Chapter 1: Introduction to Fabric

Fabric stands out as an exceptional AI tool designed to elevate your personal knowledge management (PKM) system.

This command-line AI utility is tailored to assist you in tackling everyday challenges. It offers a straightforward and user-friendly interface for engaging with large language models (LLMs). The core of Fabric lies in its unique "patterns," which serve as a crowdsourced collection of solutions to specific issues. Don't let the term intimidate you; patterns are simply a modern take on prompts—clear and succinct instructions that guide the AI in completing various tasks.

Among the many applications of these patterns, you can utilize them for:

• Extracting key insights from YouTube videos and podcasts
• Crafting essays in your own unique voice from just an idea
• Summarizing complex academic papers
• Generating tailored AI art prompts
• Evaluating content quality before diving deeper
• Providing concise summaries of lengthy material
• Decoding programming code
• Transforming subpar documentation into user-friendly material
• Creating social media posts from any content input
• And much more!

If you haven't already, be sure to check out our previous article detailing the installation and setup process for Fabric.

Chapter 2: Why Integrate Fabric with Obsidian?

You might wonder why you should combine Fabric with Obsidian when you can use it directly in the terminal. The answer is simple: if you're an Obsidian user, the integration is incredibly beneficial. Even if Obsidian isn’t your primary tool, the advantages are numerous. Fabric allows you to:

• Provide context to the AI using your notes
• Save AI-generated responses as notes
• Seamlessly add custom patterns
• Enjoy a more intuitive graphical user interface (GUI)
• Access many advanced features

To leverage Fabric with Obsidian, ensure that Fabric is properly installed on your system. Use the following command in your terminal:

If you receive a response, your installation is successful. If not, follow the setup tutorial to get started.

Chapter 3: Setting Up Fabric in Obsidian

To integrate Fabric with Obsidian, you'll utilize an unofficial community plugin. Install this plugin from the community library and then reload your vault to access its options.

Next, you'll need to configure the Fabric connector, which links Fabric binaries to provide a proxy service. You can install this connector manually via the terminal or by downloading the executable for Mac or Windows from the latest release.

After installation, you’ll notice a tray application represented by a brain icon.

Clicking this icon reveals various options. You'll need to input your API keys and API URL here. Copy the API key and paste it into the plugin settings. Click on "Open API Docs" and copy the URL address as needed.

Test your API key. If an error appears, enable the Fabric 2.0 Compatibility Mode in the settings.

For users of the legacy version of Fabric, compatibility is automatic. However, for those with the latest version, enabling the Fabric 2.0 compatibility option is necessary.

Also, configure other settings, such as:

• Tavily API Key: Tavily is an AI search engine optimized for LLMs. I discuss this further in my YouTube video.
• Output Folder: Designate a location for saving output generated by Fabric AI.
• Custom Patterns Folder: A directory to create your own patterns.
• Default Model: Choose a default LLM for processing.
• Default Post Processing Pattern: Add a specific pattern for running Fabric.

With everything set up, retest your API key. If it confirms that the Fabric API key is valid, congratulations! You’re ready to proceed.

Chapter 4: Utilizing Fabric with Obsidian

Now, a new pane for Fabric will appear in the right sidebar of Obsidian. Here’s what it looks like:

You can use Fabric in three distinct ways. Before you start, make sure to fill in the required fields:

• Output note name: Specify the note title where you want to save the AI-generated content. If you leave the output folder blank in the settings, it defaults to the root folder.
• Search pattern: Choose the pattern you want to apply. You can even combine multiple patterns for a complex workflow.
• Search models: Opt for a different model with Fabric or set a default model in the settings for efficiency.

You can also enable options for YouTube links or audio files, allowing Fabric to process these seamlessly.

Current Note Context

Let's illustrate this with an example. Suppose you have a note discussing perfectionism and its potential downsides.

Running this through Fabric can yield a micro essay.

The result? A nuanced perspective on perfectionism, highlighting its dual nature as both a beneficial and detrimental force, particularly in complex scenarios.

Clipboard Context

You can also leverage the clipboard context, which mimics the pbpaste command in the terminal. For instance, if you copy a YouTube link and enable the option for detecting YouTube links, you can summarize the video content instantly.

In under ten seconds, you could receive a concise summary of a 40-minute video, all saved neatly within your PKM system.

Tavily Integration

Tavily connects web search results with LLMs, allowing for enhanced searches and processed results. I’ll delve deeper into this feature in my upcoming YouTube video.

Multiple Pattern Workflows

Fabric supports multiple pattern workflows, enabling you to combine different patterns where the output of one serves as input for the next. Keep in mind, however, that only the final output will be displayed.

Creating custom patterns is straightforward with the Obsidian integration. You can configure a folder for these patterns, and any notes within will act as prompts.

For example, I created a note named "paul_essays" in the Patterns folder with the following prompt: "Write a clear, concise essay like Paul Graham. Explain complex topics simply."

The resulting prompt is:

Write a Clear and Concise Essay in the Style of Paul Graham

Your task is to explain a topic related to technology, entrepreneurship, or innovation in simple terms, structured with an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Conclusion

Fabric represents one of the most valuable AI tools available today, and its integration with Obsidian enhances its utility significantly. This tool is essential for anyone seeking to incorporate AI into their daily tasks. With its diverse patterns, you can tackle various challenges or even create personalized patterns for your unique needs.