---
title: "Obsidian: A Year Later"
description: "Reflections on using Obsidian for research notes, teaching materials, and personal knowledge management."
pubDate: "Jan 15 2024"
image: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1484480974693-6ca0a78fb36b?w=400&auto=format&fit=crop&q=60"
authorImage: "/avatar/avatar1.png"
authorName: "Neeldhara"
---

# Obsidian: A Year Later

After a year of daily use, Obsidian has transformed how I think about knowledge management.

## What Works Brilliantly

### The Graph View
Seeing connections between ideas visually has led to unexpected research insights. The graph isn't just pretty - it's functional.

### Plugin Ecosystem
The community plugins are incredible. Dataview turns your notes into a database. Templater automates repetitive tasks.

### Local Storage
Your notes are just markdown files. No vendor lock-in, complete control, and peace of mind.

## Pain Points

### Mobile Experience
While functional, the mobile app lacks the fluidity of the desktop version. Syncing can occasionally hiccup.

### Learning Curve
The flexibility means complexity. New users might feel overwhelmed by options.

## The Verdict

For academics and researchers, Obsidian is transformative. The investment in learning pays dividends in productivity and insight.