File created successfully at: /Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian/docs/superpowers/plans/2026-04-30-obsidian-vault-encryption.md

# Obsidian Vault Encryption Implementation Plan

> **For agentic workers:** REQUIRED SUB-SKILL: Use superpowers:subagent-driven-development (recommended) or superpowers:executing-plans to implement this plan task-by-task. Steps use checkbox (`- [ ]`) syntax for tracking.

**Goal:** Set up the Obsidian vault at `/Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian/` as a git-crypt-encrypted repository, ready to sync across machines via a private GitHub repo, with a safety hook that blocks pushes if encryption is misconfigured.

**Architecture:** Use `git-crypt` for transparent per-file encryption via git's `clean`/`smudge` filters. Plaintext stays on disk; ciphertext is what gets committed. A symmetric key is exported once and stored in 1Password for cross-machine sync. A committed bash pre-push hook (symlinked into `.git/hooks/`) verifies `.gitattributes` is intact and `git-crypt status` reports no leaks before any push succeeds.

**Tech Stack:** `git`, `git-crypt` (Homebrew), bash, GitHub.

---

## File Structure

| Path | Purpose | Status |
|---|---|---|
| `.gitattributes` | git-crypt encryption patterns | Create |
| `.gitignore` | Obsidian churn / OS noise | Create |
| `hooks/pre-push` | Safety hook (committed; survives clones) | Create |
| `tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh` | Shell test exercising hook scenarios | Create |
| `README.md` | Bootstrap & restore documentation | Create |
| `.git/hooks/pre-push` | Symlink to `../../hooks/pre-push` | Runtime only (not committed; git ignores `.git/`) |

The vault contents (`home/` and any future notes) are unchanged by this work — only metadata and tooling files are added at the repo root.

---

## Task 1: Initialize the git repository

**Files:** None created yet — just `git init`.

- [ ] **Step 1: Verify we're in the vault and it's not already a repo**

Run:
```bash
cd /Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian
[[ -d .git ]] && echo "ALREADY A REPO — STOP" || echo "OK to init"
```
Expected: `OK to init`

- [ ] **Step 2: Initialize the repo**

Run:
```bash
git init
```
Expected: `Initialized empty Git repository in /Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian/.git/`

- [ ] **Step 3: Verify the initial branch name**

Run:
```bash
git symbolic-ref --short HEAD
```
Expected: `main` (if not, run `git branch -m main` to rename).

- [ ] **Step 4: No commit yet**

Do not commit. We commit at the end of Task 11 once everything is in place.

---

## Task 2: Create `.gitignore`

**Files:**
- Create: `/Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian/.gitignore`

- [ ] **Step 1: Write the test (verification command)**

The test is: after writing `.gitignore`, `git status --ignored` should NOT list any of the entries below as untracked. Defer the actual run to Step 3.

- [ ] **Step 2: Write `.gitignore`**

Create `.gitignore` with exactly:
```gitignore
# Obsidian churn — rewritten constantly, not worth syncing
.obsidian/workspace.json
.obsidian/workspace-mobile.json
.obsidian/cache
.obsidian/plugins/*/data.json

# Obsidian local-only state
.trash/

# macOS noise
.DS_Store
```

- [ ] **Step 3: Verify it works**

Run:
```bash
mkdir -p .obsidian
touch .obsidian/workspace.json .DS_Store
git status --short
```
Expected: neither `.obsidian/workspace.json` nor `.DS_Store` appears in the output. Then clean up the test files: `rm .obsidian/workspace.json .DS_Store && rmdir .obsidian 2>/dev/null || true`.

- [ ] **Step 4: No commit yet**

---

## Task 3: Create `.gitattributes`

**Files:**
- Create: `/Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian/.gitattributes`

- [ ] **Step 1: Write `.gitattributes`**

Create `.gitattributes` with exactly:
```gitattributes
*.md       filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.canvas   filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.png      filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.jpg      filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.jpeg     filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.gif      filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.webp     filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.svg      filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.pdf      filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt

.gitattributes !filter !diff
```

(The last line explicitly excludes `.gitattributes` itself — defensive; it would never match `*.md` etc., but spelling it out documents the intent.)

- [ ] **Step 2: Verify the patterns match**

Run:
```bash
git check-attr filter diff -- test.md
```
Expected:
```
test.md: filter: git-crypt
test.md: diff: git-crypt
```

- [ ] **Step 3: Verify `.gitattributes` itself is NOT matched**

Run:
```bash
git check-attr filter diff -- .gitattributes
```
Expected: filter and diff should both be `unspecified`.

