GraphFrontier

GraphFrontier is an interactive graph workspace for Obsidian, with its own rendering and physics engine, independent of the built-in Graph View.

Turn connected notes into diagrams you can arrange, style, save, and share. Pin nodes in place, combine selections into named subgraphs, organize them around gravity centers, switch between layouts, and export interactive HTML graphs with note previews.

Include attachments as ordinary graph nodes, filter them by file type, and apply selection actions to multiple nodes at once. See the 0.9.1 release notes.

Use it to:

• Explore connections and discover patterns in your notes
• Map systems, documentation, and database relationships
• Build reusable visual layouts for research and presentations
• Let AI agents search, arrange, and style your graph through the built-in API/MCP

Install · Features · Agent access · Documentation · Support

Get started: install GraphFrontier from Obsidian's Community plugins, then run Open GraphFrontier. Installation and updates.

New In 0.9.1

• Unified editors for groups, filters, custom lists and saved layouts, with a new Sets tab.
• Layout switching saves pending changes when Autosave is enabled; settings changes save without waiting for physics.
• Remove members from subgraphs and restore their original placement and external orbits.
• Add or edit YAML URL/path destinations from node menus; improved text search and export folder suggestions.
• Android fixes for graph height after closing the keyboard and input focus during canvas gestures.

Earlier layouts receive a one-time node-size/link-width migration. High-degree nodes may look larger because the old radius ceiling is gone. See upgrade details.

Local GraphFrontier

Open Local GraphFrontier from the command palette, a note's Open linked view submenu, or a graph node's Other submenu. It follows the active note and shows its direct neighbors, with independent settings, pins and layout state. Settings start hidden; use Show to open them. Named layouts and subgraph containers remain available in the global graph.

Sets → Add to search sets the modifier for adding a node name to search (default: Alt + click). Name filtering keeps all same-name nodes and their connections.

Features

• On-demand rendering and cached physics/style calculations keep settled graphs idle and restore saved settled layouts.
• Settings are organized into Groups, Display, Physics and Sets tabs.
• Proportional node sizes, zoom-independent link widths, colors, opacity and directional arrows can be customized globally, by group or by node. Background and grid styling are configurable too.
• YAML url and path properties support multiple destinations with readable aliases in quick-open submenus.

Pin nodes precisely Set coordinates or drag pinned nodes without letting physics move them.	Pin nodes to the grid Snap nodes to grid points and adjust grid line thickness from 0.1 to 2 CSS pixels.
Move selected nodes together Drag selected nodes together, add areas with Shift box selection, and clear selection with a plain background click.	Arrange and pin linked nodes Unpin linked nodes for physics to rearrange them, then pin the result to the grid.
Organize notes with gravity Attract free matching nodes to a movable center using name, tag, path or other queries.	Attract matches, repel others Tune attraction and repulsion separately to pull free matches closer and push nonmatches away.
Boost a node's pull Strengthen forces along existing graph links without changing note links.	Save and switch layouts Switch layouts to restore saved positions, pins, settings and camera state.
Group nodes into subgraphs Name a selection and explore its contents in a separate pane with independent positions and camera.	Open websites, folders, and other vaults Use Open URL or Open path to visit websites, open local folders on desktop, or switch Obsidian vaults.
Find without hiding notes Highlight search matches without hiding the rest of the graph.	Focus with query filters Name filters show a node and neighbors; tag and other queries show matches.
Control which notes appear Exclude matching notes or include only matching notes without changing your notes.	Customize individual node appearance Adjust colors, sizes, auras and labels for one node or a selection.
Color a node's links Set link color, opacity, width and arrows globally, by group or per node.	Reduce unwanted link clutter Adjust link opacity and width without deleting notes or changing links.
Copy linked names and paths Copy names and paths from a selection or linked nodes. Ctrl+C / Cmd+C copies selected names.	Export interactive HTML graphs Export a vault-local HTML graph with note previews; review content and paths before sharing.

Attachments And Multi-Node Actions

Show linked attachments alongside notes, or enable Show unlinked attachments to include other files in the vault. Show orphans still applies. Use the File type: search field to choose multiple extensions and set an attachment node color. These settings are saved with each layout.

Attachments use the same size and physics controls as other nodes. Their labels include file extensions. Supported files open in Obsidian; other formats use the system's default app where available.

Select several nodes to pin, unpin, change compatible visual settings, or copy names and paths together. Actions apply to eligible selected nodes; actions that require a single node remain separate.

