[FR] Obsidian Sync: Only Sync User-Defined Folders

Use Case / Problem

  • Premise

    • multi-device setup is: Primary Vault vs Secondary Vault(s)
  • Primary Vault acts as a “Life-OS

    • Contains large, low-immediate-relevance data (archives, past projects, media resources), unnecessary for mobile sync.
    • Has a deeply nested folder system optimised for organisation.
    • Mobile access need only specific, currently contextually relevant folders (e.g., stuff for current life stage).
  • Obsidian Sync limitations

    • 1GB/10GB/100GB plans force full-vault sync
      • Insufficient space for full-vault sync.
      • Low price-efficiency (for this use case) for personal use with workaround.
    • Excluding Folder” (the current only feature) necessitates compromising folder organisational structure (see workaround).

Proposed Solution

As opposed to “forcing full-vault sync with selected folders excluded”,

  • Add “Select Folders to Sync” functionality:
    • Sync only user-defined folders.
    • Preserve desktop vault’s intuitive folder structure without compromising adaptation.
    • Allows Obsidian Sync to be more versatile and customisable,
      • which aligns well with the design principles of Obsidian.

Current Workaround

  • Reorganise folders to use “Exclude Folders”:
    • Group non-mobile-needed folders into one/multiple directories to exclude them.
  • Drawbacks:
    • Forces unnatural folder hierarchy to accommodate sync limitations.
    • Reduces organisational clarity and efficiency.
    • Requires ongoing manual adjustments as needs change.
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