- [ ] **Step 4: No commit yet**

---

## Task 4: Install git-crypt and initialize

**Files:** None created at the repo level. `git-crypt init` creates `.git/git-crypt/` (not tracked).

- [ ] **Step 1: Install git-crypt**

Run:
```bash
brew install git-crypt
```
Expected: installs successfully. If already installed: `Warning: git-crypt X.Y.Z is already installed`.

- [ ] **Step 2: Verify version**

Run:
```bash
git-crypt --version
```
Expected: prints a version (e.g., `git-crypt 0.7.0`).

- [ ] **Step 3: Initialize git-crypt in the repo**

Run:
```bash
git-crypt init
```
Expected: `Generating key...` and silence.

- [ ] **Step 4: Verify the key was created**

Run:
```bash
ls .git/git-crypt/keys/
```
Expected: a file called `default`.

- [ ] **Step 5: No commit yet**

---

## Task 5: Write the test for the pre-push hook

**Files:**
- Create: `/Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian/tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh`

- [ ] **Step 1: Create the tests directory**

Run:
```bash
mkdir -p tests
```

- [ ] **Step 2: Write the test script**

Create `tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh` with exactly:
```bash
#!/usr/bin/env bash
# Test cases for hooks/pre-push.
# Run from the repo root: bash tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh

set -u

REPO_ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd)"
HOOK="$REPO_ROOT/hooks/pre-push"

cd "$REPO_ROOT" || exit 1

pass=0
fail=0

run_case() {
    local name="$1"
    local expected_exit="$2"
    local actual_exit="$3"
    if [[ "$actual_exit" == "$expected_exit" ]]; then
        echo "PASS: $name (exit $actual_exit)"
        pass=$((pass + 1))
    else
        echo "FAIL: $name (expected exit $expected_exit, got $actual_exit)"
        fail=$((fail + 1))
    fi
}

# --- Case 1: Healthy state — hook should pass ---
out=$(bash "$HOOK" origin git@example.com:fake/repo.git </dev/null 2>&1)
run_case "healthy state passes" 0 $?

# --- Case 2: Missing .gitattributes — hook should fail ---
mv .gitattributes .gitattributes.bak
out=$(bash "$HOOK" origin git@example.com:fake/repo.git </dev/null 2>&1)
run_case "missing .gitattributes fails" 1 $?
mv .gitattributes.bak .gitattributes

# --- Case 3: .gitattributes missing the git-crypt filter line — hook should fail ---
cp .gitattributes .gitattributes.bak
echo "# only comments" > .gitattributes
out=$(bash "$HOOK" origin git@example.com:fake/repo.git </dev/null 2>&1)
run_case "no git-crypt patterns fails" 1 $?
mv .gitattributes.bak .gitattributes

echo
echo "Results: $pass passed, $fail failed"
[[ "$fail" -eq 0 ]]
```

- [ ] **Step 3: Make the test executable**

Run:
```bash
chmod +x tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh
```

- [ ] **Step 4: Run the test — it should fail because the hook does not exist yet**

Run:
```bash
bash tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh
```
Expected: every case fails (the hook file doesn't exist), output ends with `Results: 0 passed, 3 failed` and exit code 1. **This is the failing-test step of TDD — confirm before writing the hook.**

- [ ] **Step 5: No commit yet**

---

## Task 6: Write the pre-push hook

**Files:**
- Create: `/Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian/hooks/pre-push`
- Create (symlink, runtime-only): `.git/hooks/pre-push`

