Integrating Obsidian with Cursor for Web Development

Combining the knowledge management capabilities of Obsidian with the coding power of Cursor creates a powerful workflow for web developers. This post explores how to integrate these tools for maximum productivity.

Why Obsidian + Cursor Works

• Obsidian excels at knowledge management, documentation, and note-taking
• Cursor offers AI-enhanced coding with powerful editing features
• Together, they cover both the planning and execution phases of development

Setting Up Your Workspace

Folder Structure

Create a shared workspace that works with both tools:

project-root/
├── src/              # Source code (edited in Cursor)
│   ├── content/      # Where blog posts/notes live (can edit in either)
│   └── ...           # Other code directories
├── docs/             # Documentation (primarily edited in Obsidian)
└── .obsidian/        # Obsidian configuration

Configuring Obsidian

1. Create an Obsidian vault at your project root
2. Configure settings:
   • Enable “Use [[Wikilinks]]” for easy internal linking
   • Set default location for new notes to docs/
   • Enable the Templates plugin for consistent content creation

Configuring Cursor

1. Open your project folder in Cursor
2. Customize settings for Markdown editing:
   • Enable Markdown preview
   • Configure linting for consistent formatting

The Integrated Workflow

Here’s how to use them together effectively:

Planning in Obsidian

1. Create project roadmap and documentation

   • Use YAML frontmatter for metadata
   • Create MOCs (Maps of Content) for navigation
   • Document API designs and component structures

2. Draft content in Obsidian

   • Write blog posts and documentation
   • Organize content with tags and links
   • Use templates for consistent structure

Developing in Cursor

1. Use Cursor’s AI features for coding

   • Generate code based on your Obsidian documentation
   • Explain and refactor code with AI assistance
   • Debug with AI help

2. Edit content directly

   • Modify Markdown files in src/content/
   • Preview how content will look in your site

Synchronization Tips

• Use Git for version control across both tools
• Create templates that work in both environments
• Maintain consistent formatting for Markdown files
• Develop shortcuts in both tools for common tasks

Example: Blog Post Workflow

1. Draft blog post structure in Obsidian
2. Fill in content with Obsidian’s writing tools
3. Move or link file to src/content/blog/
4. Verify frontmatter and format in Cursor
5. Test the post in your Astro development environment

By leveraging both tools’ strengths, you create a workflow that handles both content creation and coding efficiently.