Obsidian Starter Kit

Transform Chaos Into Clarity in 30 Minutes

Stop wasting hours searching for notes. Start with a system used by 1,000+ knowledge workers.The Obsidian Starter Kit is a comprehensive knowledge system that transforms Obsidian into a complete productivity and learning environment. It combines proven methodologies (PARA, Zettelkasten, Johnny Decimal, GTD) with a battle-tested organization that scales from 10 notes to 10,000+ notes.Important: The Obsidian Starter Kit is an Evergreen project. I improve it regularly with free lifetime updates.

The Bottom Line: This system saves you 100+ hours of setup and many hours every month. Start productive on day one, not week six.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rated 4.9/5 by 1,000+ users"Finally clicked how awesome Obsidian is!" — Cal Desmond-Pearson"Game changing for keeping track of all the details" — Dwayne Appleby

v3.0.0 Announcement

What's New:

  • 🚀 Clearly defined note types with metadata — The whole system is now strongly typed. Each type of note has a specific type tag, specific fields, specific values, etc.

  • 🎯 Complete Action System — Connect your big-picture goals to daily tasks. Goals → Plans → Projects → Tasks, all automatically linked. Finally, turn strategy into action.

  • 🏷️ Hierarchical Tags — Find any note in 3 seconds. No more endless scrolling or forgotten insights. Search by zone/type/topic with surgical precision.

  • 🗺️ First-Class Obsidian Bases Support — Database-like views for your knowledge. Manage books, projects, contacts, and more like a pro—no manual organization required.

  • 📝 40+ Smart Templates — Stop starting from scratch. Every template auto-fills metadata, auto-files notes, and maintains perfect consistency across your vault.

  • 📚 Brand New User Guide — 100+ pages of crystal-clear documentation. Everything from "What is Zettelkasten?" to advanced AI integration. Your complete PKM education, built-in.

  • 🤖 AI-Ready from Day One — Connect Claude Code, use MCP, or integrate any AI tool. Your entire knowledge base becomes AI-accessible instantly.

  • 🎉 Icons for every note type — Recognize notes at a glance, whether it's a meeting note, a daily note, a person note, ...

  • And SO MUCH MORE!

Shortly put: This is a HUGE release with EPIC improvements

Why OSK Saves You 100+ Hours

❌ Without OSK

  • Spend weeks figuring out folder structure

  • Trial-and-error with dozens of plugins

  • Manually build templates from scratch

  • Learn PKM methods through scattered articles

  • Struggle with inconsistent organization

✅ With OSK

  • Battle-tested system, ready in 30 minutes

  • Scales from 10 notes to 10,000+ notes

  • Carefully curated plugins, pre-configured

  • 40+ smart templates that auto-file notes

  • Complete PKM education built-in

Time saved: 100+ hours of setup + 10 hours/month ongoing

Your daily note: the single entry point for everything you capture
Obsidian Starter Kit

Who is this for?

👥 Who Is This For?

  • You're just starting with Obsidian and want a proven system, not trial-and-error

  • You're overwhelmed by options and need expert guidance on structure and plugins

  • You want to learn PKM methods (Zettelkasten, PARA, GTD) through hands-on examples

  • You're migrating from another tool and need a solid foundation to start from

  • You value your time and prefer learning from someone who's refined this for many years

Not for you if: You enjoy spending months building from scratch or already have a perfect system

Obsidian Starter Kit

What's Included

The Complete Obsidian Vault

Watch your knowledge graph grow as ideas connect naturally

Core Systems

  • 💪 Solid and Scalable Structure: Everything has its place. And AI can find it all easily

  • 🚀 Clearly defined note types with metadata — The whole system is now strongly typed. Each type of note has a specific type tag, specific fields, specific values, etc.

  • 📝 40+ Smart Templates — Stop starting from scratch. Every template auto-fills metadata, auto-files notes, and maintains perfect consistency across your vault.

  • 🏷️ Hierarchical Tags — Find any note in 3 seconds. No more endless scrolling or forgotten insights. Search by zone/type/topic with surgical precision.

  • 🎉 Icons for every note type — Recognize notes at a glance, whether it's a meeting note, a daily note, a person note, ...

