Getting started with ExcaliBrain - starting from an empty Obsidian Vault (Part 1 of 3)

Summary

In this tutorial, Jolt introduces Excalibrain, an Obsidian plugin that visualizes connections in Markdown documents as structured graphs. He guides viewers through setting up Excalibrain from scratch, demonstrating how to create a new vault, install essential plugins, and build a dialog map around a remote work policy. The video covers adding positions and arguments, formatting nodes for clarity, and establishing relationships within the graph. By the end, viewers are encouraged to experiment with the settings and prepare for further customization in the next part of the series.

Takeaways

• 😀 Excalibrain is an Obsidian plugin that visualizes connections in Markdown documents as structured graphs.
• 🛠️ Setting up Excalibrain can be intimidating due to various settings, but this guide simplifies the process.
• 📚 The dialog mapping example focuses on the pros and cons of implementing a remote work policy at a company.
• 💬 The Issue-Based Information Systems (IBIS) framework consists of issues, positions, supporting arguments, and conclusions.
• 🔍 To begin, create a new Obsidian vault and install essential plugins: Excalidraw, Dataview, and Excalibrain.
• 📄 Start by creating a central document titled 'Remote Work Policy' that serves as the main question in your graph.
• 🌐 Utilize the command palette to access Excalibrain and visualize the relationships between nodes.
• ✨ Customize node appearances by adding tags like 'question' and 'position' for better visual distinction.
• 🔗 Define relationships between nodes using Data View fields and add nodes to the ontology for clear connections.
• ⏳ The first part concludes with encouragement to experiment with the settings before proceeding to the next part.

Q & A

What is Excalibrain?

Excalibrain is an Obsidian plugin designed to visualize connections within markdown documents in a structured graph format.

What framework is used in the dialog mapping example presented?

The dialog mapping example uses the Issue-Based Information Systems (IBIS) framework.

What are the main components of the IBIS framework?

The main components of the IBIS framework include issues (phrased as questions), positions (responses to these issues), supporting and objecting arguments, and evidences attached to various nodes.

How do you start creating a new vault in Obsidian?

To create a new vault in Obsidian, click on 'Create a new vault', name it, choose a location, and then click 'Create'.

What plugins are necessary for Excalibrain to function properly?

To use Excalibrain, you need to install Excalidraw, Dataview, and Excalibrain itself.

How can you add a new node in Excalibrain?

You can add a new node in Excalibrain by creating a note with the desired title, which then becomes part of the dialog map.

What is the significance of the dashed line versus the solid line in Excalibrain?

A dashed line indicates an inferred relationship between nodes, while a solid line represents an explicitly defined relationship.

What is the purpose of adding tags in Excalibrain?

Tags in Excalibrain are used for formatting purposes, allowing for different styles and appearances for various types of nodes, such as questions and positions.

How do you establish relationships between nodes in Excalibrain?

You can establish relationships by right-clicking on a node, selecting the appropriate option, and specifying the type of relationship (e.g., next friends).

What should you do if a node doesn't appear in the desired color in Excalibrain?

If a node doesn’t appear in the desired color, ensure that it has the correct tag and that a corresponding markdown document exists for it.