Minggu, 05 Oktober 2025

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management

Git is a powerful tool that helps you keep track of changes in your files over time. While it is highly popular among the developer community, you can use Git as a note storage vault.

In this case, the source files are Obsidian markdown files.

When you use Obsidian for note-taking, Git can be very useful to manage different versions of your notes. You can easily go back to previous versions, undo mistakes, and even collaborate with others.

In this tutorial, I'll share how I set up Git with Obsidian on a Linux system, connect it with GitHub or GitLab, and use the Obsidian Git plugin to make version control simple and accessible right inside your notes app.

This is all at the beginner level, where all you are doing is setting up Git for your knowledge base version management.

🚧
I am assuming you are taking simpler markdown notes, where individual note and file sizes are less. If you are using large notes, you may want to try GitHub Large File Storage, which is out of scope of this article.

Step 1: Create a remote repository

📋
I am going to use GitHub in the examples here. If you use a GitHub alternative repository like GitLab, similar steps should also be valid.

Go to the GitHub official webpage and log in to your account. Now, on the profiles page, click on the "Create repository" button.

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Create a new repository

Provide all the details. Make sure you have set the repository to private. Once you've entered the necessary details, click on the Create Repository button.

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Enter Details and Create

That's it. You have a new private repository, which only you can access.

Step 2: Create a simple README

You need to create a simple README file in the newly created repo. For this, click on the Create a new file button.

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Create a new file


On the next page, enter the name of the file and add placeholder text.

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Enter file contents


Click on Commit changes and add a message when asked. Done! You have added a simple README to your repo.

Step 3: Install Git in your system

Now, let's install Git on your system. I also suggest installing the GitHub or GitLab CLI plugin. Since you are into version control, these CLI tools can greatly improve your experience.

💡
With the GitHub or GitLab CLI tool, you can commit and push changes to GitHub/GitLab from the terminal also, in case there is a failure in the Obsidian GUI.

In Ubuntu, you can install both Git and the GitHub CLI using the command:

sudo apt install git gh

For Fedora, use:

sudo dnf install git gh

For Arch Linux, the package name is a bit different.

sudo pacman -S git github-cli

If you are using GitLab instead of GitHub, instead of the gh/github-cli package, install glab package. The name is the same on all three of the above Linux distributions.

Step 4: Authenticate GitHub

Once you have Git and the GitHub tool installed, you need to authenticate it with user credentials.

First, you need to make sure the GitHub credentials are properly saved. For this, you can use libsecret.

git config --global credential.helper libsecret

Now, let's set the username and email so that Git can understand who is committing changes. Open a terminal and run:

git config --global user.name "your username"
git config --global user.email "your email"
How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Add username and email

Run the GitHub CLI:

gh auth login

If you are using GitLab, use:

glab auth login
🚧
For the rest, I am using GitHub. So. GitLab users should follow their on-screen instructions.

It will ask some questions, and you can select a choice and press enter. This is shown in the screenshot below:

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Initial choices

When you press enter, it will open in the browser. You will be prompted to continue as the logged in account.

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Continue website login

On the next page, enter the code you are provided in the terminal.

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Enter the code

This will ask you to verify the details before proceeding. Check once again and press Authorize github.

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Confirm login

That's it. Your device is connected. Close the browser. You can view the terminal got updated with the successful login message.

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Device connection success

Step 5: Clone the repository

Now that you have set up GitHub, it's time to clone the private notes repo to somewhere convenient for you. I am cloning the repo on my ~/Documents directory.

cd ~/Documents
git clone git clone https://your-git-remote-repo-link.git

You will get a message that you have cloned into an empty repo. This is what we need.

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Cloned the repository

You can open it in file manager to see that the only content in the cloned directory is a .git directory and a README file.

Step 6: Copy contents

Now, you have to copy your markdown notes from the earlier location to this new vault location. You can do this using your file manager.

While copying, make sure that you copy the .obsidian folder as well. Because your rest of plugins and settings are in the .obsidian directory.

The folder is hidden, so use CTRL+H to enable the hidden items and then select all.

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Copy all contents from existing vault

Step 7: Create a .gitignore

Once you copy all the contents to the new section, you will notice that you have a .obsidian folder that contains all the plugins and cache files.

Usually, this does not need to be pushed to GitHub. So, we will create a .gitignore file in the root vault location.

Inside this file, add the content:

# to exclude Obsidian's settings (including plugin and hotkey configurations)
.obsidian/

# to only exclude plugin configuration. Might be useful to prevent some plugin from exposing sensitive data
.obsidian/plugins

# OR only to exclude workspace cache
.obsidian/workspace.json

# to exclude workspace cache specific to mobile devices
.obsidian/workspace-mobile.json

# Add below lines to exclude OS settings and caches
.trash/
.DS_Store
📋
The above gitignore code is directly taken from the git plugin documentation.