  • ⚙️ Carefully Picked and Pre-configured Plugins: Everything you need for productive knowledge work

  • 🗺️ First-Class Obsidian Bases Support — Database-like views for your knowledge. Manage books, projects, contacts, and more like a pro—no manual organization required

  • 👁️ First-class Visual Thinking Support

  • And SO MUCH MORE!

Battle-tested templates for every type of note you'll create

PKM Methodologies Built-In

  • Zettelkasten: Atomic notes + permanent notes system

  • PARA Method: Projects/Areas/Resources/Archives organization

  • GTD Workflow: Capture → clarify → organize → reflect → engage

  • Journaling: Daily/weekly/monthly/quarterly/yearly reviews

Books base cards view with caption "Manage your reading list like a database - no manual organization needed

Specialized Systems

  • Dot System: "Sub-atomic" knowledge capture (Breadcrumbs, Seeds, Wisdom)

  • Source Management: Books, articles, videos, podcasts with progress tracking

  • Meeting Notes: Structured templates with auto-filing and decision tracking

  • People Management: Contacts with relationship and interaction tracking

  • Content Creation: Writing system for articles, newsletters, books

  • Health & Habits: Track mood, energy, sleep, exercise, nutrition

Organize and prioritize goals and projects - be as tactical or strategic as you want

AI-Ready System

OSK is fully AI-ready and has evolved with Agentic AI tools in mind. Every part of the system is easy to leverage with AI:

  • Analyze health data: AI gives you insights from your health tracking

  • Summarize meetings: AI extracts key points and action items automatically

  • Write articles: AI drafts content based on all your notes about a topic

  • Mirror your writing style: AI learns to write like you from your vault

  • Connect tools: Use Claude Code, Model Context Protocol (MCP), and other AI integrations

The entire Obsidian Starter Kit Reference documentation is AI-accessible, so AI tools know everything about your system instantly.

Connect AI tools like Claude Code directly to your knowledge base
Obsidian Starter Kit

The Documentation

Comprehensive documentation covering everything from theory to practice
  • Comprehensive User Guide: 100+ pages covering every feature and system

  • Migration Guides: Step-by-step from v2 or custom setups

  • Reference Docs: Quick-access guides for every system

  • Theory: Deep explanations of Zettelkasten, PARA, Johnny Decimal, Atomic Notes, and many more Knowledge Management concepts. The result of thousands of hours of research and practice

  • Workflows: Step-by-step processes for all systems

  • Best Practices: Tips, tricks, and recommendations

  • Video Course (premium version only): 2h20m covering Obsidian + PKM principles

Obsidian Starter Kit

The Community

  • Lifetime Access: Knowii Community for support and learning

  • Direct Connection: Other OSK and Obsidian users

  • Expert Access: Knowledge Management professionals

  • Priority Support: Direct help via email and community

Obsidian Starter Kit

Lifetime Benefits

  • All Future Updates: Free access to future versions

  • Evergreen Content: Growing tutorials and guides

  • Priority Support: Direct help via email and community

  • Community Access: Lifetime membership to PKM community

Obsidian Starter Kit

This vs. Building From Scratch

AspectBuilding YourselfObsidian Starter Kit
Time to productive4-8 weeks30 minutes
Folder structureTrial and errorBattle-tested, scales to 10k+ notes
Plugin selectionResearch 1k+ pluginsCarefully curated and pre-configured
TemplatesBuild from scratchCarefully curated and pre-configured
PKM educationSelf-study scattered resourcesComplete guide built-in
Ongoing updatesMaintain yourselfFree lifetime updates
SupportPublic forums and communities onlyCommunity + direct support
Cost"Free" (100+ hours)One-time investment
Solid and scalable structure that works beyond 10K notes

Screenshots

The Backstory

I'm Sébastien Dubois. I've been passionate about information, Knowledge Management, and PKM for more than 20 years. As an author, blogger, entrepreneur and Knowledge Worker, I needed solutions to store and organize an enormous amount of information.Over the years, I've explored, used, and advocated many tools but have settled on Obsidian. With the Obsidian Starter Kit, I offer you the result of my own research and experimentation. It's like a cheat code to jump straight to stress-free note-making.I've spent months refining and perfecting my Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) system, and have spent countless hours tweaking my system so you don't have to.The Obsidian Starter Kit is a ready-made Obsidian vault that includes my recommended system and explains my own approach.

