minimal-second-brain

A simple, AI-native knowledge management system for Obsidian.

Three folders. Zero templates. Works seamlessly with Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, and other AI assistants.

Quick Start

• Click "Use this template" to create your own repository
• Clone it and open in Obsidian
• Start capturing notes

That's it. The automation handles the rest.

Why This Approach

Why Obsidian? Plain markdown files in folders. No vendor lock-in. If Obsidian disappears, open the same files in VS Code or any text editor. iCloud syncs to your phone. Git tracks changes. AI assistants can read and edit plain text directly.

Why not Claude Projects? Your knowledge isn't static. You update notes, revise goals, add meeting summaries. Claude Projects are snapshots. This system is a flowing river with version history and offline access.

Why AI-native? As of 2025, AI assistants are better at finding, reading, and summarising your notes than you are. Let them handle retrieval and synthesis while you focus on capture and organisation.

Architecture

Testing

Tests live on the dev branch to keep the template clean. When you use this template, you get only what you need - no test files, no dev dependencies.

How It Works

The Manifest System

AI assistants read MANIFEST.md to understand your knowledge without scanning every file:

Example Use Cases

Your second brain becomes powerful when AI can query your personal knowledge: