Margins is a Node.js MCP server that connects Claude Desktop/Code to a local Obsidian vault or markdown folder, letting Claude search notes, read pages, and stage proposed edits or new pages. It keeps files local and requires a Claude subscription rather than an API key.
From the registry: Use your Claude Pro/Max subscription on your Obsidian vault. Reads markdown, proposes writes.
$ npm install -g margins-mcpPlease install the `margins` MCP server into my current AI client (that's you).
Required prerequisites (do these first if not already done):
- **Install Node.js 18 or newer** — Node.js 18+ is required to run the Margins MCP server. (https://nodejs.org/)
- **Install margins-mcp globally** — Install the MCP server package globally so the command is available on your system. The README recommends global install over npx for long-term use because npx cache cleanup can break configs later. Run: `npm install -g margins-mcp`
- **Prepare a vault or notes folder** — Have an Obsidian vault or any folder containing notes/documents that Margins should index.
Canonical MCP server config (stdio transport):
- command: `margins-mcp`
- args: []
- required environment variables:
- `MARGINS_VAULT`: Absolute path to your Obsidian vault or Markdown/notes folder. (example: `<absolute-path-to-your-vault>`)
- optional environment variables:
- `MARGINS_INDEX_ROOTS`: Comma-separated subfolders to index. If unset, Margins auto-detects index roots based on vault contents. (example: `<comma-separated-subfolders>`)
- `MARGINS_TELEMETRY`: Override telemetry setting for this session. Accepted values are on or off. If unset, Margins uses the consent decision stored during install. (example: `<on-or-off>`)
Note: The README's manual config example uses `node /absolute/path/to/.../margins-mcp.js`, but the preferred portable install path is the globally installed `margins-mcp` command. The `margins-mcp install` command can auto-write client-specific config files, but the canonical stdio shape above is the underlying configuration.
Add this MCP server to my current client's config in the correct format for you. If you need secrets or credentials I haven't provided, ASK me — do not invent values or leave raw placeholders. After adding it, tell me how to verify the server is connected.MARGINS_VAULTrequiredAbsolute path to the Obsidian vault or markdown folder.AI orchestration with hive-mind swarms, neural networks, and 87 MCP tools for enterprise dev.
Persistent codebase knowledge graph. Survives session restarts and context compaction.
A powerful toolkit for coding, providing semantic retrieval and editing capabilities.