Obsidian

Obsidian is a markdown-based note-taking tool that emphasizes connecting ideas through bidirectional linking. It allows users to create, edit, and organize notes in a local-first environment while visualizing connections between thoughts. The platform uses graph visualization to help users discover relationships between their notes.

The app supports a vibrant ecosystem of community plugins that extend its functionality significantly. Users can customize their workspace with themes and leverage powerful features like daily notes, templates, and advanced search.

Key features

• Bidirectional linking: Create and visualize connections between notes
• Graph view: Interactive visualization of note relationships and connections
• Local-first storage: All notes stored locally as markdown files
• Community plugins: Extensive library of user-created plugins for added functionality
• Custom themes: Personalize the appearance with community themes
• Markdown support: Write in plain text with markdown formatting
• Multiple panes: Open multiple notes side by side
• Command palette: Quick access to all features and commands
• Templates: Create and use templates for consistent note structures

Best use cases

• Personal knowledge management: Build and maintain a personal knowledge base
• Research organization: Connect research notes and discover relationships between concepts
• Writing projects: Outline and draft long-form content with linked references

Pros & Cons

• ✅ Powerful linking capabilities
• ✅ Local-first approach ensures privacy and control
• ✅ Large community and plugin ecosystem
• ✅ Free for personal use
• ✅ Highly customizable
• ❌ Steeper learning curve for beginners
• ❌ Mobile apps require paid sync service
• ❌ Can be overwhelming with too many plugins
• ❌ Limited built-in collaboration features