
dex-obsidian-setup

Turn on Obsidian mode and migrate the vault to wiki links. Use when the user says 'I use Obsidian', 'enable wiki links', 'make this work in Obsidian'. Not for connecting an external tool/API; use `create-mcp`/`integrate-mcp`.

Overview

Publisherdavekilleen
RepositoryDex
Skill namedex-obsidian-setup
Stars
481
Forks
130
Bundled files
Instructions only
Links
  • Markdown instructions

    A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.

  • Works with any LLM

    AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.

  • Self-contained

    Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.

  • Open source

    Published by davekilleen on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Dex Obsidian Setup AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

1

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

  1. Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
  2. Choose "Install from GitHub".
  3. Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
  4. Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.
Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.
2

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/davekilleen/Dex.git /tmp/Dex
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/Dex/packages/dex-agent-plugin/skills/dex-obsidian-setup .claude/skills/dex-obsidian-setup
Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Dex Obsidian Setup in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Dex Obsidian Setup on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Dex Obsidian Setup is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

  • Loaded only when it is needed

    The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.

  • Switch models mid-chat

    Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Purpose

Convert Dex vault to Obsidian wiki link format for graph-based navigation.

Step 1: Check Current State

Read System/user-profile.yaml and check obsidian_mode field.

If already enabled:

  • Say: "Obsidian mode is already enabled. Want to re-run migration? (Safe to run multiple times)"
  • If user says no, exit
  • If user says yes, continue to Step 3 (skip Step 2)

If not enabled:

  • Continue to Step 2

Step 2: Explain Obsidian Integration

Say: "This will enable Obsidian mode in your Dex vault:

What changes:

  • All person/company/project references become clickable wiki links
  • Example: John_Doe[[John_Doe]]
  • Your existing files will be converted automatically

What stays the same:

  • File structure (PARA folders)
  • File contents (just adds [[ ]] around references)
  • All MCP functionality

Time estimate: I'll scan your vault first and show you exactly how long it will take.

Safety: I'll create a git backup before any changes. Easy to revert if needed.

Ready to proceed?"

If NO: Say "No problem! You can run /dex-obsidian-setup anytime." and exit.

If YES: Continue to Step 3

Step 3: Run Migration

Call the migration script using Shell tool (run from the vault root directory):

bash
python core/obsidian/migrate_to_wikilinks.py

The script handles:

  • Estimation and user confirmation
  • Git backup
  • Progress tracking
  • macOS notification on completion
  • Error handling

Wait for the script to complete and show the output to the user.

Step 4: Update User Profile

Update System/user-profile.yaml to set obsidian_mode: true:

  1. Read the current file
  2. Use StrReplace to update the obsidian_mode field (or add it if missing)
  3. If the file uses YAML format, preserve the structure

Step 5: Optional - Generate Obsidian Config

Ask: "Want me to generate an Obsidian configuration optimized for Dex? This includes:

  • Recommended settings (wiki link format, auto-update links)
  • Hotkeys for common actions (Cmd+G for graph view)
  • Workspace layout (file explorer + backlinks)

These are stored in .obsidian/ and only affect Obsidian (not Cursor/terminal)."

If YES:

Run the config generator (from vault root):

bash
python core/obsidian/generate_obsidian_config.py

Say: "✅ Obsidian config generated! Open your vault in Obsidian to see the optimized setup."

If NO:

Say: "No problem! You can always run this later with python core/obsidian/generate_obsidian_config.py"

Step 6: Optional - Start Sync Daemon

Ask: "Want to enable bidirectional sync? This keeps task checkboxes synced between Obsidian and Dex:

  • Check a task in Obsidian → syncs to Tasks.md, person pages, meeting notes
  • Check a task in Cursor → syncs to Obsidian

Runs in background, zero maintenance."

If YES:

Run the daemon installer (from vault root):

bash
bash core/obsidian/install_sync_daemon.sh

If NO:

Say: "No problem! You can enable it later by running bash core/obsidian/install_sync_daemon.sh"

Step 7: Completion

Say: "✅ Obsidian mode enabled!

Next steps:

  1. Open Obsidian: File → Open Folder → select your Dex vault folder
  2. Check the graph view: Ctrl/Cmd + G
  3. Click any wiki link to navigate

Tips:

  • Graph filters: Focus on specific areas (People, Projects)
  • Search: Cmd/Ctrl + O for quick open
  • Backlinks pane: See everywhere a note is referenced

Resources:

  • See 06-Resources/Dex_System/Obsidian_Guide.md for detailed tips
  • Watch the beginner's guide if you're new to Obsidian

You can still use Dex in Cursor/terminal exactly as before. Wiki links work everywhere."

Notes

  • This skill is safe to run multiple times (idempotent)
  • Migration creates a git backup before making changes
  • Revert anytime with git reset --hard HEAD~1
  • Works with vaults of any size (10K+ files tested)

Track Usage (Silent)

Update System/usage_log.md to mark Obsidian setup as used.

Analytics (Silent):

Call track_event with event_name obsidian_enabled (no properties).

This only fires if the user has opted into analytics. No action needed if it returns "analytics_disabled".

Frequently asked questions

What does the Dex Obsidian Setup AI skill do?

Turn on Obsidian mode and migrate the vault to wiki links. Use when the user says 'I use Obsidian', 'enable wiki links', 'make this work in Obsidian'. Not for connecting an external tool/API; use `create-mcp`/`integrate-mcp`.

Why use Dex Obsidian Setup on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Dex Obsidian Setup is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Dex Obsidian Setup in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/davekilleen/Dex/tree/main/packages/dex-agent-plugin/skills/dex-obsidian-setup. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Dex Obsidian Setup?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Dex Obsidian Setup?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Dex Obsidian Setup with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Dex Obsidian Setup AI skill free?

It is published on GitHub by davekilleen. Check the repository for licensing terms. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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