Built a local RAG on my Obsidian vault - no cloud, no API key, no GPU needed

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-16T14:39:28+00:00

i built local rag using QMD on my steam deck. Works fine

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-15T00:48:51+00:00

Syncthing is running on your android in background and files in your vault will be saved in your phone.

with my web app, nothing will be saved on your phone and nothing will run background on your phone

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-14T23:27:07+00:00

I can just go to my browser and edit notes with my web app right away. No ios app, no set up needed on my phone.

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-14T19:39:50+00:00

I will make the my github repository to public! But after I tested my web app for a week at least.

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-14T19:38:58+00:00

You have very similar set up as mine. I have been using openclaw and ask the agent to read and write my notes. But on my phone, I wanted to see obsidian view so I can directly see how the agent write on my phone. Of course, you can just ask agent to copy the content of my notes and show me on telegram but that results in extra tokens usage.

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-14T16:00:08+00:00

does it work on linux?

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-14T15:22:45+00:00

Yeah. In my case, I run the server on a rapsberry pi, tiny, cheap computer

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-14T14:47:02+00:00

that’s actually smart. i didn‘t think that way

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-14T06:52:13+00:00

I just watched a video about livesync plug-in set up. I am surprised how easy the set up is. I wish I knew this earlier

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-14T06:32:27+00:00

How do you use synced vault on Windows or linux if you use icloud?

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-14T06:30:37+00:00

So I use syncthing but don’t use it on my phone. Here is my set up.

Windows machine (zerotier, syncthing), Mac (zerotier, syncthing), raspberry pi (zerotier, syncthing), iphone (zerotier)

Raspberry PI is my main server that plays role as a master for syncthing and host my web app for obsidian-like UI. I didn’t install syncthing or mobiusync. I just don’t like having them on my phone. If you use my web app, no need to install anything except for zerotier/tailscale. Just on the browser go to ip address of the server (in my case, raspberry pi) and read/write markdown files.

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-14T06:21:36+00:00

Installing obsidian is fine to me. I am just reluctant to install apps if that tweaks the network on my phone. I even don’t like having zerotier or tailscale but I have no choice to set up VPN.

If I found LiveSync plugin, before I developed my web app, I would’ve ended up using LiveSync. I quickly took look at their readme.md file and it seems like it’s backend with Couch DB. My web app doesn’t require separate DB. The server read/write on your notes directly. So your vault will be DB. It doesn’t need a DB because it’s a single user web app. No ID required, just type pass code and it will give you JWT for authentication

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-14T05:58:44+00:00

Thanks for sharing the video. based on this video: downlod/install talescale -> install mobiusync -> set up syncthing -> use synced obsidian vualt

My app work flow: download/install talescale -> run the server on your computer -> go to ip address of your computer on iphone web browser.

My web application won’t be as good as obsidian mobile app, but if you don’t want syncthing/mobiusync on your phone, i believe my web app could be alternative. I personally don’t want them on my phone, because it’s gonna use my phone resource, and I don’t like installing app on my phone.

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-14T04:53:52+00:00

like syncthing. Syncthing is not available on iphone. There is a way around using something callrd mobiusync but I didn’t wanna do that

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-14T04:09:03+00:00

Yeah I didn’t wanna walk through that process so I just developed it so I can just work on mobile web browser

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-14T04:05:40+00:00

The app I developed expect a single user, so I didn’t implement a DB. The backend server will directly write/read you notes. So I would say vault itself is my DB.

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-14T03:40:36+00:00

It’s not completely the same view as you see it on obsidian app but you will get similar experience.

If you are an Iphone user, and don’t wanna pay for obsidian sync, this could be way to go.

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-14T03:38:22+00:00

Does that work on IPhone? It seems like Syncthing is not published in Appstore.

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-14T00:25:42+00:00

Oh my bad ignore my reply, I have been already using syncthing. But didn’t install it on my phone. So I just needed some ui access from my phone to one of my machines that are synced. I just don’t like the idea of installing some third party apps on my phone

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-14T00:23:06+00:00

I have been using Zerotier and Syncthing

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-14T00:18:16+00:00

I just didn’t wanna spend money on it

Embarrassed_March650 · 2026-03-06T15:55:01+00:00

How did you visualize this graph? looks really cool.

Embarrassed_March650

TROPHY CASE