Obsidian + Claude Code Starter

A batteries-included starter template for building a personal knowledge management system with Obsidian and Claude Code. Clone, configure, and start organizing your projects, people, and meetings with AI assistance in under 30 minutes.

Features

• Structured vault: Pre-configured folders for Projects, People, Meetings, and System docs
• Frontmatter schemas: Consistent metadata for querying and organization
• Claude Code integration: AI-powered note creation, search, and workflow automation
• MCP setup guide: Step-by-step instructions for connecting Claude to your vault
• Example notes: Learn patterns through realistic examples
• Git-ready: Pre-configured .gitignore and ready for version control

Quick Start

1. Clone this repo

git clone https://github.com/Rome-1/obsidian-claude-starter.git
cd obsidian-claude-starter

2. Install Obsidian (if needed)

If you don't have Obsidian yet, download it from obsidian.md (it's free).

3. Open in Obsidian

1. Open Obsidian
2. Click "Open folder as vault"
3. Select the obsidian-claude-starter directory

4. Set up Claude Code + MCP

Follow the detailed guide: [[System/setup-mcp]]

Quick version:

1. Install Claude Code CLI
2. Add MCP config to ~/.claude.json:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "obsidian": {
         "type": "stdio",
         "command": "npx",
         "args": ["@mauricio.wolff/mcp-obsidian", "/path/to/obsidian-claude-starter"],
         "env": {}
       }
     }
   }
   

3. Run claude in your vault directory

5. Explore

• Read [[System/index]] for navigation
• Browse example notes in Projects/_examples/, People/_examples/, Meetings/_examples/
• Check [[System/getting-started]] for a guided first hour

What's Included

obsidian-claude-starter/
├── Projects/          # Track active work and side projects
├── People/            # Build a personal CRM with context
├── Meetings/          # Document discussions and action items
├── System/            # Guides, prompts, and references
│   ├── index.md
│   ├── getting-started.md
│   ├── vault-schema.md
│   ├── setup-mcp.md
│   └── claude-workflows.md
├── CLAUDE.md          # Configure AI behavior
├── TODO_LIST.md       # Master task list
└── COMPLETED_TASKS.md # Task archive with timestamps

Use Cases

• Personal CRM: Track relationships, context, and follow-ups
• Project management: Organize active work with linked notes
• Meeting notes: Document decisions with attendees and actions
• Knowledge base: Build a searchable second brain
• AI workflows: Automate note creation and organization

Customization

This template is designed to be customized:

1. Edit [[CLAUDE.md]]: Configure how Claude works with your vault
2. Create custom prompts: Add templates in System/Prompts/
3. Adjust schemas: Modify frontmatter patterns in System/vault-schema.md
4. Add folders: Organize content however makes sense for you

Documentation

• [[System/index]] - Navigation hub
• [[System/getting-started]] - First 30 minutes guide
• [[System/vault-schema]] - Frontmatter reference
• [[System/setup-mcp]] - Claude Code + MCP setup
• [[System/claude-workflows]] - AI workflow examples

Requirements

• Obsidian (desktop app)
• Node.js v18+ (for MCP server)
• Claude Code (with Pro, Max, Teams, or Enterprise subscription)

Recommended Plugins

• obsidian-git: Auto-sync your vault to GitHub
• dataview: Query notes programmatically
• templater: Advanced templating for note creation

Contributing

Found a bug or have a suggestion? Open an issue.

License

MIT - feel free to use and adapt for your own system.

Credits

Inspired by Rome Thorstenson (@foundinrome)'s personal vault structure. Built for not-necessarily-technical users who want a structured starting point for personal knowledge management with AI.

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Questions? Check the [[System/setup-mcp]] troubleshooting section or ask Claude for help.