An Obsidian plugin that embeds Claude Code/Codex as an AI collaborator in your vault
Claudian is an Obsidian community plugin that embeds AI coding agents directly inside a vault, treating the vault itself as the agent's working directory so that file reads, writes, searches, and bash commands all execute without additional configuration. It connects primarily through the Claude Code CLI, with optional support for Codex, Opencode, and Pi, and routes provider calls through Anthropic's API or compatible alternatives such as Openrouter. Users interact via a chat sidebar, slash commands for reusable prompt templates, and an inline edit mode that opens a word-level diff preview when editing selected note text. Plan Mode lets the agent map out a multi-step approach before making changes, requiring explicit approval before execution. MCP servers can be attached over stdio, SSE, or HTTP transports, and the plugin manages vault-level MCP configuration in-app for Claude while deferring to Codex's own CLI for its MCP setup. Writers, researchers, and developers who already live in Obsidian are the primary audience.
- ✓Open-source license (MIT)
- ✓Actively maintained (<30d)
- ✓Healthy fork ratio
- ✓Clear description
- ✓Topics declared
- ✓Documented (README)
git clone https://github.com/YishenTu/claudian{
"mcpServers": {
"claudian": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/path/to/claudian/dist/index.js"]
}
}
}MCP Servers overview
# Claudian
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An Obsidian plugin that embeds AI coding agents (Claude Code, Codex, Grok, Opencode, Pi, and more to come) in your vault. Your vault becomes the agent's working directory — file read/write, search, bash, and multi-step workflows all work out of the box. Visit [claudian.md](https://claudian.md/) to learn more.
## Features & Usage
Open the chat sidebar from the ribbon icon or command palette. Select text and use the shortcut for inline editing. Everything works like your familiar coding agent, Claude Code, Codex, Grok, Opencode, and Pi — talk to the agent, and it reads, writes, edits, and searches files in your vault.
**Inline Edit** — Select text or start at the cursor position + hotkey to edit directly in notes with word-level diff preview.
**Slash Commands & Skills** — Type `/` or `$` for reusable prompt templates or Skills from user- and vault-level scopes.
**`@mention`** — Type `@` to reference vault files, folders, and Collab member changes. Type `#` to reference Collab tickets.
**Instruction Mode (`/instruction`)** — Refined custom instructions added from the chat input.
**MCP Servers** — Connect external tools through each coding agent's native CLI-managed MCP configuration.
**Tabs & Session Management** — Use multiple tabs in single-panel mode or a persistent session manager beside the chat in dual-pane mode.
**Collab Mode** (Experimental) — Collaborate on shared projects with other Claudian users. [Learn more](https://claudian.md/docs/collab-mode/).
## Requirements
- At least one of the following harnesses:
- [Claude Code CLI](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/overview)
- [Codex CLI](https://github.com/openai/codex)
- [Grok Build](https://github.com/xai-org/grok-build)
- [OpenCode](https://github.com/anomalyco/opencode)
- [Pi](https://github.com/earendil-works/pi)
- A compatible subscription or API provider, such as [OpenRouter](https://openrouter.ai/docs/guides/guides/claude-code-integration), [Kimi](https://platform.kimi.ai/docs/guide/claude-code-kimi), [GLM](https://docs.z.ai/devpack/tool/claude), or [DeepSeek](https://api-docs.deepseek.com/quick_start/agent_integrations/claude_code) etc.
- Obsidian v1.13.0+
- Desktop only (macOS, Linux, Windows)
- Collab Mode requires [Git](https://git-scm.com/install/)
## Installation
### From Obsidian Community Plugins (recommended)
1. Open Obsidian → Settings → Community plugins → Browse
2. Search for "Claudian" and click Install
3. Enable the plugin
Or install directly from the [community plugin page](https://community.obsidian.md/plugins/realclaudian).
### Plugin size and Obsidian Sync
Despite considerable effort to reduce the bundle size, keeping it below 5 MB is no longer practical with the latest Claude Agent SDK. The Obsidian community plugin page may therefore display a large-plugin warning, and Obsidian's official Sync service cannot sync the main plugin file because it supports only files smaller than 5 MB.
If you use Obsidian Sync across multiple desktop devices, install and update Claudian separately on each device instead of relying on Sync to copy the plugin files.
### From source (development)
1. Clone this repository into your vault's plugins folder:
```bash
cd /path/to/vault/.obsidian/plugins
git clone https://github.com/YishenTu/claudian.git
cd claudian
```
2. Install dependencies and build:
```bash
npm install
npm run build
```
3. Enable the plugin in Obsidian:
- Settings → Community plugins → Enable "Claudian"
### Development
```bash
# Watch mode
npm run dev
# Production build
npm run build
```
## Privacy & Data Use
- **Sent to API**: Your input, attached files, images, and tool call outputs. Depending on the selected provider, data is sent to Anthropic (Claude), OpenAI (Codex), xAI (Grok), or the providers configured in OpenCode or Pi. The destination can be configured through provider settings and environment variables.
- **Collab LAN traffic**: When you explicitly Host or synchronize a Collab Project, Project Git data and authenticated coordination metadata travel directly between invited teammates' devices on the local network. Collab Mode itself does not send Project data to a Claudian cloud service or any third party.
