Initialize a new Obsidian wiki vault with the correct structure, special files, and configuration. Use this skill when the user wants to set up a new wiki from scratch, initialize the vault structure, create the .env file, or says things like "set up my wiki", "initialize obsidian", "create a new vault", "get started with the wiki". Also use when the user needs to reconfigure their existing vault or fix a broken setup.
You are setting up a new Obsidian wiki vault (or repairing an existing one).
If .env doesn't exist, create it from .env.example. Ask the user for:
Where should the vault live? → OBSIDIAN_VAULT_PATH
~/Documents/obsidian-wiki-vaultWhere are your source documents? → OBSIDIAN_SOURCES_DIR
~/DocumentsWant to import Claude history? → CLAUDE_HISTORY_PATH
~/.claudeHave QMD installed? → /
QMD_WIKI_COLLECTIONQMD_PAPERS_COLLECTIONwiki-query and source discovery in wiki-ingest.Grep automatically..env.example (QMD section).mkdir -p "$OBSIDIAN_VAULT_PATH"/{raw/assets,wiki,.obsidian}
.obsidian/ — Obsidian's own config. Creates vault recognition.raw/ — Immutable raw source documents (articles, papers, images, data files). The LLM reads but never modifies them. raw/assets/ stores downloaded images.wiki/ — All wiki pages live here as .md files.Classification is done via the category: frontmatter field and index.md, not subdirectories.
Create a CLAUDE.md at the vault root with essential instructions for any LLM operating in the vault:
# Obsidian Wiki Vault
This is a wiki vault. Wiki pages live in the `wiki/` directory as `.md` files.
## Structure
- Wiki pages: `wiki/*.md` (classified by `category:` frontmatter field)
- Raw sources: `raw/` (immutable, never modify)
- Special files: `index.md`, `log.md`, `.manifest.json` (at vault root)
- Obsidian config: `.obsidian/`
## Categories (frontmatter values)
- `concept` — Ideas, theories, mental models
- `entity` — People, orgs, tools, projects
- `source` — Summaries of specific sources
- `synthesis` — Cross-cutting analysis, comparisons
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