Modai

• ModAI
  • A LLM-Powered Writing Assistant for Obsidian
    • Privacy
  • Features
    • Custom instructions
    • Diff view
    • Settings
    • Models
  • Setup
    • 1. Choose the text to modify
    • 2. Run Modai
      • 1. Run a custom instruction
      • 2. Run a role
    • 3. Apply the changes
  • Examples
  • Custom Roles
    • Text Editor
  • Workshop
    • Keys
    • Documents and revisions
  • Installation
    • Using Obsidian community plugins (recommended)
    • From source (development)
    • Manual installation (built files)
  • Development
    • Getting started
    • Tests
    • Building for release
  • Linting & Code Quality
  • Common issues
    • I get 'Modai: Error processing text'
  • Roadmap
    • New Providers
  • API & Further Reading

A LLM-Powered Writing Assistant for Obsidian

Modai integrates ChatGPT and Gemini directly into your Obsidian writing workflow.
Use it to rewrite, edit, or optimize your notes with role-based prompts or fully custom instructions.

TL;DR: Select text, use a role (cmd/ctrl+p > Modai: use Author), then review what it found one item at a time and apply what you agree with.

Privacy

Privacy first: only sends data to the LLM when you activate the Modai command to use a role or a custom instruction. No background data access. No unwanted API calls. Only the selected text or the active document is sent as context to the specified model.

Features

• Add your own api Key:
  • OpenAI / ChatGPT API key.
  • Gemini API key.
• Define reusable roles (e.g., Author, Editor, SEO Writer) with custom behavior.
• Quickly transform:
  • A selection of text, or
  • The entire note (when nothing is selected).
• Use a custom instruction modal to tell ChatGPT exactly how to modify your text.
• Trigger everything via a single command: Modai.

Custom instructions

Use instructions (or roles) to modify the entire document or just the selection.

Diff view

Modai has diff (jdiff) wordsDiff highlighting any changes git style.

Settings

Pick the Provider (OpenAI, Gemini or Llama), the Model, and the Roles folder that holds your role files here. Roles are then available from the command palette (cmd/ctrl+p) and in the custom instructions modal.

Models

One token is enough. Pick the Provider, paste its API key, then pick the Model: Modai asks the provider which models it offers and lists them. Every provider also has a default endpoint, and Base URL overrides it when you proxy or self-host the service.

• The list is read from the provider (GET /models) when the settings appear, and Refresh models reads it again.
• Custom model... takes any model ID, so a provider that does not list them (or one you reach through a proxy) still works.
• When the list cannot be read — no token yet, no such endpoint, offline — the setting says why and the text field is where you name the model.
• Nothing about the models is baked into the plugin, so a model that ships tomorrow works today.

Providers marked (local) do not need a token. Custom endpoint needs a base URL of its own.

--- | :--- | :--- | | OpenAI | https://api.openai.com/v1 | 13 | | Anthropic | https://api.anthropic.com/v1 | 3 | | Google Gemini | https://generativelanguage.googleapis.com/v1beta | 5 | | OpenCode Zen | https://opencode.ai/zen/v1 | 7 | | OpenCode Go | https://opencode.ai/zen/go/v1 | — | | OpenRouter | https://openrouter.ai/api/v1 | — | | Vercel AI Gateway | https://ai-gateway.vercel.sh/v1 | — | | Hugging Face | https://router.huggingface.co/v1 | — | | Poe | https://api.poe.com/v1 | — | | Nano-GPT | https://nano-gpt.com/api/v1 | — | | Pollinations | https://text.pollinations.ai/openai | — | | Chutes | https://llm.chutes.ai/v1 | — | | Novita AI | https://api.novita.ai/v3/openai | — | | Mistral | https://api.mistral.ai/v1 | — | | Groq | https://api.groq.com/openai/v1 | — | | DeepSeek | https://api.deepseek.com/v1 | — | | xAI (Grok) | https://api.x.ai/v1 | — | | Together AI | https://api.together.xyz/v1 | — | | Fireworks AI | https://api.fireworks.ai/inference/v1 | — | | Perplexity | https://api.perplexity.ai | — | | Cerebras | https://api.cerebras.ai/v1 | — | | SambaNova | https://api.sambanova.ai/v1 | — | | NVIDIA NIM | https://integrate.api.nvidia.com/v1 | — | | DeepInfra | https://api.deepinfra.com/v1/openai | — | | Hyperbolic | https://api.hyperbolic.xyz/v1 | — | | Nebius | https://api.studio.nebius.ai/v1 | — | | FriendliAI | https://api.friendli.ai/serverless/v1 | — | | Upstage | https://api.upstage.ai/v1 | — | | AI21 | https://api.ai21.com/studio/v1 | — | | Cohere | https://api.cohere.ai/compatibility/v1 | — | | Nous Research | https://inference-api.nousresearch.com/v1 | — | | Moonshot (Kimi) | https://api.moonshot.ai/v1 | — | | Z.ai (GLM) | https://api.z.ai/api/paas/v4 | — | | Zhipu (BigModel) | https://open.bigmodel.cn/api/paas/v4 | — | | Alibaba Qwen (DashScope) | https://dashscope.aliyuncs.com/compatible-mode/v1 | — | | MiniMax | https://api.minimax.io/v1 | — | | SiliconFlow | https://api.siliconflow.cn/v1 | — | | PPIO | https://api.ppinfra.com/v3/openai | — | | StepFun | https://api.stepfun.com/v1 | — | | Baichuan | https://api.baichuan-ai.com/v1 | — | | Ollama (local) | http://localhost:11434/v1 | 5 | | Ollama Cloud | https://ollama.com/v1 | — | | LM Studio (local) | http://localhost:1234/v1 | — | | llama.cpp (local) | http://localhost:8080/v1 | — | | vLLM (local) | http://localhost:8000/v1 | — | | LocalAI (local) | http://localhost:8080/v1 | — | | Jan (local) | http://localhost:1337/v1 | — | | KoboldCpp (local) | http://localhost:5001/v1 | — | | Text generation webui (local) | http://localhost:5000/v1 | — | | Custom endpoint (OpenAI compatible) | (set your own) | — |

