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Home / Replacing Obsidian with Vim

Replacing Obsidian with Vim

Plugins

Need: Bi-Directional Links, Blocks (for Xanadu / block-quotes or code blocks), navigate links and files

Project Xanadu basically considers blocks to be independent of files (called virtual files). So files basically collect blocks into them. Like, they are like block maps, like MOCs, but instead of files, individual blocks.

Also see: https://github.com/rockerBOO/awesome-neovim

  • Other Apps for Zettelkasten
    • tp-note
  • Markdown Zettelkasten/Preview
    • MeanderingProgrammer/render-markdown.nvim (TUI-style rendering) [Checked]
    • VimWiki
      • vim-zettel (addon)
    • zk / zk-nvim
    • telekasten.nvim (based on telescope.nvim) (TUI-style layout, latex?) [Checked]
    • Neorg (org mode in Vim, has blocks)
    • obsidian-vim
    • vim-roam.nvim (roam, has bi-direction)
    • vimwiki-roam (roam, has bi-direction)
    • notational-fzf-nvim (needs rg, fzf and fzf.vim; simply an fzf wrapper) [Checked]
  • Markdown Preview
    • markdown-preview.nvim (Renders to browser) + awrit.nvim (embeds browser in terminals that support the Kitty graphics protocol)
    • markview (Terminal-style preview)
    • Glow (Terminal-style preview)
    • peek.nvim (WebView)
  • Tools
    • Tabs
      • barbar.nvim
      • vim-buffet
      • bufferline.nvim + nvim-web-devicons
    • Session
      • mhinz/vim-startify
      • rmagatti/auto-session
    • File Picker
      • telescope.nvim (fuzzy file picker and preview) [Checked]
      • conjure (file picker)
      • fzf (fuzzy file picker)
      • Command-T (fast file picker) [Checked]
      • ranger-nvim
    • Sidebar File Navigator
      • nvim-tree (Sidebar)
    • Mind Mapper
      • vim-mind-mapper (too plain, based on Groovy DSL and sigma.js) [Checked]
    • Graph Viewer
      • vim-graphviz (generate DOT files)
    • IDK
      • nvim-tree-sitter (Tree-Sitter language parsing and syntax highlighting)
      • vista.nvim

Great question! You want to emulate the interconnected document/block system from Project Xanadu and the filterable concept map experience like TheBrain—all inside Vim/NeoVim. Here’s how you can approach this:

1. Understanding the Concepts

  • Project Xanadu: The idea is a web of interconnected blocks/documents with persistent bidirectional links.

  • TheBrain: Visual, filterable, dynamic concept maps/knowledge graphs.

  • Vim/NeoVim: Text-based editor, extensible with plugins and scripting.

2. How to Get Interconnected Docs/Blocks in Vim/NeoVim

Core Requirements

  • Bidirectional links (like backlinks in Roam Research or Obsidian)

  • Blocks or document fragments as nodes

  • Ability to navigate links efficiently

Plugin Recommendations

  • Obsidian-vim or Vimwiki: For basic wiki linking, but limited backlinks.

  • Neorg: A powerful note-taking plugin for NeoVim, supports linking and some hierarchy.

  • vim-roam.nvim or vimwiki-roam: Roam-style linking with backlinks and graph structure.

  • Conjure or Telescope (for searching and filtering)

Example Setup

  • vim-roam.nvim

    • Supports bidirectional links.

    • Shows backlinks and linked references.

  • Neorg

    • Has a concept of “blocks” and linking.

    • Built for NeoVim, extensible.

3. Visualizing and Filtering Concept Maps in Vim

Since Vim is terminal-based, visual graph maps like TheBrain are tricky. But here’s how to approximate:

Options:

  • Use vim-graphviz + external Graphviz:

    • Export your links as .dot files and render graphs.

    • Limited interactive features.

  • Use Telescope or fzf for filtering and searching links

    • Filter your notes based on keywords or links.

    • Dynamically browse linked blocks.

  • NeoVim + Floating Windows + Treesitter

    • You can display contextual linked notes in floating windows.

    • Use plugins like nvim-tree or vista.vim to view document outlines.

4. A Possible Workflow in NeoVim

  1. Use Neorg or vim-roam.nvim to create notes with block-level or document-level links.

  2. Use Telescope.nvim or fzf.vim to search and filter your notes dynamically.

  3. For backlinks and network exploration, use the plugin’s built-in backlink viewer or write simple Vimscript/Lua to list linked notes.

  4. For visualization:

    • Export your note links as a .dot file.

    • Use Graphviz to generate a graph image.

    • View it externally or embed with :! commands or image preview plugins.

Summary

Feature How to get it in Vim/NeoVim
Interconnected docs Use Neorg or vim-roam.nvim
Bidirectional links Provided by the above plugins
Filterable search Telescope.nvim or fzf.vim
Concept map visualization Export to Graphviz .dot, view externally
Left-click: follow link, Right-click: select node, Scroll: zoom
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