- [ ] **Step 1: Create the hooks directory**

Run:
```bash
mkdir -p hooks
```

- [ ] **Step 2: Write the hook**

Create `hooks/pre-push` with exactly:
```bash
#!/usr/bin/env bash
# Pre-push safety hook for git-crypt-encrypted vault.
# Blocks the push if encryption looks misconfigured.
#
# Checks:
#   1. git-crypt binary is installed.
#   2. .gitattributes exists and contains at least one filter=git-crypt pattern.
#   3. `git-crypt status` reports no files matched-but-not-encrypted.

set -u

repo_root=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)
cd "$repo_root" || exit 1

fail() {
    echo "pre-push hook: $1" >&2
    echo "Push BLOCKED. Fix and try again." >&2
    exit 1
}

command -v git-crypt >/dev/null 2>&1 \
    || fail "git-crypt is not installed (brew install git-crypt)"

[[ -f .gitattributes ]] \
    || fail ".gitattributes is missing — encryption rules would not apply"

grep -q 'filter=git-crypt' .gitattributes \
    || fail ".gitattributes contains no 'filter=git-crypt' patterns"

# git-crypt status prints "not encrypted: <path>" for any file that is matched
# by .gitattributes but is currently plaintext in the index. Any such line is
# a leak waiting to happen.
leaks=$(git-crypt status 2>&1 | grep -E '^[[:space:]]*not encrypted: ' || true)
if [[ -n "$leaks" ]]; then
    echo "pre-push hook: files matched by .gitattributes are NOT encrypted:" >&2
    echo "$leaks" >&2
    fail "run 'git-crypt status -f' to fix, then commit and re-push"
fi

exit 0
```

- [ ] **Step 3: Make the hook executable**

Run:
```bash
chmod +x hooks/pre-push
```

- [ ] **Step 4: Symlink into `.git/hooks/`**

Run:
```bash
ln -sf ../../hooks/pre-push .git/hooks/pre-push
ls -l .git/hooks/pre-push
```
Expected: shows a symlink pointing to `../../hooks/pre-push`.

- [ ] **Step 5: Run the test — it should now pass**

Run:
```bash
bash tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh
```
Expected: `Results: 3 passed, 0 failed` and exit code 0.

- [ ] **Step 6: No commit yet**

---

## Task 7: Manually verify encryption with a sample note

This is a one-time sanity check that git-crypt is actually encrypting things, performed BEFORE we commit anything important.

**Files:** Temporary `home/_encryption-test.md` (deleted at end of task).

- [ ] **Step 1: Create a test note**

Run:
```bash
mkdir -p home
echo "this is a secret test note" > home/_encryption-test.md
```

- [ ] **Step 2: Stage it**

Run:
```bash
git add home/_encryption-test.md
```

- [ ] **Step 3: Verify the staged blob is encrypted**

Run:
```bash
git show :home/_encryption-test.md | head -c 9 | xxd
```
Expected: the first 9 bytes are `00 47 49 54 43 52 59 50 54` (the literal bytes `\0GITCRYPT`). If you see plaintext (`this is`), encryption is not working — STOP and debug.

- [ ] **Step 4: Verify the working-tree file is still plaintext**

Run:
```bash
cat home/_encryption-test.md
```
Expected: `this is a secret test note`.

- [ ] **Step 5: Clean up**

Run:
```bash
git rm -f home/_encryption-test.md
```

- [ ] **Step 6: No commit yet**

---

## Task 8: Write the README

**Files:**
- Create: `/Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian/README.md`

- [ ] **Step 1: Write `README.md`**

Create `README.md` with exactly:
````markdown
# Obsidian Vault (encrypted)

This vault uses [`git-crypt`](https://github.com/AGWA/git-crypt) for transparent per-file encryption. Plaintext lives on disk locally; only ciphertext is committed and pushed to GitHub.

## What's encrypted

Anything matched by `.gitattributes` — currently `*.md`, `*.canvas`, and common image / PDF extensions. Filenames, directory structure, and commit metadata are NOT encrypted (this is fine for our threat model: belt-and-suspenders for an already-private repo).

## Setting up a new machine

```bash
# 1. Install git-crypt
brew install git-crypt   # macOS
# (or: apt install git-crypt / pacman -S git-crypt / etc.)

# 2. Clone the repo
git clone git@github.com:<you>/<repo>.git
cd <repo>

# 3. Get the key from 1Password
#    Open the "Obsidian Vault git-crypt key" item, download the attachment
#    to a temp location, e.g. ~/vault.key

# 4. Unlock
git-crypt unlock ~/vault.key

# 5. Securely delete the temp key file
rm -P ~/vault.key   # macOS; on Linux use `shred -u ~/vault.key`

# 6. Install the pre-push hook (the file is committed at hooks/pre-push)
ln -sf ../../hooks/pre-push .git/hooks/pre-push

# 7. Verify
cat home/some-note.md   # should be plaintext
```

## Daily use

Just use Obsidian and `git` normally. `git status` / `git add` / `git commit` / `git push` all work. The pre-push hook will block the push if encryption looks misconfigured.

## Adding new file types to encryption

Edit `.gitattributes`, add a `filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt` line for the new pattern, then run:

