Obsidian Plugin Development Guidelines

Follow these comprehensive guidelines derived from the official Obsidian ESLint plugin rules, submission requirements, and best practices.

Getting Started

Quick Start Tool

For new plugin projects, an interactive boilerplate generator is available:

Script: tools/create-plugin.js in the skill repository
Command: Invoke create-plugin using your agent's method (/create-plugin, $create-plugin, or @create-plugin)
Generates minimal, best-practice boilerplate with no sample code
Detects existing projects and only adds missing files

Recommend the boilerplate generator when users ask how to create a new plugin, want to start a new project, or need help setting up the basic structure.

Rules Reference (eslint-plugin-obsidianmd v0.2.8)

Submission & Naming

#	Rule	✅ Do	❌ Don't
1	Plugin ID	Omit "obsidian"; don't end with "plugin"	Include "obsidian" or end with "plugin"
2	Plugin name	Omit "Obsidian"; don't end with "Plugin"	Include "Obsidian" or end with "Plugin"
3	Plugin name	Don't start with "Obsi" or end with "dian"	Start with "Obsi" or end with "dian"
4	Description	Omit "Obsidian", "This plugin", etc.	Use "Obsidian" or "This plugin"
5	Description	End with `.?!)` punctuation	Leave description without terminal punctuation

Memory & Lifecycle

#	Rule	✅ Do	❌ Don't
6	Event cleanup	Use `registerEvent()` for automatic cleanup	Register events without cleanup
7	View references	Return views/components directly	Store view references in plugin properties or pass plugin as component to `MarkdownRenderer`
8	Leaf detachment	Let Obsidian handle leaf cleanup	Call `detachLeavesOfType()` in `onunload`

Type Safety

#	Rule	✅ Do	❌ Don't
9	TFile/TFolder	Use `instanceof` for type checking	Cast to TFile/TFolder; use `any`; use `var`
10	DOM instanceof	Use `.instanceOf(T)` for DOM Nodes/UIEvents	Use `instanceof` for cross-window DOM checks

UI/UX

#	Rule	✅ Do	❌ Don't
11	UI text	Sentence case — "Advanced settings"	Title Case — "Advanced Settings"
12	JSON locale	Sentence case in JSON locale files (`recommendedWithLocalesEn`)	Title case in locale JSON
13	TS/JS locale	Sentence case in TS/JS locale modules	Title case in locale modules
14	Command names	Omit "command" in command names/IDs	Include "command" in names/IDs
15	Command IDs	Omit plugin ID/name from command IDs/names	Duplicate plugin ID in command IDs
16	Hotkeys	No default hotkeys	Set default hotkeys
17	Settings headings	Use `.setHeading()`	Create manual HTML headings; use "General", "settings", or plugin name in headings

API Best Practices

#	Rule	✅ Do	❌ Don't
18	Active file edits	Use Editor API	Use `Vault.modify()` for active file edits
19	Background file mods	Use `Vault.process()`	Use `Vault.modify()` for background modifications
20	File deletion	Use `FileManager.trashFile()`	Use `Vault.trash()` or `Vault.delete()` directly
21	File lookup	Use `Vault.getAbstractFileByPath()`	Iterate all files with `Vault.getFiles().find()`
22	User paths	Use `normalizePath()`	Hardcode `.obsidian` path; use raw user paths
23	OS detection	Use `Platform` API	Use `navigator.platform`/`userAgent`
24	Network requests	Use `requestUrl()`	Use `fetch()`
25	Logging	Minimize console logging; none in `onload`/`onunload` in production	Use `console.log` in `onload`/`onunload`
26	Input suggest	Use built-in `AbstractInputSuggest`	Copy Liam's `TextInputSuggest` implementation
27	API compatibility	Check `minAppVersion` for API availability	Use APIs not available in declared minAppVersion
28	Language detection	Use Obsidian's `getLanguage()`	Use `localStorage.getItem('language')` or `i18next-browser-languagedetector`

Popout Window Compatibility

#	Rule	✅ Do	❌ Don't
29	Document/Window	Use `activeDocument` and `activeWindow`	Use global `document` and `window`
30	Timers	Use `activeWindow.setTimeout()`, `setInterval()`, etc.	Use bare `setTimeout()`, `setInterval()`

Event Handling

#	Rule	✅ Do	❌ Don't
31	Editor drop/paste	Check `evt.defaultPrevented` and call `evt.preventDefault()`	Handle editor-drop/paste without checking defaultPrevented

Styling

#	Rule	✅ Do	❌ Don't
32	CSS variables	Use Obsidian CSS variables for all styling	Hardcode colors, sizes, or spacing
33	CSS scope	Scope CSS to plugin containers	Use broad CSS selectors
34	Style elements	Use `styles.css` file (`no-forbidden-elements`)	Create `<link>` or `<style>` elements; assign styles via JavaScript

Security & Compatibility

#	Rule	✅ Do	❌ Don't
35	DOM creation	Use Obsidian DOM helpers (`createEl()`, `createDiv()`, `createSpan()`, `createSvg()`, `createFragment()`) via `prefer-create-el`	Use `document.createElement()`, `document.createDocumentFragment()`, etc.
36	Node.js modules	Guard Node.js imports with `Platform.isDesktop` check (`no-nodejs-modules`)	Import Node.js modules without platform guard
37	iOS compat	Avoid regex lookbehind (iOS < 16.4 incompatibility)	Use regex lookbehind

Accessibility (MANDATORY)

