The 9 Best Obsidian Plugins You've (Probably) Never Heard of

Summary

Discover nine lesser-known yet incredibly useful Obsidian plugins with under 10,000 downloads each. These plugins, including Tab Navigator, Callout Suggestions, and Media Notes, enhance productivity and creativity in Obsidian workflows. From organizing tabs to embedding YouTube videos and setting writing goals, these tools add unique features that deserve recognition. Plus, learn about the Share Note plugin for secure note sharing. Links to all plugins are provided for easy access.

Takeaways

• 🔌 Obsidian's plugin architecture is highly extensible, offering 1,639 plugins at the time of recording.
• 🔍 Popularity in downloads doesn't always reflect usefulness; some lesser-known plugins are incredibly valuable.
• 📖 The presenter shares nine underrated plugins with less than 10,000 downloads each.
• 🔑 'Tab Navigator' plugin (106 downloads) helps manage multiple open tabs with a searchable interface.
• 📝 'Callout Suggestions' plugin (763 downloads) simplifies the insertion of callouts in notes.
• 🎥 'Media Notes' plugin (1,924 downloads) facilitates embedding and annotating YouTube videos within notes.
• 🎵 'Soundscapes' plugin (3,442 downloads) provides a variety of background music options to enhance focus.
• 🛠️ 'Note Toolbar' plugin (3,575 downloads) allows for the creation of custom toolbars for specific note folders.
• 📑 'Monotele' plugin (5,155 downloads) prevents the clutter of duplicate tabs by automatically closing extras.
• 🗒️ 'Checklist Reset' plugin (5,277 downloads) is useful for resetting checklist items in task management.
• ✍️ 'Writing Goals' plugin (6,12 downloads) helps set and visualize writing goals for notes or folders.
• 🌈 'Beautify Tabs' plugin (9,079 downloads) enhances the appearance of new tabs with pictures and additional options.
• 🔗 'Share Note' plugin, just over 10,000 downloads, allows for easy sharing of notes with encryption and expiration options.

Q & A

What makes Obsidian's plugin architecture special?

Obsidian's plugin architecture is special because it allows users to extend the functionality of the app. It has a large community plugins directory with over 1,639 plugins available, providing a wide range of options to customize the app to individual needs.

How can you determine the usefulness of a plugin if it's not popular?

While popularity can indicate a plugin's utility, it's not always the best measure. Some plugins may be less popular but highly useful for specific tasks. The video suggests looking beyond download numbers to find 'gems' that are not widely discussed but can significantly enhance productivity and creativity workflows.

What is the most downloaded plugin in Obsidian according to the video?

The most downloaded plugin mentioned in the video is 'Excalidraw', with almost 2 million downloads.

How does the Tab Navigator plugin help users manage their tabs in Obsidian?

The Tab Navigator plugin allows users to search through open tabs and select the desired one. It's particularly useful when assigned to a hotkey, enabling users to quickly switch between tabs without opening the command palette.

What is the purpose of the Callout Suggestions plugin?

The Callout Suggestions plugin provides a pop-up modal window for inserting callouts into notes as you type. It requires the Callout Manager plugin and allows for fuzzy searching of callouts, making the process of adding callouts easier.

How does the Media Notes plugin assist with taking notes on YouTube videos?

The Media Notes plugin has two parts: a JavaScript bookmarklet for sending YouTube videos to Obsidian and a plugin that adds features to the note where the video URL is embedded. It also allows inserting timestamps into the note, which are linked to the video, helping users to take notes and jump to specific video parts.

What is the Soundscapes plugin and how does it help with focus?

The Soundscapes plugin adds controls to the status bar for playing instrumental background music to help users focus while writing. It offers various playlists like lowii hip hop, thunderstorm sounds, and relaxing Jazz to create a focus-inducing environment.

What functionality does the Note Toolbar plugin offer?

The Note Toolbar plugin lets users add custom toolbars to notes in specific folders. These toolbars can include commands or URLs and are 'sticky', meaning they remain visible even when scrolling through longer notes.

What does the Monotele plugin do to manage tabs in Obsidian?

The Monotele plugin automatically closes duplicate tabs. If a user tries to open a note in a new tab while it's already open elsewhere, the plugin closes the duplicate and directs the user to the active tab.

How does the Checklist Reset plugin help with task management in Obsidian?

The Checklist Reset plugin allows users to reset all checklist items in a specific note. This is useful for task management, as it enables users to reuse checklists for recurring tasks by unchecking all items after completion.

What goals can the Writing Goals plugin help users set in Obsidian?

The Writing Goals plugin allows users to set writing goals for folders or notes based on total length or daily word count. These goals can be visualized in the file explorer or the right sidebar, aiding in consistent progress on long-form projects.

What is the Bea Tab plugin and how does it enhance the user experience?

The Bea Tab plugin adds a splash of color to new tabs by showing random pictures from chosen categories like forests or lakes. It can also display the time, random quotes, links to recently edited files, and search options, enhancing the visual appeal and functionality of new tabs.

What is the Share Note plugin and how does it facilitate sharing notes from Obsidian?

The Share Note plugin uploads the contents of a note and relevant CSS files to a web service, creating a shareable link. This allows users to share their notes via email, Slack, or text message. Notes can be encrypted, ensuring privacy, and links can be set to expire after a set period.