```bash
git-crypt status -f      # re-encrypts any newly-matched files
git add .
git commit -m "Encrypt <pattern>"
```

## Backing up the key

The key is the only thing that lets you decrypt this vault. Lose it and the GitHub repo is permanently unreadable. It is stored in 1Password as an attachment on the secure note "Obsidian Vault git-crypt key". Do not store it anywhere else.

## Rotating the key

Not currently supported by `git-crypt` natively. If ever needed, the procedure is: clone, decrypt, re-init with a new key, force-push. One-off ceremony — write it up if/when you actually need to.
````

- [ ] **Step 2: No commit yet**

---

## Task 9: Export and securely store the key (manual)

This is a manual step — Claude cannot put things in 1Password.

**Files:** Temporary `~/vault.key`, deleted after upload.

- [ ] **Step 1: Export the key**

Run:
```bash
git-crypt export-key ~/vault.key
ls -l ~/vault.key
```
Expected: a small (~50 byte) file at `~/vault.key`.

- [ ] **Step 2: Sir Charles of St Cheese, do this by hand:**

  - Open 1Password.
  - Create a new Secure Note titled `Obsidian Vault git-crypt key`.
  - Attach `~/vault.key` to it.
  - Save.
  - Verify the attachment opens and contains binary (not empty).

- [ ] **Step 3: Securely delete the temp file**

Run:
```bash
rm -P ~/vault.key
ls -l ~/vault.key 2>&1
```
Expected: `No such file or directory`.

- [ ] **Step 4: No commit yet**

---

## Task 10: Pre-flight check before first commit

- [ ] **Step 1: Confirm the working tree state**

Run:
```bash
git status --short
```
Expected: shows `??` lines for `.gitattributes`, `.gitignore`, `README.md`, `hooks/pre-push`, `tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh`, `docs/superpowers/specs/2026-04-30-obsidian-vault-encryption-design.md`, `docs/superpowers/plans/2026-04-30-obsidian-vault-encryption.md`, and any actual notes under `home/`. Should NOT show `.obsidian/workspace.json` or similar churn files.

- [ ] **Step 2: Run the hook test once more for confidence**

Run:
```bash
bash tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh
```
Expected: `Results: 3 passed, 0 failed`.

- [ ] **Step 3: Run the hook directly to verify exit 0 in the current state**

Run:
```bash
bash hooks/pre-push origin none </dev/null
echo "exit: $?"
```
Expected: `exit: 0`.

---

## Task 11: Initial commit

- [ ] **Step 1: Stage everything**

Run:
```bash
git add .
```

- [ ] **Step 2: Verify what's staged**

Run:
```bash
git status --short
```
Expected: all the files from Task 10 Step 1 are now staged (`A` lines, not `??`).

- [ ] **Step 3: Spot-check that a Markdown file is staged as ciphertext**

Pick any `.md` file in `home/` (if there are any). If `home/` is empty, skip this step.

Run (substitute a real path):
```bash
git show ":home/<some-existing-note>.md" | head -c 9 | xxd
```
Expected: starts with `\0GITCRYPT`.

- [ ] **Step 4: Commit**

Run:
```bash
git commit -m "Initial encrypted vault setup

- git-crypt for transparent per-file encryption
- .gitattributes patterns for *.md, *.canvas, images, PDFs
- .gitignore for Obsidian workspace churn and OS noise
- Committed pre-push safety hook (hooks/pre-push) with shell test
- README documenting bootstrap and restore procedure
- Design + implementation plan under docs/superpowers/"
```
Expected: a commit lands on `main`.

- [ ] **Step 5: Verify the commit**

Run:
```bash
git log --stat -1
```
Expected: shows the commit with the file list.

---

## Task 12: Create the GitHub repo and push

- [ ] **Step 1: Create the private repo**

Sir Charles of St Cheese, do one of the following:

**Option A — `gh` CLI (preferred if installed):**
```bash
gh repo create obsidian-vault --private --source=. --remote=origin
```
Expected: prints the URL of the new repo and adds `origin`.

**Option B — web UI:**
1. Go to https://github.com/new
2. Name: `obsidian-vault` (or your choice). Visibility: **Private**. Do NOT initialize with a README.
3. After creation, run locally:
   ```bash
   git remote add origin git@github.com:<you>/obsidian-vault.git
   ```

- [ ] **Step 2: Verify the remote**

Run:
```bash
git remote -v
```
Expected: `origin` listed for both fetch and push.