Providers marked (local) do not need a token.

--------- | :---------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------- | | OpenAI | gpt-5.2 | GPT-5.2 (flagship reasoning) | | | gpt-5.2-pro | GPT-5.2 pro (research & smarts) | | | gpt-5.1 | GPT-5.1 (balanced performance) | | | gpt-5 | GPT-5 (standard reasoning) | | | gpt-5-mini | GPT-5 mini (fast & affordable) | | | gpt-5-nano | GPT-5 nano (high speed/low cost) | | | gpt-4.1 | GPT-4.1 (stable general purpose) | | | gpt-4.1-mini | GPT-4.1 mini (efficient all-rounder) | | | gpt-4o | GPT-4o (omni/multimodal) | | | gpt-4o-mini | GPT-4o mini (budget omni) | | | gpt-4-turbo | GPT-4 turbo (stable legacy) | | | gpt-4 | GPT-4 (original high-int) | | | gpt-3.5-turbo | GPT-3.5 turbo | | Gemini | gemini-3-pro | Gemini 3 pro (state-of-the-art reasoning & agents) | | | gemini-3-flash | Gemini 3 flash (fast, intelligent default) | | | gemini-2.5-pro | Gemini 2.5 pro (stable deep reasoning, 1m context) | | | gemini-2.5-flash | Gemini 2.5 flash (balanced speed & production stability) | | | gemini-2.5-flash-lite | Gemini 2.5 flash-lite (budget / high-throughput) | | Llama | llama3.1:8b | Llama 3.1 8b (local deployment) | | | llama-3-70b | Llama 3 70b (local deployment, high performance) | | | llama-2-70b | Llama 2 70b (local deployment, widely supported) | | | llama-2-13b | Llama 2 13b (local deployment, balanced size) | | | llama-2-7b | Llama 2 7b (local deployment, lightweight) |

Setup

1. Open Settings → Community plugins → Modai.
2. Pick a Provider — first party APIs, gateways, cloud inference hosts and local servers (see Models). Each one has a default endpoint; Base URL overrides it if you need to.
3. Paste your API key for that provider into the single token field. Local servers can leave it empty.
4. Pick a Roles folder holding one markdown file per role, see Custom Roles.

1. Choose the text to modify

You have two options:

• Selection only
  Highlight any text in the current note. Modai will only modify this selection.

• Entire document
  Do not select anything. Modai will treat the entire active note as the input.

2. Run Modai

1. Run a custom instruction

Use the command palette:

1. Use the ribbon (paw) or press your command palette shortcut (e.g., Ctrl+P / Cmd+P).
2. Run: Modai: Custom Instructions.
3. A modal will open where you can:
   • Choose one of your roles (Author, Editor, SEO Writer, Strategic Consultant, etc.), or
   • Enter custom instructions directly in the modal (e.g., “Summarize this in 3 bullet points”, “Rewrite in a more formal tone”, etc.).

2. Run a role

1. Press your command palette shortcut (e.g., Ctrl+P / Cmd+P).
2. Run: Modai: use <role>, one command per role file in your roles folder.

3. Apply the changes

• Modai now supports both asking and replacing using the Modai plugin.
• Hotkeys for custom modal have been added (r for replace and a for ask) with ctrl/cmd+a/r.

