Obsidian for web

I have a reason: Obsidian Doesn’t allow Dictation on the Mac Using voice control. For me that’s basically a dealbreaker And makes the application Unusable. And yes I am dictating this right now. :wink: So Yes please bring on the web Version so I can use it on safari and dictate.

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The problem

Chromebook without Linux containers (ASUS Chromebook Flip C302CA). I sync from my Windows computer to my Chromebook using Obsidian Sync + using the Android app. It is a mediocre experience :cry: Not to mention the limitation of 5 vaults (I use 7).

The solution

As much as I like Obsidian on Windows, a Web app would solve all my problems. I join the others regarding accessing Obsidian from any computer.

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I have a similar issue on my Chromebook, I use mine for school so it’s locked down. There is no way for me to use Obsidian at school. Before anyone says anything about it just being markdown and how I can just use another tool, I use the unique features like the graphing tools, and linking functionality.

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VScode can now run from web browser.

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I need this for using Obsidian at work, where they enforce a very strict policy regarding which application can and cannot be installed.

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Using vscode.dev could be an easy solution to multiple windows!

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I have corporate restrictions on my work laptop and have to resort to a Frankenstein approach to being able to access notes at home, work, and mobile. I’ve paid for sync and appreciate what it does but ended up creating a GitHub repository to be able to use logseq (web) at work for notes editing and then getting my full obsidian effect at home. The method is clunky and subject to a lot of curating because of formatting issues that I haven’t quite got straightened out between logseq and obsidian. Not particularly friction-free but worth it to be able to access my notes at work. A web application would allow me to use the amazing features I came to obsidian for while also being able to choose if I would like a local only notes database or a cloud based approach depending on the vault I am using.

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Would be awesome to have a feature like this even if its very limited.

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As has been mentioned, work restrictions mean I’m using personal devices on the corporate network in order to utilize Obsidian for my workflow and while this has been approved by my direct supervisor, anyone above him could easily override my permissions. Since I can’t utilize it natively on my work PC, I’m carting around my iPad in order to manage my knowledge base and task management system.

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+1 for this feature request.

I used to have Obsidian working on my corporate laptop (local install + obsidian sync). And now, the corporate security admin just apply IBM carbon black, and it blocks Obsidian running on the laptop :frowning:

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+1 for this feature request.

My company’s pc is not allowed to install app

Agree, this would be useful, or the ability to have a portable version of the desktop app so it continues to run locally, but doesn’t require installation. Not sure if that would enable users with the said IBM Carbon Black to use it, but as an alternative to get too focused on web solution

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Those of you who are having work/school IT issues with Obs you could try installing it on a USB stick that might work.

If that doesn’t or you’re using a Chromebook or other device that doesn’t support Obs but run it on another device you could use VSCode for Web on that device and write markdown files with it and import them to Obs when you next use the device it works on. Alternatively, you could install something like Parsec on the personal device that you already have Obs on and access it remotely from work. or school. Parsec has a web app for Client access that doesn’t require anything extra to be installed.

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This could be a very good solution to the install blocked apps in company environments. As I am not that software guy: Is Obsidian a portable app? Hence can you copy it to an usb drive and run it from there?

Best regards,
Peter

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Not a portable app. Some users have claimed to have it running as portable.

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afaics a web version of Obsidian would require a web database. Obsidian Sync already stores vaults online. idk but I would assume that a web version of Obsidian would require quite a bit of extra development. In which case, it seems to me that the earliest it could be done would be well into next year, and even that would assume it was the next major priority target after Live Preview. And pricing-wise it would be Sync+

A quicker, but much less complete and convenient alternative, would be to:

  • sync attachments to a cloud drive
  • export the vaults to OPML and import the OPML into Dynalist
  • use the web version of Dynalist
  • export the OPML from Dynalist and import into Obsidian.

Biggest issue is that Dynalist isn’t set up for importing multiple small files which is the reason to use OPML. But reducing a vault to a small number of files then requires using longform markdown files rather than the atomic notes in a single file that is the norm for many Obsidian users. The same amount of information/text is possible but in fewer files and retaining all the ability to link. It effectively uses headers instead of file names. OPML retains all the hierarchies in the markdown files.

A simple way of facilitating management of attachments would be with a simple nesting approach:

  • Folder A contains Folder B and Folder C
  • Folders A and B are vaults; Folder C is the attachment folder for Vault A
  • The export/import/web use is all done with Vault B
  • Folder C is synced with a cloud drive and therefore accessible from the web
  • Vault A is what is used when not restricted to web use
    With less convenience, Folder B could be uploaded to a cloud drive and the files could be read and edited. But linking and search would not be as easy as with the Dynalist option.

This may be a violation of the IT Policy, even if it’s possible.

One of the reasons I’d like a web version is that I don’t want to store my personal work notes on a corporate device. There may be things in there I don’t want to be known by others (i.e. notes just for me) If these are sync’d to a work laptop in a simple text format, they become available to my company.

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Please do this! I´ll even pay for this feature, but this would elevate obsidian to a whole next level!
I make my notes at home for work and when I am at work I have to use iPad/iPhone to be able to use them…
With the possibility to open&edit my notes in a browser would be so much more convenient!
Now I have to use stackedit which is doable and works just fine, but with all the possibilities that obsidian has that would be a godsend…

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Another user here who has a corporate laptop that’s blocked from installing 3rd party apps and would really love a web-interface.

To the comments earlier around IT policy, in may case I’m not looking to add company related notes, just personal stuff. Ideas come up all the time that I’d love to get down before I lose them, and it’s not realistic each time to find my personal laptop…

Take this note for example, which I’m typing on my corporate device. Logging into my Obsidian forum account and posting this is not a violation of company policy, but if there was no web access and i could only post via a desktop app I wouldn’t have been able to add this.

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