- **No telemetry or unsolicited background activity**: Claudian does not run telemetry beacons. UI polling timers read local Obsidian/editor selection state only. Network activity is limited to explicit provider runtime work, configured MCP endpoints, provider SDK/CLI calls needed to answer your requests, and explicitly started Collab LAN work.
## Troubleshooting
The following sections use Claude Code as an example.
### Provider CLI not found
If Claudian cannot auto-detect a provider CLI, verify that the CLI is installed and available to GUI applications through PATH. Typical errors include `spawn claude ENOENT` and `Claude CLI not found`. This issue is common with Node version managers (nvm, fnm, volta).
Leave the CLI path setting empty first so Claudian can auto-detect the CLI. If auto-detection fails, find the executable path and set it in Settings → Advanced → Claude CLI path.
| Platform | Command | Example Path |
|----------|---------|--------------|
| macOS/Linux | `which claude` | `/Users/you/.volta/bin/claude` |
| Windows (native) | `where.exe claude` | `C:\Users\you\AppData\Local\Claude\claude.exe` |
| Windows (npm) | `npm root -g` | `{root}\@anthropic-ai\claude-code\cli-wrapper.cjs` |
> **Note**: On Windows, avoid `.cmd` and `.ps1` wrappers. Use `claude.exe` for native installs, or `cli-wrapper.cjs` for package-manager installs. `cli.js` is only a legacy fallback for older Claude Code npm packages.
**Alternative**: Add your Node.js bin directory to PATH in Settings → Environment → Custom variables.
### npm CLI and Node.js not in the same directory
When using an npm-installed provider CLI, make sure its executable and Node.js are available from the same environment. Check their paths:
```bash
dirname $(which claude)
dirname $(which node)
```
If the paths differ, GUI apps like Obsidian may not find Node.js.
Either:
1. Install the native binary (recommended).
2. Add the Node.js path in Settings → Environment: `PATH=/path/to/node/bin`.
### More help
For provider-specific installation and configuration guidance, refer to the provider documentation linked in the [Requirements](#requirements) section. If you have a feature request or run into a bug, please [submit a GitHub issue](https://github.com/YishenTu/claudian/issues).
## Architecture
```
src/
├── main.ts # Plugin entry point
├── app/ # Application services, storage, and lazy Collab infrastructure
├── core/ # Provider-neutral runtime, registry, and type contracts
│ ├── runtime/ # ChatRuntime interface and approval types
│ ├── providers/ # Provider registry and workspace services
│ ├── auxiliary/ # Shared provider auxiliary services
│ ├── bootstrap/ # Plugin bootstrap wiring
│ ├── security/ # Approval utilities
│ └── ... # commands, prompt, storage, tools, types
├── providers/
│ ├── claude/ # Claude SDK adaptor, prompt encoding, storage, MCP, plugins
│ ├── codex/ # Codex app-server adaptor, JSON-RPC transport, JSONL history
│ ├── grok/ # Grok Build ACP adaptor, native history, models, and tools
│ ├── opencode/ # Opencode adaptor
│ ├── pi/ # Pi RPC adaptor, model discovery, JSONL history
│ └── acp/ # Agent Client Protocol shared transport
├── features/
│ ├── chat/ # Sidebar chat: tabs, controllers, renderers
│ ├── collab/ # Collab sidebar, review, conflict, and access UI
│ ├── inline-edit/ # Inline edit modal and provider-backed edit services
│ └── settings/ # Settings shell with provider tabs
├── shared/ # Reusable UI components and modals
├── i18n/ # Internationalization (10 locales)
├── types/ # Shared ambient types
├── utils/ # Cross-cutting utilities
└── style/ # Modular CSS
```
## Contributing
Issues and focused pull requests are welcome. Issues are the preferred starting point: describe the problem, reproduction steps, and environment clearly so it can be investigated.
Before opening a pull request, please read the [contribution guide](CONTRIBUTING.md). Pull requests must explain the problem, the proposed solution, why the approach is appropriate, and how the change was validated. Pull requests that add a new provider are not accepted; the guide explains this maintenance and product-quality boundary in detail.
## Star History
<a href="https://www.star-history.com/?repos=YishenTu%2Fclaudian&typWhat people ask about claudian
What is YishenTu/claudian?
+
YishenTu/claudian is mcp servers for the Claude AI ecosystem. An Obsidian plugin that embeds Claude Code/Codex as an AI collaborator in your vault It has 15.3k GitHub stars and its last recorded update is dated 2026-09-11.
How do I install claudian?
+
You can install claudian by cloning the repository (https://github.com/YishenTu/claudian) or following the README instructions on GitHub. ClaudeWave also provides quick install blocks on this page.
Is YishenTu/claudian safe to use?
+
Our security agent has analyzed YishenTu/claudian and assigned a Trust Score of 100/100 (tier: Verified). See the full breakdown of passed checks and flags on this page.
Who maintains YishenTu/claudian?
+
YishenTu/claudian is maintained by YishenTu. The last recorded GitHub activity is dated 2026-09-11, with 77 open issues.
Are there alternatives to claudian?
+
Yes. On ClaudeWave you can browse similar mcp servers at /categories/mcp, sorted by popularity or recent activity.
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