Learning Timeline
Key Insights
Creating Custom Commands
You aren't limited to pre-existing commands. You can ask Claude Code to create new 'Skills' or commands specific to your workflow just by providing instructions in natural language.
Advantages of Contextual Analysis
Unlike a standard search, the `/trace` command can identify 'pivotal realizations.' For example, it can detect when you stopped using backlinks for general terms and started using them for specific theories or projects.
Data Privacy
When doing a demo or sharing your screen, you can use the 'demo' version of the command (such as `/trace demo`) to ensure sensitive personal information in your vault isn't accidentally displayed.
Prompts
Building Custom Skills for Claude Code
Target:
Claude Code
Create a specific command for me to trace how a concept has evolved over time in my vault. Use the dates and connections between my notes to build a historical timeline of my thoughts on this topic.
Step by Step
How to Run an Idea Evolution Analysis with the /trace Command
- Open the Obsidian app containing your personal note vault.
- Ensure Claude Code is integrated and has access to the files within that vault.
- Open the terminal or command line interface available in your Claude Code environment.
- Type the `/trace` command followed by the specific topic you want to analyze (Example: `/trace My relationship with Obsidian`).
- Press 'Enter' to let Claude begin building a 'vocabulary map' and searching across your entire vault.
- Wait a moment while the AI reads the relevant files and identifies connections between notes through backlinks or text content.
- Review the generated 'Full Evolution Trace' output, which includes the date the idea first surfaced, the total time span, and the different phases of your thought process.
- Read the provided history summary to see how your perspective evolved from one phase to another (such as transitioning from skepticism to full tool adoption).