Step 8: Open a new vault in Obsidian

Open Obsidian and click on your vault name in the bottom and select Manage Vaults.

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Select Manage

From the new window, select the open button adjacent to "Open a folder as vault".

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Open an existing vault

In the file chooser, select the directory you have cloned recently. A new Obsidian is opened with notes in the new location, which is empty as of now.

You will be asked to trust the author. This is because you have copied all the contents, including plugins, from previous notes. So, in order for the plugin to work, you need to enable the community plugins, and that needs user permission.

Accept that you trust the plugins and continue.

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Trust author

Step 9: Install the Obsidian Git Plugin

We need to get plugins in Obsidian for Git version control. Click on the settings button in Obsidian.

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Click on the settings button.

Go to Community plugins. Click on browse. Here, search for the Git plugin and install it.

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Search and Install Git

Once installed, enable it.

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Enable Git Plugin

You have set the basics of Git with Obsidian. Click on the Git button in Obsidian to see the Git status.

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Obsidian Git Status

As you can see, there is a .gitignore file under changes.

Step 10: Stage changes

I suggest you stage changes in batches and commit. To stage a file, you can either press the + button adjacent to that file or use the + button on the top menu to stage all.

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Stage Changes

Everything is under staged now for me:

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Stage everything

Step 11: Commit and Push

🚧
I am assuming you are the only one managing the notes, and there is no other collaborator.

If you are a solo user of your personal notes, then you can commit the changes and push them to the remote repository. For this, once all changes are staged, use the commit button.

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Commit all staged changes


When commit is finished, use the Push button.

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Push Changes

Step 12: Pull Changes

Let's say you have edited the notes in another system and pushed the changes to GitHub from there. In this case, when you start on the original system, you should pull the item first from GitHub.

Use the Pull button in the Obsidian Git control panel.

How I am Using Git and Obsidian for Note Version Management
Pulled files from remote

Now that your local copy is in sync with the main, you can work effortlessly.

Wrapping Up

The Git plugin also allows you to automatically commit/pull/push at pre-defined times. But I prefer keeping things under my control and thus prefer following the manual method of handpicking my files.

But it's up to you how you want to go about it. Integrating Git with Obsidian is a great way of syncing your notes in the cloud without additional cost.



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Rabu, 01 Oktober 2025

FOSS Weekly #25.40: Fedora 43 Features, Kernel 6.17, Zorin OS 18, Retro Gaming Setup and More Linux Stuff

FOSS Weekly #25.40: Fedora 43 Features, Kernel 6.17, Zorin OS 18, Retro Gaming Setup and More Linux Stuff

Last month, Austria's armed forces ditched Microsoft Office for LibreOffice. This is surely positive news, but it also makes us think about something crucial. The move to switch to open source is often driven by monetary benefits. Since these organizations often save a hefty amount, should they not contribute some part of their savings back to the open source project they are relying on? What do you think?

Austria’s Armed Forces Gets Rid of Microsoft Office (Mostly) for LibreOffice
The Austrian military prioritizes independence over convenience.
FOSS Weekly #25.40: Fedora 43 Features, Kernel 6.17, Zorin OS 18, Retro Gaming Setup and More Linux Stuff

💬 Let's see what you get in this edition:

  • ZimaOS adding a paid tier.
  • A new Linux kernel release.
  • GUI apps in terminal.
  • Fedora floating a proposal on AI.
  • Revamped Proton Mail mobile apps.
  • And other Linux news, tips, and, of course, memes!

📰 Linux and Open Source News

Fedora 43 is due soon. Here are the new features arriving with it:

Fedora 43 Release Date and New Features
A close look at the new features coming in Fedora 43.
FOSS Weekly #25.40: Fedora 43 Features, Kernel 6.17, Zorin OS 18, Retro Gaming Setup and More Linux Stuff

🧠 What We’re Thinking About

FOSS is an important consideration for creatives in 2025.

From Disillusionment to Freedom: Why Creatives Need FOSS Now More Than Ever
More than ever, creative professionals need to exert control over their digital footprint. Big tech will not give us control—we have to take it. Free and Open Source (FOSS) software gives us a path forward. The path isn’t easy, but I argue nothing worthwhile is.
FOSS Weekly #25.40: Fedora 43 Features, Kernel 6.17, Zorin OS 18, Retro Gaming Setup and More Linux Stuff

Ruby's ecosystem is under threat from corporations.

