Aside
Side note index
|
Agent reply
|
Aside is a tool for thought. It helps you capture, connect, and go deeper into your knowledge. Optionally, AI agents can assist you along the journey.
## Features
- Uses a dedicated sidebar for drafting, editing, resolving, reopening, and deleting comments.
- Supports Obsidian-style `[[wikilinks]]` inside side comments to link existing notes or create new markdown notes.
- Type `#` in a side note to search existing tags or add a new one.
- Browse, filter, and batch-apply local side-note tags from the active note sidebar.
- Keeps resolved comments archived instead of removing them.
- Generates `Aside index.md` as a vault-wide comment index.
- Lets the index sidebar switch between the comment list and a thought-trail graph built from side-note wiki links. The graph follows those links across connected markdown files, so it can show multi-step trails instead of only direct one-hop links.
- Built-in local agent replies on desktop Obsidian. Type `@codex` or `@claude` in a thread, watch the reply stream in the sidebar, and keep the final answer in the same thread.
## How to Get Started
1. Install Aside
settings -> install community plugins -> type aside
2. Install and sign in to the local agent CLI you want to use on the same machine.
- For `@codex`, open Terminal in your vault or project folder and run `codex`.
- For `@claude`, open Terminal in your vault or project folder and run `claude`.
3. Optional: install the public Aside skill for external agent workflows.
```
$skill-installer install https://github.com/vicky469/aside/tree/main/skills/aside
```
Built-in Aside agent replies do not require a separate skill install. Aside auto refreshes the installed Codex skill on desktop startup when it is already present, but it does not install or remove the skill for you.
## Workflow
1. Open a markdown file.
2. Add a side note.
You can select text and right-click `Add comment to selection`, or use the sidebar for a page note.
3. Write your comment in the sidebar.
Type `@codex` if you want Codex to take the task, or `@claude` if you want Claude to take it.
4. Save the note.
5. Aside runs the selected local agent and appends the reply back into the same thread.
## Glossary
- **`thread`**
One Aside discussion attached to one target. A thread can have one first entry and later replies.
- **`entry`**
One message inside a thread. The first saved entry creates the thread. Later child entries are replies in the same thread.
- **`page note`**
A thread attached to the whole file, not to a text selection.
- **`anchored note`**
A thread attached to a specific text selection in a markdown note.
- **`orphaned note`**
An anchored thread whose original text can no longer be matched in the file. The thread still exists; its anchor is just currently missing.
- **`resolved note`**
A thread that has been archived instead of deleted.
- **`Aside index.md`**
The generated vault-wide index note. It is derived output, not the source of truth.
- **`thought trail`**
The graph view built from `[[wikilinks]]` inside side-note threads.
## Writing in Side Notes
| Action | How it works |
| --- | --- |
| Save draft | Click `Save`. |
| Insert a newline | Press `Enter`. |
| Ask a local agent from a side note | Type `@codex` or `@claude` in the note, then save it. |
| Link a note | Type `[[` to open note suggestions and insert an Obsidian wikilink. |
| Add a tag | Type `#` to open tag suggestions and insert a tag. |
| Reopen link or tag suggestions | Press `Tab` while the cursor is inside an unfinished `[[...` or `#...` token. |
| Bold or highlight text | Use the sidebar `B` and `H` buttons to wrap the current selection with `**bold**` or `==highlight==`. |
| Cancel a draft or edit | Press `Esc`. |
## Settings
- `Index header image URL`
- `Index header image caption`
## Command
- `Aside: Add comment to selection`
## Reporting Bugs
Open a GitHub issue using the bug report template:
https://github.com/vicky469/aside/issues/new?template=bug_report.yml
For suspected vulnerabilities or other sensitive security issues, do not file a public issue. Email dev@databun.xyz instead.
## License
MIT
Keep Aside brewing.