🌟 Trusted by 1,000+ Knowledge Workers

  • 👨💼 Product Managers

  • 👨🎓 Researchers

  • ✍️ Writers

  • 👨💻 Developers

  • 👨🏫 Educators

  • 🎯 Consultants

  • 📊 Analysts

  • 🚀 Entrepreneurs

By the Numbers:

  • 1,000+ active users worldwide

  • 4.9/5 average rating

  • 95% would recommend to a colleague

  • 20+ years of Knowledge Management expertise behind it

  • 3+ years continuous improvement and updates

Obsidian Starter Kit

What's in the video course?

The Obsidian Starter Course is a video course (~2h20) of content covering:

  • Obsidian: installation, user interface, key features, plugins, automation, tips and tricks, ...

  • The Markdown syntax

  • YAML metadata

  • Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) techniques, principles, frameworks and methods such as the Johnny Decimal system, the PARA method, the Zettelkasten method, the LIFT principle, the FILE framework, Atomic notes, Maps of Content (MoCs), Evergreen notes, ...

  • Journaling

  • Periodic reviews

  • Templating and Templates

  • Automation

  • Task management

  • Best practices and recommendations

  • Hands-on explanations

  • And more!

Obsidian Starter Kit

Evergreen content

The Obsidian Starter Kit user guide is expanding week after week, year after year

  • Theory

  • Detailed workflows

  • Tutorials

  • Tips and tricks

  • ...

The Obsidian vault also evolves over time:

  • The structure improves

  • New templates are added

  • New plugins are added

  • etc.