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Explore terminal shortcuts to enhance your efficiency. I have shared it in the past too but it's worth a reshare.

Speaking of enhancing efficiency, here are a few tips Linux users can use to be more productive.

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👷 AI, Homelab and Hardware Corner

These 3D-printed cases for the Raspberry Pi will not disappoint.

13 Amazingly Innovative 3D Printed Cases for Raspberry Pi I Came Across
So what if I don’t have a 3D printer to print these cases. I can at least appreciate the creativity.
FOSS Weekly #25.40: Fedora 43 Features, Kernel 6.17, Zorin OS 18, Retro Gaming Setup and More Linux Stuff

Raspberry Pi has quietly launched the 500+, a blingy, faster version of the original 500 model.

WebScreen is a crowdfunded secondary display for gamers and creators.

The Raspberry Pi can be used for retro gaming, you know. The other Abhishek shows it with his latest work.

✨ Project Highlights

I recently discovered Sync-in, an open source platform that facilitates file sharing, sync, and collaboration.

Sync-in
The secure, open-source platform for file storage, sharing, collaboration, and syncing. - Sync-in
FOSS Weekly #25.40: Fedora 43 Features, Kernel 6.17, Zorin OS 18, Retro Gaming Setup and More Linux Stuff

Another interesting tool I discovered is term.everything which allows you to run 'any' GUI app in the terminal. I am still exploring it and will be doing a full review soon.

GitHub - mmulet/term.everything: Run any GUI app in the terminal❗
Run any GUI app in the terminal❗. Contribute to mmulet/term.everything development by creating an account on GitHub.
FOSS Weekly #25.40: Fedora 43 Features, Kernel 6.17, Zorin OS 18, Retro Gaming Setup and More Linux Stuff

🛍️ Deal worth a look

This ebook bundle from No Starch is a curated collection of titles to help you explore embedded electronics with Raspberry Pi and Arduino. Plus, your purchase supports the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Humble Tech Book Bundle: Electronics for the Curious by No Starch
Pay what you want to deepen your knowledge of video games and technology with our latest Tech Book Bundle: Electronics for the Curious.
FOSS Weekly #25.40: Fedora 43 Features, Kernel 6.17, Zorin OS 18, Retro Gaming Setup and More Linux Stuff

📽️ Videos I Am Creating for You

Zorin OS 18 is coming up with new features specially planned for new Linux users who are migrating from Windows 10. I discuss those features in the latest video.

Desktop Linux is mostly neglected by the industry but loved by the community. For the past 13 years, It's FOSS has been helping people use Linux on their personal computers. And we are now facing the existential threat from AI models stealing our content.

If you like what we do and would love to support our work, please become It's FOSS Plus member. It costs $24 a year (less than the cost of a McDonald's burger a month), and you get an ad-free reading experience with the satisfaction of helping the desktop Linux community.

Join It's FOSS Plus

💡 Quick Handy Tip

In Firefox, you can forget about one site, by erasing its browsing history, download history, cookies, login, etc. First, go to MenuHistoryManage History.

Here, locate the website you want to forget about (one of those spicy ones, perhaps?), right-click on the website, and then select "Forget About This Site..." When asked, click on "Clear data" to clear any data related to that website.

Following this method means that the website will be gone forever from your history, unless you visit it again.

🎋 Fun in the FOSSverse

Seeing Halloween is close, are you in the mood to hunt a Daemon in our latest crossword?

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Background processes, foreground fun! Can you summon all the daemons and solve this Linux crossword?
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🤣 Meme of the Week: One of the worst crimes in the world of Linux.

FOSS Weekly #25.40: Fedora 43 Features, Kernel 6.17, Zorin OS 18, Retro Gaming Setup and More Linux Stuff

🗓️ Tech Trivia: On October 2, 1955, the ENIAC, the world’s first general-purpose electronic computer, was retired. Built by John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, it could perform 5,000 operations per second.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 From the Community: Pro FOSSer Neville asked a really important question in the forum a few days ago, and the replies on that so far have been wonderful.

Why do people come to this forum? Feedback please
Lets see if we can find out what aspects of this forum are most appreciated by our members. I will start it off. What I mostly appreciate from this forum is some mental challenge helping to solve computing issues inspiration… the flow of new ideas Can each of you attempt to summarize what you see as important or rewarding in our forum.?
FOSS Weekly #25.40: Fedora 43 Features, Kernel 6.17, Zorin OS 18, Retro Gaming Setup and More Linux Stuff

Fellow Pro FOSSer Xander started a thread, asking for ideas to make the most unusable desktop environment.

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Enjoy FOSS 😄



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