- [ ] **Step 3: Push**

Run:
```bash
git push -u origin main
```
Expected: the pre-push hook runs, prints nothing (or only `pre-push hook:` lines if it found something), exits 0, and the push completes.

If the hook blocks: read its message, fix the issue, re-run. **Do not bypass with `--no-verify`** — that's the entire point of the hook.

---

## Task 13: Verify on GitHub that ciphertext landed

- [ ] **Step 1: Open the repo in a browser**

Sir Charles of St Cheese, navigate to your new repo on GitHub.

- [ ] **Step 2: Click on any `.md` file**

Expected: GitHub shows binary-blob output, NOT readable text. The first bytes should look like `\0GITCRYPT` followed by gibberish.

If you see readable plaintext: **STOP**. Something is wrong. Force-push is not a fix — the plaintext is now in GitHub's git history. You'd need to delete the repo, debug locally, and start the push from scratch.

---

## Task 14: Verify cross-machine sync works (deferred — do later when you set up a second machine)

This is for future-Sir-Charles when he sits down at another machine. Not part of today's work, just documenting the procedure here so it's findable.

Follow the "Setting up a new machine" section in `README.md`. After unlock, confirm:
- Files in `home/` are readable plaintext locally.
- `git-crypt status` reports everything as `encrypted` (no `not encrypted:` lines).

---

## Notes

- **Task 9 and Task 12 require human action** (1Password and GitHub UI/auth). An agent executing this plan should pause and surface those steps to the user rather than trying to automate them.
- **Order matters.** Task 7 (encryption sanity check) must happen before Task 11 (initial commit). If encryption is broken and we commit, plaintext lands in git history — recoverable only by destroying the repo before pushing.
- **No `--no-verify`.** The whole point of the pre-push hook is to be a safety net. Bypassing it defeats Task 6.


Encrypt Obsidian notes before GitHub commit


Plan written and self-reviewed against the spec. All 9 spec sections have task coverage, no placeholders, naming is consistent (`hooks/pre-push`, `tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh`, `~/vault.key`, "Obsidian Vault git-crypt key" — all referenced identically across plan/README/spec). One thing worth flagging: Tasks 9 and 12 are explicitly human-in-the-loop (1Password attachment, GitHub auth/UI) — no agent can do those.

Plan saved to:

`docs/superpowers/plans/2026-04-30-obsidian-vault-encryption.md`

Two execution options:

**1. Subagent-Driven** — I dispatch a fresh subagent per task, review between tasks. Honestly, given Tasks 9 and 12 require you to physically click around in 1Password and GitHub, this is overkill for this plan and would just add overhead.

**2. Inline Execution** — Walk through the plan task-by-task in this session using `superpowers:executing-plans`. I run the commands (or hand off to you for the manual ones), we eyeball the output together, you stay in the driver's seat. This is the right shape for this project.

Recommend **Option 2**. Want me to fire it up?


afplay ~/.claude/sounds/mario/stop/stomp.wav 2>/dev/null || true


Option 2, fire it up big daawwwwggg


Launching skill: superpowers:executing-plans


Base directory for this skill: /Users/steve.briggs/.claude/plugins/cache/claude-plugins-official/superpowers/5.0.7/skills/executing-plans

# Executing Plans

## Overview

Load plan, review critically, execute all tasks, report when complete.

**Announce at start:** "I'm using the executing-plans skill to implement this plan."

**Note:** Tell your human partner that Superpowers works much better with access to subagents. The quality of its work will be significantly higher if run on a platform with subagent support (such as Claude Code or Codex). If subagents are available, use superpowers:subagent-driven-development instead of this skill.

## The Process

### Step 1: Load and Review Plan
1. Read plan file
2. Review critically - identify any questions or concerns about the plan
3. If concerns: Raise them with your human partner before starting
4. If no concerns: Create TodoWrite and proceed

### Step 2: Execute Tasks

For each task:
1. Mark as in_progress
2. Follow each step exactly (plan has bite-sized steps)
3. Run verifications as specified
4. Mark as completed

### Step 3: Complete Development

After all tasks complete and verified:
- Announce: "I'm using the finishing-a-development-branch skill to complete this work."
- **REQUIRED SUB-SKILL:** Use superpowers:finishing-a-development-branch
- Follow that skill to verify tests, present options, execute choice

