Obsidian Semantic Search

io.github.DalecB/obsidian-semantic-mcp·v0.2.1·Search

Read-only semantic search MCP server for Obsidian vaults using local Ollama embeddings.

In-path gate · all MCP tools

Using Obsidian Semantic Search in Claude, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Cline, or Zed?

MCP tool contracts can change remotely with no version bump. The mcpindex gate pins each contract and HOLDs the call when it drifts—before your agent acts. Zero credentials. This is not the package install for this server itself (use Install this server for that).

Install the mcpindex gate (one command)

Rewrites your MCP host config so each server launches behind the gate. Inspect first: curl -fsSL https://mcpindex.ai/install.sh | less

curl -fsSL https://mcpindex.ai/install.sh | sh

Auditable install path →Watch it hold a drift →

Trust verdict · v1 advisory · method

REVIEWstatus: PARTIALfresh until 2026-08-04 06:03 UTC

screened 2026-07-05tier: scannedgranularity: description-levelsource: registry

Semantic screen found no manipulation pattern in the description. Conformance probe not yet run.

mcpindex.integrity.descriptionpassINFO

evidence“Read-only search, no data exfiltration or modification”via static_description

Limits of this verdict

- Semantic screen only - the deterministic conformance probe has not run on this server
- Confidence is reported but not yet calibrated (v1)
- Screen reads the tool description, not the live behavior
- advisory
- registry description only no input schema
- screen model 8b

Semantic screen: an LLM judge reads the tool description for hidden instructions (status PARTIAL). A pass means the description is not lying, not that the tool is safe: a high-capability tool with an honest description still warrants caution. The deterministic conformance probe has not been run on this server yet, so the screen here is semantic-only. Posture: advisory. Confidences are reported but not yet calibrated (calibrated=false at v1). Full verdict history is not shown on this page.

Own this server? Screen its description →

Embed this badge

A live verdict badge for your README or listing. It reflects the current screen, links back here, and updates when the verdict does.

Markdown

[![mcpindex](https://mcpindex.ai/api/v1/badge/io-github-dalecb-obsidian-semantic-mcp)](https://mcpindex.ai/server/io-github-dalecb-obsidian-semantic-mcp)

HTML

<a href="https://mcpindex.ai/server/io-github-dalecb-obsidian-semantic-mcp"><img src="https://mcpindex.ai/api/v1/badge/io-github-dalecb-obsidian-semantic-mcp" alt="mcpindex verdict" height="20" /></a>

Environment variables

OBSIDIAN_VAULT_ROOT

required

Absolute path to the local Obsidian vault.

OBSIDIAN_SEMANTIC_MCP_HOME

Directory for the external SQLite index, logs, and cache.

OBSIDIAN_EMBED_MODEL

Ollama embedding model name. Defaults to bge-m3.

OLLAMA_BASE_URL

Ollama API base URL. Defaults to http://localhost:11434.

OBSIDIAN_SEMANTIC_STARTUP_INDEX

Set to true to run incremental indexing when the server starts.

OBSIDIAN_SEMANTIC_ALLOW_SENSITIVE

Set to true to allow include_sensitive tool calls.

OBSIDIAN_SEMANTIC_EXCLUDE

Comma- or newline-separated folders to always exclude from indexing, search, and read.

OBSIDIAN_SEMANTIC_SENSITIVE_PATHS

Comma- or newline-separated folders treated as sensitive (blocked unless unlocked). Defaults to 08_PersonalInfo/.

MCP quality score · maturity, not trust · methodology

freshness

completeness

installability

documentation

stability

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Install this server

Claude Desktop (claude_desktop_config.json)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "obsidian-semantic-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@dalecb/obsidian-semantic-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "OBSIDIAN_VAULT_ROOT": "<obsidian_vault_root>",
        "OBSIDIAN_SEMANTIC_MCP_HOME": "<obsidian_semantic_mcp_home>",
        "OBSIDIAN_EMBED_MODEL": "<obsidian_embed_model>",
        "OLLAMA_BASE_URL": "<ollama_base_url>",
        "OBSIDIAN_SEMANTIC_STARTUP_INDEX": "<obsidian_semantic_startup_index>",
        "OBSIDIAN_SEMANTIC_ALLOW_SENSITIVE": "<obsidian_semantic_allow_sensitive>",
        "OBSIDIAN_SEMANTIC_EXCLUDE": "<obsidian_semantic_exclude>",
        "OBSIDIAN_SEMANTIC_SENSITIVE_PATHS": "<obsidian_semantic_sensitive_paths>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Cursor (.cursor/mcp.json)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "obsidian-semantic-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@dalecb/obsidian-semantic-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "OBSIDIAN_VAULT_ROOT": "<obsidian_vault_root>",
        "OBSIDIAN_SEMANTIC_MCP_HOME": "<obsidian_semantic_mcp_home>",
        "OBSIDIAN_EMBED_MODEL": "<obsidian_embed_model>",
        "OLLAMA_BASE_URL": "<ollama_base_url>",
        "OBSIDIAN_SEMANTIC_STARTUP_INDEX": "<obsidian_semantic_startup_index>",
        "OBSIDIAN_SEMANTIC_ALLOW_SENSITIVE": "<obsidian_semantic_allow_sensitive>",
        "OBSIDIAN_SEMANTIC_EXCLUDE": "<obsidian_semantic_exclude>",
        "OBSIDIAN_SEMANTIC_SENSITIVE_PATHS": "<obsidian_semantic_sensitive_paths>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Cline (cline_mcp_settings.json)

npx -y @dalecb/obsidian-semantic-mcp

Claude Code (claude mcp add)

claude mcp add --scope user obsidian-semantic-mcp -- npx -y @dalecb/obsidian-semantic-mcp

Gemini CLI (gemini mcp add)

gemini mcp add -s user obsidian-semantic-mcp npx -y @dalecb/obsidian-semantic-mcp

Verdict API

curl -s mcpindex.ai/api/v1/trust/server/io-github-dalecb-obsidian-semantic-mcp

Free-tier verdict as JSON: decision + dimensions + severity. Call it from your agent before it invokes a tool it just discovered.

Details

version: v0.2.1
category: Search
verdict expires: 2026-08-04
quality: 84 / 100
operator: DalecB

Provenance

Verdict history is anchored to Bitcoin via OpenTimestamps. The anchor proof is public and any skeptic can recompute it offline.

Links

Repository →