Markdown & Obsidian Sync

Lino allows you to connect your infinite canvas to local Markdown files. You can edit locally in your favorite editor (like Obsidian or Logseq) and see changes sync automatically to Lino, and vice versa.

Setting Up Integrations

Open User Settings (via the profile menu/settings icon).
Go to the Integrations / Markdown tab.
Select your provider:
- Obsidian: Choose your local Obsidian vault directory.
- Logseq: Choose your Logseq directory.
- Bear: Choose your Bear export directory.
- Plain Markdown: Select any folder containing .md files.

Importing Files

When you connect a directory, the Markdown Import modal will scan your files:

Select files: Check the documents you want to import.
Choose landing mode:
- Inbox: Send imported cards to your Inbox (bottom-left) so you can drag them onto canvases when ready.
- Gallery: Save imported cards directly to the Artifacts Gallery.

Bi-directional Syncing

Before syncing can occur, you must bind your canvas to a local directory (see Canvas Binding for instructions). Once configured:

Background Syncing: A local file watcher automatically monitors bound directories. Editing a .md file in Obsidian or VS Code instantly updates the card on your canvas; editing the card inside Lino writes the changes back to your local file.
Conflict Resolution: If edits occur in both places simultaneously, Lino's sync engine does not overwrite either. It flags the conflict, allowing you to choose which version to keep or merge them.
AI-assisted Reconciliations: Lino AI can monitor sync status. If it detects a mismatch between a card and its local file, it will display a warning and prompt you to run a reconciliation.