## When to Stop and Ask for Help

**STOP executing immediately when:**
- Hit a blocker (missing dependency, test fails, instruction unclear)
- Plan has critical gaps preventing starting
- You don't understand an instruction
- Verification fails repeatedly

**Ask for clarification rather than guessing.**

## When to Revisit Earlier Steps

**Return to Review (Step 1) when:**
- Partner updates the plan based on your feedback
- Fundamental approach needs rethinking

**Don't force through blockers** - stop and ask.

## Remember
- Review plan critically first
- Follow plan steps exactly
- Don't skip verifications
- Reference skills when plan says to
- Stop when blocked, don't guess
- Never start implementation on main/master branch without explicit user consent

## Integration

**Required workflow skills:**
- **superpowers:using-git-worktrees** - REQUIRED: Set up isolated workspace before starting
- **superpowers:writing-plans** - Creates the plan this skill executes
- **superpowers:finishing-a-development-branch** - Complete development after all tasks


I'm using the executing-plans skill to implement this plan.

Plan critically reviewed — no concerns. The worktree-isolation step in the skill doesn't apply here (we're literally creating the first commit; there's no branch to isolate from). Going to load the task tools so we can track progress across the 14 tasks.


ToolSearch

Question: select:TaskCreate,TaskUpdate,TaskList


Question: select:TaskCreate,TaskUpdate,TaskList


TaskCreate

Task 1: Initialize git repository

git init in the obsidian vault, verify clean state, ensure branch is `main`.


Task #1 created successfully: Task 1: Initialize git repository

Task 1: Initialize git repository


Task 2: Create .gitignore

Write .gitignore with Obsidian churn and OS noise entries; verify it ignores test files.


Task #2 created successfully: Task 2: Create .gitignore

Task 2: Create .gitignore


Task 3: Create .gitattributes for git-crypt

Write .gitattributes with filter=git-crypt patterns for md/canvas/images/pdf; verify with git check-attr.


Task #3 created successfully: Task 3: Create .gitattributes for git-crypt


Task 4: Install git-crypt and initialize

brew install git-crypt, run git-crypt init, verify .git/git-crypt/keys/default exists.


Task #4 created successfully: Task 4: Install git-crypt and initialize


Task 5: Write failing test for pre-push hook

Create tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh with three scenarios; confirm it fails because the hook doesn't exist yet.


Task #5 created successfully: Task 5: Write failing test for pre-push hook


Task 6: Write the pre-push hook

Create hooks/pre-push, symlink into .git/hooks, run the test and confirm 3/3 pass.


Task #6 created successfully: Task 6: Write the pre-push hook

Task 6: Write the pre-push hook


Task 7: Sanity-check encryption with a test note

Create a temporary note, stage it, verify the staged blob starts with \0GITCRYPT, working tree stays plaintext, then remove.


Task #7 created successfully: Task 7: Sanity-check encryption with a test note


Task 8: Write the README

Write README.md documenting bootstrap, daily use, restore, and key backup procedures.


Task #8 created successfully: Task 8: Write the README

Task 8: Write the README


Task 9: Export key and store in 1Password (manual)

git-crypt export-key ~/vault.key. User stores in 1Password. Then securely delete the temp file.


Task #9 created successfully: Task 9: Export key and store in 1Password (manual)


Task 10: Pre-flight check before first commit

Inspect git status, re-run hook test, run hook directly to confirm exit 0.


Task #10 created successfully: Task 10: Pre-flight check before first commit


Task 11: Initial commit

git add ., verify staged content, optionally spot-check encrypted blob, commit.


Task #11 created successfully: Task 11: Initial commit

Task 11: Initial commit


Task 12: Create GitHub repo and push (manual auth)

User creates private repo via gh CLI or web UI, sets origin, pushes, hook gates the push.


Task #12 created successfully: Task 12: Create GitHub repo and push (manual auth)


Task 13: Verify ciphertext on GitHub

User opens an .md file on GitHub, confirms binary blob output, not plaintext.


Task #13 created successfully: Task 13: Verify ciphertext on GitHub

Task 13: Verify ciphertext on GitHub


Tasks tracked. Kicking off **Task 1: Initialize git repository**.


Updated task #1 status


Bash

[[ -d .git ]] && echo "ALREADY A REPO — STOP" || echo "OK to init"

Check that obsidian dir isn't already a git repo


OK to init


git init && echo "---" && git symbolic-ref --short HEAD

git init and check default branch name


Initialized empty Git repository in /Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian/.git/
---
main


Repo initialized, branch is already `main`. Task 1 done.


