SoftView

SoftView opens the current Markdown note in a warm, focused reading view inside Obsidian.

It does not generate external HTML, does not open a system browser, and does not modify your Markdown files. Your note remains the single source of truth; SoftView is only a softer way to read it.

Why SoftView

Obsidian is excellent for writing, linking, and editing. Reading often wants a different posture: narrower lines, warmer background, gentler spacing, and less interface noise.

SoftView keeps you inside Obsidian while giving the active note a paper-like reading surface.

Features

• Open the current Markdown note in a custom SoftView pane.
• Render Markdown through Obsidian's MarkdownRenderer.
• Preserve Obsidian-style internal links, images, callouts, tags, and embeds as closely as possible.
• Use a warm reading layout with comfortable width, line height, spacing, quotes, callouts, and code blocks.
• Open from the ribbon book icon.
• Open from the command Open current note.
• Refresh with the icon button in the toolbar.
• Toggle Follow current note to update SoftView when you switch Markdown files.
• Click internal links inside SoftView and navigate within the reading pane.
• Use Back to return to the previous SoftView article and restore the prior scroll position.

Installation

Once SoftView is available in the Obsidian community plugin browser:

1. Open Obsidian Settings.
2. Go to Community plugins.
3. Search for SoftView.
4. Install and enable the plugin.

Manual Installation

Download the latest release files:

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

Place them in:

<your-vault>/.obsidian/plugins/softview/

Then restart Obsidian or reload community plugins, and enable SoftView.

Usage

1. Open any Markdown note in Obsidian.
2. Click the ribbon book icon, or run Open current note from the command palette.
3. Read in the SoftView pane.
4. Use the refresh icon after editing the source note.
5. Turn on Follow current note if you want SoftView to update when you switch notes.
6. Click internal links to move through your notes inside SoftView, then use Back to return.

Development

npm install
npm run build

On Windows PowerShell, if npm.ps1 is blocked:

npm.cmd install
npm.cmd run build

Privacy

SoftView runs locally inside Obsidian. It does not upload your notes or send note content to any external service.

License

MIT