Examples

• Use Editor role on a paragraph selection to:

  • Fix grammar
  • Improve clarity
  • Keep original meaning

• Use SEO Writer on an article draft (no selection) to:

  • Optimize headings and structure
  • Improve keyword usage

• Use Custom instructions to:

  • “Turn this into a step-by-step tutorial.”
  • “Shorten this to 150 words.”
  • “Rewrite this as a casual blog post.”

Custom Roles

Roles are markdown files in a vault folder, so they can be written, edited and git-tracked like any other note. The file name is the role name, the file content the instructions.

1. Create a folder for the role files, for example Modai roles:

   Modai roles/
     Author.md
     Text editor.md
     fact-checker.md
   

2. Pick that folder in Settings → Modai → Roles folder — type the path or use Browse. The settings show the roles that were found, and every role gets its own command (Modai: use Author).

Good to know:

• Subfolders are read as well, and the first file wins if two roles share a name.
• A leading YAML frontmatter block is ignored, so role files can carry tags or descriptions.
• Files without content are skipped.
• Adding, renaming or deleting a role file updates the command palette right away.

Text Editor

An example role file, Text editor.md:

### ROLE
You are an expert Copy Editor and Proofreader. Your goal is to refine the provided text into a clear, polished, and professional version while strictly maintaining the original intent, tone, and factual content.

### INSTRUCTIONS
1.  **Correct:** Fix all errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and syntax. Ensure consistency in style (e.g., capitalization and serial commas).
2.  **Refine Flow:** Improve transitions and sentence structure to enhance readability. Vary sentence length to create a natural, engaging rhythm.
3.  **Conciseness:** Eliminate filler words and redundant phrases without removing core ideas or altering the author's unique voice.
4.  **Preservation:** Do not add external information or modify the underlying meaning. Maintain the original factual integrity throughout.
5.  **Stealth Execution:** Do not explicitly reference your role, these instructions, or the edits made. Do not include any introductory remarks, explanations, or "meta-talk."
6.  **Formatting Constraint:** Do **not** remove or modify any images, tables, code blocks, or existing markdown formatting.

### OUTPUT FORMAT
Provide the improved text only. Nothing else.

Workshop

Modai works on notes as a workshop: run a role and what it finds lands in the Modai workshop sidebar, each review item anchored to the text it talks about, the way Genius annotations work.

1. Open the panel with Modai: Open workshop panel — or just run a role, which opens it for you.
2. Run a role from the command palette, for example Modai: use Author.
3. The panel hands you one review item at a time: the current one is the only expanded card, with the text it points at, its diff and the reviewer's comment, and it is the bright highlight in the note. Everything still waiting sits behind it in Up next, dimmed in the text, so you always know which passage the current item is about. Notes that do not rewrite anything show the passage they point at instead of a diff.
4. Decide with Apply current review item or Reject current review item (or the buttons on the card) and the next one comes up on its own, in document order, wrapping at the end. Next review item and Previous review item move through the queue without deciding yet, and clicking a row in Up next jumps straight to it.
5. The pass is chunked: a role returns a few items at a time (set with Review items per pass), the model is told what has already come up, and when the queue is empty Get the next chunk asks for the rest.

A pass either rewrites text or reviews it, decided by the role file. The mode lives in its frontmatter:

---
mode: review
---

### ROLE
You are a ruthless developmental editor.

• mode: edit (the default) — the role rewrites the text, so every item carries a replacement you can apply.
• mode: review — the role comments on the text. A replacement is optional, so an item can be purely a remark, or a remark plus a rewrite you can apply. (mode: feedback is still read as review.)

Both modes produce the same sidebar cards, and both point at a passage of the note, so applying and rejecting works the same way for either.

Use custom instructions lands in the same panel, and everything it produces points at text:

• Suggest turns the model's rewrite into review items (split into hunks when the whole note is rewritten), so they can be applied one by one.
• Review turns its answer into notes anchored to the selection, or to the first line of the note when nothing is selected, so commentary is attached to the passage it is about. One suggestion per note: lists split per item, paragraphs split otherwise.

Click only

The panel has no keyboard shortcuts — everything is a button. Open it with Modai: Open workshop panel, then click through the queue: Previous / Next to move, Apply / Reject on the card, Clear done to drop resolved items. Click a document to switch, click a queued row to jump to it. Moving the caret onto a highlight opens its item too, so the sidebar follows the cursor. Reviewed rows carry Reopen to move an applied or rejected item back to pending.

Review flow also exists as commands, so they can be bound to hotkeys: Next review item, Previous review item, Apply current review item, Reject current review item, Get next review chunk and Open workshop panel. Modai ships no default hotkeys on purpose — they are yours to pick.

The Run section at the top holds a role picker, a model picker, a Suggest / Review mode picker, and a Run button, so passes start from the sidebar without touching settings. The mode picker overrides the role file: Suggest produces applicable rewrites, Review notes. Refresh models re-reads the provider list.

