Workflows

Patterns

End-to-end patterns built on desktop obsidian, standalone Headless ob, and Obsidian URI. Headless is a Sync/Publish transport or projection, not a desktop plugin-graph API or decision authority.

Pattern matrix

flowchart LR
    Terminal[Terminal / shell script] -->|obsidian command| RunningApp[Running Obsidian app]
    Cron[Cron / scheduled task] -->|ob sync, ob publish| Headless[Headless client]
    OtherApp[Any app / shortcut] -->|obsidian:// URI| RunningApp
    Agent[AI agent / coding tool] -->|eval, dev:* commands| RunningApp
    Agent -->|ob sync continuous| Headless
    Headless -->|REST encrypted sync| ObsidianCloud[Obsidian Sync / Publish]

Workflow pages

• Agentic coding workflow - reload plugins, run eval, take screenshots, inspect DOM
• Daily note automation - append tasks, prepend captures, aggregate weekly
• Scripted publishing - CI/CD publish pipelines with Headless
• Remote sync server - keep a server vault in sync without the desktop app

When to use which entry point

Entry point	Use when
Obsidian CLI	You need desktop files, metadata, plugins, UI, history, developer tools, or command-palette behavior. The first command launches the app if needed.
Obsidian Headless	You need to Sync or Publish on a server or in CI without ever launching the desktop app.
Obsidian URI	You want to trigger Obsidian from another app, shortcut, OS automation, or hyperlink.

Start with Desktop CLI or Headless?. Never copy a live writable SQLite database between devices.