Groups And Node Lists

Style matching nodes with group rules. Groups change color by default; the sliders icon opens additional controls for size, aura, labels, link color and Strong pull. Individual node settings take priority over group settings. Use the eye to hide a group, or Alt-click it to solo; choose Hide to retain physical influence or Exclude to remove hidden nodes from physics.

Create node lists in Sets → Custom lists in the side panel, edit members in Settings -> GraphFrontier -> Node lists, or use Add to list on selected nodes. Use list:<id> as a group filter. Lists define membership; groups define appearance. External scripts can update membership through the API/MCP without editing your notes.

Undo And Backups

Undo manual moves and pin actions with Ctrl/Cmd+Z. Redo with Ctrl+Y or Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+Z. Physics movement, colors and other settings are not part of this history. See undo and redo.

Automatic backups keep one current copy of layouts, lists and preferences outside the plugin folder. Configure the location, disable automatic backups or restore a copy in Settings -> GraphFrontier -> Backups. Access tokens are excluded. Existing copies are protected after reinstallation, and a temporary recovery copy protects against interrupted writes. This does not replace backing up your vault.

API And AI-Agent Control

GraphFrontier's built-in MCP lets an external AI agent search and work with the open graph, arrange notes, manage subgraphs, change visual settings, and save or export layouts. It uses the plugin's existing graph operations; it is not a separate chat or model service.

From A Request To A Saved Layout

In this example, an agent worked in GraphFrontier-Demo: it showed two tag groups around matching gravity centers, placed green on the left and blue on the right, added soft color auras, and saved the result as Twin Stars.

The request: arrange two groups around gravity centers and save a new layout.

The saved Twin Stars layout, with green on the left, blue on the right, and other groups hidden.

An MCP-capable agent can:

• Search and filter notes, and work with groups, blacklists and whitelists.
• Arrange and pin nodes, tune physics, and create or position gravity centers.
• Create and rename subgraphs, open their panes, or ungroup their members.
• Change global, group or individual visual settings, including colors, sizes and auras.
• Create node lists and update membership to drive group styles.
• Create and switch layouts, make backups, and export interactive HTML graphs.

Connect A Client

1. In desktop Obsidian, enable Settings -> GraphFrontier -> Local MCP.
2. Add the settings-provided endpoint and token configuration to an MCP-capable client, such as Codex, Claude Code or OpenCode. See client configurations.
3. Open a graph and ask the agent to identify the vault before making changes.

Safety And Current Limits

MCP is off by default and desktop-only. It runs as a local authenticated server. Only connect trusted clients: they can change layouts and export note content, and data returned to the client may be sent to its AI provider. GraphFrontier includes no built-in model or AI subscription. See the full tool and API reference for details.

Installation

Community Plugins (Recommended)

1. Open Obsidian's Settings -> Community plugins and enable community plugins if needed.
2. Select Browse, search for GraphFrontier, then select Install and Enable.
3. Run Open GraphFrontier from the command palette or use its ribbon icon.

Open the Community directory listing. No separate Node.js installation is needed. For updates, use Check for updates in Community plugins.

Manual Installation

Download main.js, manifest.json and styles.css from the latest release into <vault>/.obsidian/plugins/graphfrontier/, then enable GraphFrontier in Settings -> Community plugins.

When updating, replace the plugin files, not the entire folder: keep your data.json, layouts/, node-lists.json and optional mcp.json. Reload the plugin afterward.

See the installation guide for source builds and troubleshooting.

Compatibility And Privacy

• Obsidian 1.12.7 or newer; graph works on desktop and mobile. Tested on Android 11 hardware and an Android 15 emulator with Obsidian 1.14.4; iOS is unverified, and touch box selection is unavailable.
• External-file navigation is desktop-only.
• GraphFrontier reads vault notes and metadata to build the graph; copy actions write to the clipboard.
• HTML export stays inside the vault and can include note contents and paths; inspect exports before sharing.
• Large-graph performance depends on graph size, enabled effects and device.

Documentation

• Getting started: Installation, Usage, Settings.
• Advanced: Hotkeys and commands, Physics model, Local API and embedded MCP, Development and project structure.
• Help: Troubleshooting, Release notes for 0.9.0, release history.

Support

I would be grateful for your support, ideas and bug reports.

Share an idea · Report a bug

License

MIT. See LICENSE.