#	Rule	✅ Do	❌ Don't
38	Keyboard access	Make all interactive elements keyboard accessible; Tab through all elements	Create inaccessible interactive elements
39	ARIA labels	Provide ARIA labels for icon buttons; use `data-tooltip-position` for tooltips	Use icon buttons without ARIA labels
40	Focus indicators	Use `:focus-visible` with Obsidian CSS variables; touch targets ≥ 44×44px	Remove focus indicators; make touch targets < 44×44px

Code Quality

Rule	✅ Do	❌ Don't
Sample code	Remove all sample/template code	Keep class names like MyPlugin, SampleModal
Object.assign	`Object.assign({}, defaults, overrides)` (`object-assign`)	`Object.assign(defaultsVar, other)` — mutates defaults
LICENSE	Copyright holder must not be "Dynalist Inc."; year must be current (`validate-license`)	Leave "Dynalist Inc." as holder or use an outdated year
Async	Use async/await	Use Promise chains

Detailed Guidelines

For comprehensive information on specific topics, see the reference files:

Memory Management & Lifecycle

Using registerEvent(), addCommand(), registerDomEvent(), registerInterval()
Avoiding view references in plugin
Not using plugin as component
Proper leaf cleanup

Type Safety

Using instanceof instead of type casting
Avoiding any type
Using const and let over var

UI/UX Standards

Sentence case enforcement (TypeScript, JSON locale, TS/JS locale modules)
recommendedWithLocalesEn config for locale file checks
Command naming conventions (no "command", no plugin name, no plugin ID)
Settings and configuration best practices

File & Vault Operations

View access patterns
Editor vs Vault API
Atomic file operations
File management
Path handling

CSS Styling Best Practices

Avoiding inline styles
Using Obsidian CSS variables
Scoping plugin styles
Theme support
Spacing and layout

Accessibility (A11y)

Keyboard navigation (MANDATORY)
ARIA labels and roles (MANDATORY)
Tooltips and accessibility
Focus management (MANDATORY)
Focus visible styles (MANDATORY)
Screen reader support (MANDATORY)
Mobile and touch accessibility (MANDATORY)
Accessibility checklist

Code Quality & Best Practices

Removing sample code
Security best practices
Platform compatibility
API usage best practices
Async/await patterns
DOM helpers

Plugin Submission Requirements

Repository structure
Submission process
Semantic versioning
Testing checklist
Additional resources and important notes

ESLint Setup Guide

Complete ESLint config for community scanner compliance
Why typescript-eslint recommendedTypeChecked is required
Common violations and fixes (floating promises, require imports, etc.)
Popout window compatibility rules

Plugin Submission Validation Workflow

Before submitting a plugin, follow this sequence:

Run ESLint — npx eslint . using eslint-plugin-obsidianmd; fix all errors (warnings are informational)
Validate manifest — Confirm id, name, description, version, and minAppVersion meet naming and formatting rules (rules 1–5)
Check LICENSE — Copyright holder must not be "Dynalist Inc." and the year must be current
Test on mobile — Verify no regex lookbehind, no fetch(), and touch targets ≥ 44×44px (skip only if plugin is declared desktop-only)
Keyboard accessibility audit — Tab through all interactive elements; confirm focus indicators and ARIA labels are present
Submit — Open a PR to the community plugins repository with the updated manifest.json and community-plugins.json entry

If ESLint reports new errors after fixing, re-run from step 1.

When Reviewing/Writing Code

Use this checklist for code review and implementation:

Memory management: Are components and views properly managed?
Type safety: Using instanceof instead of casts?
UI text: Is everything in sentence case?
Command naming: No redundant words?
File operations: Using preferred APIs?
Mobile compatibility: No iOS-incompatible features?
Sample code: Removed all boilerplate?
Manifest: Correct version, valid structure?
Accessibility: Keyboard navigation, ARIA labels, focus indicators?
Testing: Can you use the plugin without a mouse?
Touch targets: Are all interactive elements at least 44×44px?
Focus styles: Using :focus-visible and proper CSS variables?

Common Patterns

Proper Command Registration

// ✅ CORRECT
this.addCommand({
  id: 'insert-timestamp',
  name: 'Insert timestamp',
  editorCallback: (editor: Editor, view: MarkdownView) => {
    editor.replaceSelection(new Date().toISOString());
  }
});

Safe Type Narrowing

// ✅ CORRECT
const file = this.app.vault.getAbstractFileByPath(path);
if (file instanceof TFile) {
  // TypeScript now knows it's a TFile
  await this.app.vault.read(file);
}

Keyboard Accessible Button

// ✅ CORRECT
const button = containerEl.createEl('button', {
  attr: {
    'aria-label': 'Open settings',
    'data-tooltip-position': 'top'
  }
});
button.setText('⚙️');

button.addEventListener('keydown', (e) => {
  if (e.key === 'Enter' || e.key === ' ') {
    e.preventDefault();
    performAction();
  }
});

Themed CSS

/* ✅ CORRECT */
.my-plugin-modal {
  background: var(--modal-background);
  color: var(--text-normal);
  padding: var(--size-4-4);
  border-radius: var(--radius-m);
  font-size: var(--font-ui-medium);
}

.my-plugin-button:focus-visible {
  outline: 2px solid var(--interactive-accent);
  outline-offset: 2px;
}

When helping with Obsidian plugin development, proactively apply these rules and suggest improvements based on these guidelines. Refer to the detailed reference files for comprehensive information on specific topics.