# Ticket: Obsidian vault sync and backup

## Metadata
- Type: Ticket
- Status: Planned
- Project: Knowledge Base
- Created: 2026-05-14
- Updated: 2026-05-17
- Priority: Medium

## Goal

Back up and/or sync the user's Obsidian vault across all devices.

## Why

The Obsidian vault is intended to become durable knowledge storage for learning, project notes, and operational documentation.

## Scope

To clarify:
- Identify current vault location
- Identify all target devices
- Decide whether this is sync, backup, or both
- Choose tool/method
- Document restore procedure

Possible approaches:
- Obsidian Sync, if paid service is acceptable
- Syncthing for peer-to-peer LAN/Tailscale sync
- Git for versioned notes, if comfortable with Git workflows
- Nextcloud desktop/mobile sync after Nextcloud is stable
- Restic/Borg/rclone for true backup to a separate target

## Acceptance Criteria

This ticket is done when:
- [ ] Current vault location is documented
- [ ] Target devices are documented
- [ ] Sync vs backup model is chosen
- [ ] At least one backup copy exists outside the original device
- [ ] Restore instructions exist

## Questions

- Where is the Obsidian vault currently located?
- Which devices should receive it?
- Do you want live sync, backup snapshots, or both?
- Are mobile devices included?
- Is paid Obsidian Sync acceptable, or do you prefer self-hosted/free?

## 2026-05-17 Spec Advancement

Confidence level: medium that this is a blocker for knowledge workflows; low for exact tool choice until current vault/device facts are known.

Decisions now stable:
- Sync and backup must be treated separately.
- Nextcloud can be a candidate sync transport, but should not be the only backup until Nextcloud backups are solved.
- The YouTube-to-Obsidian pipeline should continue using staging only until vault sync/backup is decided.

Refined next milestone:
- Capture the current vault location/devices and choose a minimum safe backup before any automation writes to the vault.

Updated next actions:
- [ ] Document current vault path and target devices.
- [ ] Choose initial sync option: Obsidian Sync, Syncthing, Nextcloud sync, or Git.
- [ ] Choose initial backup option independent of sync.
- [ ] Perform one restore/readback test.

## Notes

- Sync is not the same as backup. Sync can replicate accidental deletion.
- A good setup may use both sync plus periodic versioned backups.