The panel shows a status line at the bottom (MODAI, the document, and the item you are on).

Documents and revisions

• Documents lists every note with review items and how many are still pending; click one to open it.
• Revisions records every applied item with the text before and after.
• Clear done drops the applied and rejected entries of the open document.
• Review items live with the plugin settings in data.json; the newest 500 items and 300 revisions are kept, and the panel remembers which role produced the last pass on a note so the next chunk can continue it.
• When the quoted text is edited away, the card is marked text changed and applying it says so instead of changing the wrong spot.

Installation

Using Obsidian community plugins (recommended)

Head over to: https://obsidian.md/plugins?search=modai

Or add the plugin directly from plugin manager within Obsidian.

From source (development)

1. Make sure Node.js ≥ 16 is installed:

   node --version
   

2. Clone this repository into your Obsidian plugins folder:

   cd path/to/your/vault/.obsidian/plugins
   git clone https://github.com/your-username/obsidian-modai.git
   cd obsidian-modai
   

3. Install dependencies:

   npm i
   

4. Start the dev build (watch mode):

   npm run dev
   

5. In Obsidian:

   • Go to Settings → Community plugins → Turn off Safe mode.
   • Click Browse, then Reload plugins if needed.
   • Enable Modai in the list.

Manual installation (built files)

If you already have main.js, manifest.json, and styles.css:

1. Create a folder in your vault:

   VaultFolder/.obsidian/plugins/obsidian-modai/
   

2. Copy the following files into that folder:

   • main.js
   • manifest.json
   • styles.css

3. In Obsidian, go to Settings → Community plugins and enable Modai.

Development

This plugin is built with TypeScript and the Obsidian plugin API.

Getting started

1. Clone the repo:

   git clone https://github.com/your-username/obsidian-modai.git
   cd obsidian-modai
   

2. Install dependencies:

   npm i
   

3. Start the dev watcher:

   npm run dev
   

4. Link or copy the repo into:

   VaultFolder/.obsidian/plugins/obsidian-modai/
   

5. Reload Obsidian and enable Modai.

Tests

Unit tests run with Vitest and cover the provider integrations, model routing and settings defaults. The obsidian runtime module is mocked, so no vault, network access or API keys are needed:

npm test          # single run
npm run test:watch

Building for release

Releases are automated with release-please: commits to master follow Conventional Commits, release-please keeps a release PR open with the next version and CHANGELOG.md, and merging that PR creates the tag and release. versions.json and manifest.json are kept in sync by version-bump.mjs, and the workflow builds main.js, manifest.json and styles.css, signs them with a GitHub artifact attestation, and attaches them to the release.

To produce the same production build locally:

npm run build

Then copy or publish:

• main.js
• manifest.json
• styles.css

Into your vault’s plugin folder.

Linting & Code Quality

ESLint is preconfigured:

npm run lint

This uses Obsidian’s ESLint plugin for Obsidian-specific best practices. npm run check-all runs lint, formatting, dead-code analysis (Knip) and the test suite, and the GitHub Action runs the type check, lint, tests and the plugin build on every push and pull request.

Common issues

I get 'Modai: Error processing text'

This is likely an issue with your key in combination with your subscription. The free tier on Gemini might not have access to powerful models, and this will result in a 400 or 404 response, which result in an Error processing text status icon.

Roadmap

This roadmap outlines the planned features and future direction for ModAI.

New Providers

• Local Models – Support for Ollama to enable 100% private, local inference.
• Anthropic – Support for Claude 3.5 Sonnet and Opus models.
• Mistral AI – Native API support for Mistral and Mixtral.
• Streaming Responses – Watch the AI "type" live inside the Diff view for immediate feedback.
• Side-by-Side Diff – A split-pane comparison view for larger document rewrites.
• Instruction History – Quickly access your most frequent custom instructions.
• Partial Acceptance – Interactively select which specific AI changes to keep or discard.
• Context Awareness – Send surrounding text context to the AI to maintain tone and flow.
• YAML Awareness – Allow the AI to read and intelligently update note metadata/frontmatter.
• Prompt Variables – Support for dynamic placeholders like {{title}}, {{date}}, and {{selection}}.
• Append as Callout – Insert AI review items as Obsidian callouts (> [!AI]) for non-destructive editing.
• Auto-Cleanup – Toggleable filters to remove common LLM "chatter" or formatting artifacts.
• Mobile Optimization – Full UI polish for the Obsidian mobile app on iOS and Android.

API & Further Reading

• Obsidian plugin API docs: https://docs.obsidian.md
• Obsidian community plugins: https://obsidian.md/plugins

Modai is designed to stay close to the standard Obsidian plugin workflow while giving you powerful, role-based ChatGPT editing directly inside your notes.