Create MCP-Obsidian-Setup.md

MCP-Obsidian-Setup.md

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+# MCP Obsidian Setup - Connect Obsidian to Claude Desktop
+
+This guide shows you how to quickly connect your Obsidian vault to Claude Desktop using the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+1. **Claude Desktop**: [https://claude.ai/download](https://claude.ai/download)
+2. **Obsidian**: [https://obsidian.md/download](https://obsidian.md/download)
+
+## Quick Setup 🚀
+
+### Step 1: Enable the Filesystem MCP Server
+
+Use Anthropic's official Filesystem MCP Server for secure file access: [https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/tree/main/src/filesystem](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/tree/main/src/filesystem)
+
+### Step 2: Configure Claude Desktop
+
+Choose your preferred method to edit the config:
+
+#### Option 1: Using nano
+```bash
+# Quick edit in terminal
+nano ~/claude_desktop_config.json
+```
+
+#### Option 2: One-liner config
+```bash
+cat > ~/claude_desktop_config.json << 'EOL'
+{
+  "mcpServers": {
+    "filesystem": {
+      "command": "npx",
+      "args": [
+        "-y",
+        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
+        "/path/to/your/obsidian/vault"
+      ]
+    }
+  }
+}
+EOL
+```
+
+#### Option 3: VS Code
+```bash
+code ~/claude_desktop_config.json
+```
+
+### Configuration Details
+
+Replace `/path/to/your/obsidian/vault` with the actual path to your Obsidian vault directory.
+
+**Example configuration:**
+```json
+{
+  "mcpServers": {
+    "filesystem": {
+      "command": "npx",
+      "args": [
+        "-y",
+        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
+        "/Users/username/Documents/MyObsidianVault"
+      ]
+    }
+  }
+}
+```
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+### Common Issues
+
+#### NPX/Node.js Issues
+If you encounter issues with npx, try installing the package globally:
+
+```bash
+npm install -g @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem
+```
+
+Then update your config to use the direct path:
+
+**Windows:**
+```json
+{
+  "mcpServers": {
+    "filesystem": {
+      "command": "node",
+      "args": [
+        "C:\\Users\\username\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm\\node_modules\\@modelcontextprotocol\\server-filesystem\\dist\\index.js",
+        "c:\\Users\\username\\OneDrive\\MyVault"
+      ]
+    }
+  }
+}
+```
+
+**macOS/Linux:**
+```json
+{
+  "mcpServers": {
+    "filesystem": {
+      "command": "node",
+      "args": [
+        "/path/to/global/node_modules/@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem/dist/index.js",
+        "/path/to/your/obsidian/vault"
+      ]
+    }
+  }
+}
+```
+
+#### Python Version Issues
+Some MCP servers require Python 3.13 or greater. If you encounter issues:
+
+1. Check your Python version: `python --version`
+2. Update to Python 3.13+ if needed
+3. Restart Claude Desktop completely
+
+#### Verifying Setup
+
+1. **Check MCP logs**: In Claude Desktop, go to Hamburger menu → Developer → MCP log file
+2. **Restart Claude Desktop**: Hamburger menu → File → Exit, then reopen
+3. **Verify tools are available**: Look for the hammer icon in the bottom right of the chat interface
+
+### Advanced Setup: Obsidian API Integration
+
+For more advanced integration using the Obsidian API instead of just file access, consider using the dedicated MCP Obsidian server:
+
+- **MCP Obsidian**: [https://github.com/MarkusPfundstein/mcp-obsidian](https://github.com/MarkusPfundstein/mcp-obsidian)
+- **Alternative**: [https://github.com/smithery-ai/mcp-obsidian](https://github.com/smithery-ai/mcp-obsidian)
+
+This provides more granular access with functions like:
+- `patch_content`: Insert content relative to headings or block references
+- `append_content`: Append to new or existing files
+- Better handling of Obsidian-specific features
+
+## Benefits
+
+- **Direct vault access**: Claude can read and write to your Obsidian notes
+- **Contextual assistance**: Ask Claude to help organize, summarize, or expand your notes
+- **Automated workflows**: Create templates, format content, and maintain consistency
+- **Knowledge management**: Search through your vault and create connections between notes
+
+## Limitations
+
+- **Desktop only**: Currently only works with Claude Desktop (not mobile)
+- **File path access**: The filesystem MCP requires direct file system access
+- **Rate limits**: Subject to Claude's usage limits
+
+## Source
+
+Based on the Reddit post: [MCP Rocks - Quickly Connected Obsidian to Claude Desktop](https://www.reddit.com/r/ClaudeAI/comments/1h2e5e9/mcp_rocks_quickly_connected_obsidian_to_claude/)
+
+---
+
+*Last updated: July 18, 2025*