obsidian-cli

name	obsidian-cli
description	Use Obsidian CLI to debug, inspect, and test Obsidian plugins during development. Covers plugin reloads, runtime evaluation, console and error checks, settings tab checks, DOM inspection, screenshots, CDP, and mobile emulation with app.emulateMobile(true).
targets	["*"]
opencode	{"metadata":{"author":"obsidian-plugin-development","version":"1.0"}}

Obsidian CLI

Use this skill to inspect a running Obsidian instance while developing a plugin. Derive the plugin id from explicit input or manifest.json.id.

Essentials

rtk obsidian plugin:reload id=<plugin-id>
rtk obsidian dev:errors
rtk obsidian dev:console level=error
rtk obsidian commands filter=<plugin-id>

plugin:reload can return success even when plugin load threw. Always follow with dev:errors or dev:console level=error.

Runtime State

rtk obsidian eval code="app.plugins.plugins['<plugin-id>'] !== undefined"
rtk obsidian eval code="JSON.stringify(app.plugins.plugins['<plugin-id>']?.manifest, null, 2)"
rtk obsidian eval code="app.vault.getName()"

Confirm the focused vault before destructive actions.

Settings And Commands

Open settings when the plugin has a settings tab:

rtk obsidian eval code="app.setting.open(); app.setting.openTabById('<plugin-id>')"
rtk obsidian dev:screenshot path=planning/test-reports/settings.png

Inspect commands:

rtk obsidian commands filter=<plugin-id>

DOM And Visual Checks

Prefer runtime state and DOM checks before screenshots:

rtk obsidian dev:dom selector="<selector>" text
rtk obsidian dev:screenshot path=planning/test-reports/surface.png

Use selectors from the target repository. Do not import selectors from another plugin unless that repository uses them.

Mobile Emulation

Use an explicit mobile state and always reset it:

rtk obsidian eval code="app.emulateMobile(true)"
rtk obsidian plugin:reload id=<plugin-id>
rtk obsidian dev:errors
rtk obsidian dev:screenshot path=planning/test-reports/mobile.png
rtk obsidian eval code="app.emulateMobile(false)"

If the CLI provides dev:mobile, pass an explicit state rather than relying on toggle behavior.

CDP Escape Hatch

Prefer eval, commands, and dev:dom. Use CDP only for precise clicks, keyboard events, or state that Obsidian CLI cannot expose:

rtk obsidian dev:cdp method=Input.dispatchMouseEvent params='{"type":"mousePressed","x":100,"y":200,"button":"left","clickCount":1}'
rtk obsidian dev:cdp method=Input.dispatchMouseEvent params='{"type":"mouseReleased","x":100,"y":200,"button":"left","clickCount":1}'

Resource Rules

• Keep one Obsidian instance.
• Before launching anything, check whether the expected CDP port or helper reports an active instance.
• Reuse the current vault and plugin reload loop.
• Do not create a new vault, new user data directory, or second app process unless the user explicitly asks.
• If a duplicate instance is accidentally launched, stop the duplicate and report it.