Note Synthesizer

An Obsidian plugin that synthesizes multiple notes by identifying overlapping sections and unique insights. Perfect for integrating information across technical documents, research notes, and knowledge bases.

Features

• Multi-note synthesis: Select 2+ markdown files and generate an integrated summary
• Overlap detection: Automatically identifies and merges redundant content
• Unique insights highlighting: Preserves original perspectives from each source
• Flexible API support: Works with Claude API (default) or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint
• Advanced configuration: Full control over API endpoint, model selection, and output length
• Encrypted key storage: API keys stored securely in Obsidian settings
• Cross-platform: Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux

Installation

From Obsidian Community Plugins (Coming Soon)

1. Open Obsidian Settings → Community Plugins
2. Search for "Note Synthesizer"
3. Click Install
4. Enable the plugin

Manual Installation

1. Download the latest release from GitHub Releases
2. Extract the zip file
3. Copy the folder to VaultFolder/.obsidian/plugins/note-synthesizer/
4. Reload Obsidian or restart the app
5. Enable "Note Synthesizer" in Settings → Community Plugins

Development Installation

git clone https://github.com/TX-220/note-synthesizer.git
cd note-synthesizer
npm install
npm run dev

Then copy the plugin folder to your vault's .obsidian/plugins/ directory.

Usage

Basic Workflow

1. Configure API Settings

   • Open Obsidian Settings → Note Synthesizer
   • Enter your API key
   • (Optional) Adjust model, endpoint, and summary length

2. Run Synthesis

   • Press Ctrl+P (or Cmd+P on Mac) to open command palette
   • Search for "Synthesize Notes"
   • Select 2 or more markdown files from your vault
   • Click "Synthesize"
   • A new timestamped note is created with the synthesis

3. Review Output

   • The generated note includes source file list and synthesis timestamp
   • Copy/edit as needed in your workflow

Configuration

API Endpoint

• Default: https://api.anthropic.com/v1/messages (Anthropic Claude)
• For local LLM: http://localhost:11434/v1/messages (Ollama format)
• Custom: Any OpenAI-compatible endpoint

Model Name

• Claude (Anthropic): claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022, claude-3-opus-20240229
• Local (Ollama): llama2, mistral, neural-chat, etc.
• Fully customizable—enter any model your endpoint supports

API Key

• Encrypted in Obsidian settings
• Required for any API call
• Does NOT store in plaintext

Summary Length

• Brief: 2-3 paragraphs (default)
• Medium: 1-2 pages
• Comprehensive: Detailed with subsections

API Configuration Examples

Anthropic Claude (Default)

Endpoint: https://api.anthropic.com/v1/messages
Model: claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022
API Key: sk-ant-... (from https://console.anthropic.com)

Local Ollama

Endpoint: http://localhost:11434/v1/messages
Model: llama2 (or mistral, neural-chat, etc.)
API Key: (can be empty or any string)

Synthesis Process

The plugin:

1. Reads all selected markdown files
2. Combines their content into a single document
3. Sends to your configured API with a synthesis prompt
4. Prompt instructs the model to:
   • Identify overlapping sections and merge them
   • Extract unique insights from each source
   • Format output according to selected length
5. Creates a new timestamped note with the synthesis
6. Opens the note in your active editor

Supported Models

Anthropic Claude

• claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022 (recommended for balance)
• claude-3-opus-20240229 (best quality, slower)
• claude-3-haiku-20240307 (fastest, lower quality)

Open Source (via Ollama, LM Studio, vLLM)

• llama2
• mistral
• neural-chat
• phi
• Any model your local setup supports

Troubleshooting

"API key not configured"

• Settings → Note Synthesizer
• Enter your API key in the "API Key" field
• Save and retry

"API Error: 401"

• Check your API key is correct
• Verify it has API access permissions
• For Anthropic: https://console.anthropic.com/account/keys

"API Error: 404"

• Verify API endpoint URL is correct
• If using local LLM, ensure it's running: ollama serve
• Check model name matches your endpoint

"Failed to read [filename], skipping"

• Ensure file exists and is readable
• Check file is valid markdown (.md)
• Retry operation

Development

Prerequisites

• Node.js 16+
• npm or yarn
• Obsidian installed (for testing)

Build

npm run build  # Production build (minified)
npm run dev    # Development build (watch mode)

Testing

1. Create a test vault with sample markdown files
2. Copy the built plugin to .obsidian/plugins/note-synthesizer/
3. Enable the plugin in Obsidian Settings
4. Run "Synthesize Notes" command with test files

Architecture

main.ts
├── NoteSynthesizerPlugin (main plugin class)
│   ├── Command: "Synthesize Notes"
│   ├── File Picker Modal
│   ├── Synthesis API caller
│   └── Output note generator
├── FilePickerModal (UI for file selection)
└── NoteSynthesizerSettingTab (settings UI)

Security

• API keys are stored in Obsidian's secure data store (encrypted at rest)
• No API calls are made without explicit user action
• No telemetry or external tracking
• Open source—audit the code anytime

Author

TX-220 — Concept, design, direction. Claude (Anthropic) — Implementation. Claude Code & Claude Desktop — Development.

License

MIT — See LICENSE file for details.

Support

Found a bug or have a feature request?

• GitHub Issues
• GitHub Discussions

Changelog

v1.0.0 (Initial Release)

• Multi-note file picker
• Synthesis with overlap detection
• Configurable API endpoint and model
• Encrypted API key storage
• Summary length options
• Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux)

This was an experimental project developed with Claude (Haiku). Later improved significantly with Grok.