Obsidian Starter Kit

📈 What Users Are Saying

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Game Changing"
"The Obsidian Starter Kit has been game changing for me in providing a ready to go framework for keeping track of all the details. The templates have simplified my tasks, enhanced my efficiency, and even seem to have improved my memory. Overall, this has been a joy to adopt as a work tool."
— Dwayne Appleby
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Finally Clicked"
"Finally clicked how awesome Obsidian is! Thanks to your excellent Obsidian Starter Kit!"
— Cal Desmond-Pearson
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "100% Worth It"
"As someone who has bounced around trying to find the right Knowledge tool, I've realized many of my issues have been related to complexity. The structure, design and explanations in OSK have finally given me the foundation I needed. 100% worth it."
— Michael Aaron
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "1-2 Days to Intermediate Level"
"Starting as an absolute beginner, this kit allowed me to jump to what I feel is an intermediate level of Obsidian understanding and effective note taking in the span of 1-2 days, and I am grateful that I found it."
— Blake Holder
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Easy, Complete and FANTASTIC!"
"Easy, complete and FANTASTIC!!!"
— Miriam G
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Must-Have for PKM"
"The Obsidian Starter Kit is an excellent resource for anyone interested in Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) and building their own 'second brain.' A must-have for those looking to take control of their knowledge and productivity!"
— Franjo Pehar
"I was a novice to Obsidian & not a techie person. This is one of the best Obsidian Starter kits to get you started with Obsidian. You will not be disappointed. 😉"
— Yaaqoub
"Flawless design and easy to use with detailed explanations behind every design. Now I can take notes stress-free!"
— Chananan Srasri
"Great content - got me up to speed with what I was looking for fast! Sébastien answered some questions by mail also which was much appreciated!"
— Sam Gonzales
"Although I was already using Obsidian in earnest on a day to day basis when I purchased it, I've found this guide / set up invaluable as a way to round out my understanding of features and plugins. Whether you're just starting out or need some guidance taming the data in your vault this kit is a really useful resource."
— M G ZANDSTRA
"I absolutely love your kit and it has been so immensely helpful"
— Ashwin Appiah
"This is a practical and well thought out tool for organising Obsidian. The kit provided me with a solid framework, helpful templates, and automations that made it easier to manage my vault without feeling overwhelmed."
— Ghada
"Sebastien's Obsidian Starter Kit is a powerful tool for those looking to dive into the world of Obsidian without being overwhelmed. It significantly shortens the learning curve."
— Lubos Kolouch
"Excellent package to get started with Obsidian or optimize what you already have. The developer has tried it all and distilled a core setup that you can use out-of-the-box or adapt."
— Henry F.
"Thanks for making the product. I'm making efforts to start using Obsidian more in my daily workflow and having a place to start makes the task much less daunting!"
— Liam Weight
"The Obsidian Starter Kit is a really great way to get going with Obsidian, and Sebastien's writing and knowledge is so insightful and helpful"
— Rick Elliott
"More intuitive, increased depth of information from Sebastien, growing the Starter Kit product, has expanded my utilization of @Obsidian. Better and getting better. Worth the investment in KM..."
— Charles F McMaster
"I love this product. Obsidian can be overwhelming with all you can do with it. Sebastien has pulled together a great collection of add-ons and templates and is a great starting point to get productive and begin your personal knowledge management journey"
— Todd Walters
"Just to thank the work and content that allowed me to discover the background of a custom vault. It was a real boost for me and given the price, it was a real investment of time and learning."
— Trobrillant
"If you have been wanting to try Obsidian but overwhelmed with options and unsure where to start, Sebastien makes it easy with his 'ready to go' vault."
— Andrew Zavitsanos
"Extremely comprehensive and most worthwhile!"
— Mike Nall
"A very good starting point for your Personal Knowledge Management."
— Fredrik Nordstrom
"Great starter kit, love it!"
— Naya Moss
"Very helpful to give you a framework to develop from"
— Brenton James
"Useful learning for Obsidian. Appreciate updates"
— Adrian McLachlan
"Easy to follow and well done!"
— Edouard Kutter
"If you have been searching 😖 and searching for the right Obsidian Starter Kit??? This is the answer!!! It's a great start to set up the foundation of your system in Obsidian."
— Yaaqoub Eliyyahu
"Extraordinario para comenzar a trabajar con Obsidian"
— Manuel Miguel
"I'm very new to PKM, but the Obsidian Starter Kit has been a tremendous help in getting me started"
— Fredrik Nordström
"Sebastien's Obsidian Starter Kit is a powerful tool for those looking to dive into the world of Obsidian without being overwhelmed. It's a comprehensive solution that significantly shortens the learning curve, providing an impressively structured way to start capturing notes and facilitating daily journaling. The kit's integration of automated tasks and pre-designed templates are a boon to beginners, alleviating the initial intimidation of starting from scratch. If you're new to Obsidian and need a solid starting point, this starter kit comes highly recommended. It doesn't just help you navigate Obsidian, but also empowers you to harness its full potential right from the get-go."
— Lubos Kolouch

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I'm brand new to Obsidian. Is this too advanced?
A: No! OSK is designed for beginners and experts alike. The user guide explains everything step-by-step. Many users start with OSK on day 1 and become productive in under a few hours.
Q: What if OSK doesn't fit my workflow?
A: OSK is a starting point, not a straitjacket. Everything is customizable—tweak the structure, templates, and plugins to match your needs. Plus, 30-day money-back guarantee if it's not right for you.
Q: How do updates work?
A: Free lifetime updates via the store. You'll get all future updates at no additional cost. Updates are announced via email and the community. Release notes and migration guides are provided.
Q: Do I need to pay for Obsidian?
A: No! Obsidian is free for personal and professional use. OSK is a pre-built vault + comprehensive documentation + community access.
Q: Is support included?
A: Yes! Lifetime community access + priority email support + migration help. I personally respond to questions and help users get started.
Q: Can I use OSK for work/commercial purposes?
A: Yes, absolutely. Many consultants, project managers, and knowledge workers use OSK for their professional work. Just follow Obsidian's licensing (free for personal use, paid for commercial use of Obsidian itself).

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Join the Community

The PKM community is a home for people interested in getting started or getting better at Personal Knowledge Management (PKM).Our intent is to create a space where lifelong learners can share ideas, workflows, tools, interesting articles, tips, tricks, and hacks about knowledge management and how to build a second brain.


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Join us on Reddit

The PKM community is also present on Reddit. On that platform, we share all the interesting links we find online about Personal Knowledge Management.

© Sébastien Dubois. All rights reserved.