WHY Smart Plugins
Smart Plugins are a small set of Obsidian companions that make your vault feel more responsive.
Not louder. Not more complicated. Just easier to use the work you already did.
If you have ever thought:
- I know I wrote about this, but I cannot find it
- I keep re-explaining the same project to AI
- My notes are growing faster than my ability to connect them
- I want AI help, but I want it grounded in my own writing
Smart Plugins are built for that.
AI answers are mostly a context problem.
Smart Plugins exist to reduce the cost of context, inside Obsidian, without turning your vault into a config project.
What changes when Smart Plugins are part of your flow
You stop treating your vault like storage.
You start treating it like a working environment:
- Smart Connections surfaces related notes while you write
- Smart Context turns scattered notes into a clean, reusable context bundle
- Smart Chat keeps conversations attached to your notes and lets you route to the model you want
The point is not more features.
The point is less friction between thinking and shipping.
The problem Smart Plugins solve
Your vault has signal, but it is hard to access on demand
Obsidian is excellent at capturing.
Most people get stuck on retrieval and reuse.
- search requires you to remember the right words
- folders require you to pre-organize perfectly
- tags drift over time
- AI without context drifts even faster
AI adds a new problem: the pace of change
Models and providers shift constantly.
The workflows that matter (writing, research, planning) are stable.
Smart Plugins split these concerns:
- Core plugins stay stable and simple
- Pro plugins are where advanced workflows and faster iteration can live without turning the core experience into a maze
What Smart Plugins are
Smart Plugins are built on the Smart Environment approach:
- local-first by default
- compatible with different model providers and setups
- minimal dependencies, inspectable foundations
- designed to improve as underlying models improve
They are also intentionally modular.
Instead of one giant plugin with endless settings, you get focused tools that work together.
The Smart loop
Most high-leverage usage falls into a repeatable loop:
- Scan: surface relevant notes or candidates
- Confirm: preview quickly without breaking flow
- Act: link, export context, or continue with momentum
Smart Plugins put that loop in multiple places, depending on how you like to work:
- in a sidebar list
- inline while you write (Pro)
- in a footer panel while drafting (Pro)
- in a context builder when you want reuse
- in a chat thread when you want continuity
Pick a starting path
Path A: You want immediate wins while writing
Start with Smart Connections.
- Use the Connections view to surface relevant notes anchored to your current note
- Use Smart Lookup when you want query-first semantic search
- If you are a power user, explore inline and footer surfaces (Pro)
Links:
- Getting Started with Smart Connections
- Exploring the Connections view
- Smart Lookup
- Inline connections (Pro)
Path B: You want better AI outputs with less setup
Start with Smart Context.
- Copy a folder or selection as a predictable bundle
- Build and save named context packs for projects you revisit
- Use link depth when your hub note already points to the true references
Links:
- Getting Started with Smart Context
- Smart Context Builder
- Smart Context Clipboard
- Smart Context file nav actions
Path C: You want a real chat workspace inside Obsidian
Start with Smart Chat.
- Keep threads attached to your notes
- Drag in context when it matters
- Route to local or cloud models when you need different strengths (Pro)
Links:
Core vs Pro, without the confusion
Core is designed to feel like:
- install
- open the view
- it works
Pro is designed to be a home for:
- advanced workflows that would confuse new users
- deeper configuration that needs ongoing maintenance
- faster iteration on edge features
A stable core keeps onboarding clean.
A sustainable Pro layer keeps the fast-moving parts healthy.
If you want the details:
Explore Smart Plugins
If you want the map of what is available and how the pieces fit:
If you already know you want advanced workflows:
A quieter kind of support
Smart Plugins are supported by individuals.
When more people use them deeply, two things happen:
- the tools get sharper faster (real workflows create better feedback)
- the docs get better (because the same questions repeat)
That is the flywheel: usage improves the system that supports usage.
No pressure, no guilt. Just a direction.