Updated task #2 status


Write

# Obsidian churn — rewritten constantly, not worth syncing
.obsidian/workspace.json
.obsidian/workspace-mobile.json
.obsidian/cache
.obsidian/plugins/*/data.json

# Obsidian local-only state
.trash/

# macOS noise
.DS_Store


File created successfully at: /Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian/.gitignore

# Obsidian churn — rewritten constantly, not worth syncing
.obsidian/workspace.json
.obsidian/workspace-mobile.json
.obsidian/cache
.obsidian/plugins/*/data.json

# Obsidian local-only state
.trash/

# macOS noise
.DS_Store


Bash

mkdir -p .obsidian && touch .obsidian/workspace.json .DS_Store && echo "--- git status ---" && git status --short && echo "--- cleanup ---" && rm .obsidian/workspace.json .DS_Store && rmdir .obsidian 2>/dev/null || true && echo "done"

Verify .gitignore ignores workspace.json and .DS_Store


--- git status ---
?? .claude/
?? .gitignore
?? docs/
?? home/
--- cleanup ---
remove .obsidian/workspace.json? remove .DS_Store? done


Two things to sort out: (1) the `rm` cleanup hit interactive prompts and may not have actually deleted, and (2) I notice `.claude/` showing up in `git status` — that's session/tooling state from Claude Code (including my own memory file at `.claude/mind.mv2`). You almost certainly don't want that in the repo.

Cleaning up properly and adding `.claude/` to `.gitignore`.


/bin/rm -f .obsidian/workspace.json .DS_Store && rmdir .obsidian 2>/dev/null; ls -la .obsidian 2>&1 | head -3; ls -la .DS_Store 2>&1

Force-delete test files via absolute rm path to bypass aliases


Error: Exit code 2
lsd: .obsidian: No such file or directory (os error 2).

lsd: .DS_Store: No such file or directory (os error 2).


Test files cleaned up. Now adding `.claude/` to `.gitignore`.


Edit

# Obsidian local-only state
.trash/

# macOS noise
.DS_Store

# Obsidian local-only state
.trash/

# macOS noise
.DS_Store

# Claude Code session state (includes the memvid mind memory file)
.claude/


The file /Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian/.gitignore has been updated successfully.

# Obsidian local-only state
.trash/

# macOS noise
.DS_Store

# Claude Code session state (includes the memvid mind memory file)
.claude/

# Obsidian churn — rewritten constantly, not worth syncing
.obsidian/workspace.json
.obsidian/workspace-mobile.json
.obsidian/cache
.obsidian/plugins/*/data.json

# Obsidian local-only state
.trash/

# macOS noise
.DS_Store

+# Claude Code session state (includes the memvid mind memory file)


Bash

Confirm .claude/ is now ignored


?? .gitignore
?? docs/
?? home/


Clean. `.claude/` is now ignored, leaving `.gitignore`, `docs/`, and `home/` as the legitimate untracked items. Task 2 done.


Updated task #3 status


Write

*.md       filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.canvas   filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.png      filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.jpg      filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.jpeg     filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.gif      filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.webp     filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.svg      filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.pdf      filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt

.gitattributes !filter !diff


File created successfully at: /Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian/.gitattributes

*.md       filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.canvas   filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.png      filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.jpg      filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.jpeg     filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.gif      filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.webp     filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.svg      filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt
*.pdf      filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt

.gitattributes !filter !diff


Bash

echo "--- *.md ---" && git check-attr filter diff -- test.md && echo "--- .gitattributes ---" && git check-attr filter diff -- .gitattributes

Verify .gitattributes patterns apply to .md but not to .gitattributes itself


--- *.md ---
test.md: filter: git-crypt
test.md: diff: git-crypt
--- .gitattributes ---
.gitattributes: filter: unspecified
.gitattributes: diff: unspecified


`.md` files map to `git-crypt`, `.gitattributes` itself is `unspecified`. Task 3 done. Moving to Task 4 — installing `git-crypt`.


Updated task #4 status


command -v git-crypt && git-crypt --version

Check if git-crypt is already installed


Exit code 1


Not installed yet. Installing now.


Install git-crypt via Homebrew


<persisted-output>
Output too large (41.6KB). Full output saved to: /Users/steve.briggs/.claude/projects/-Users-steve-briggs-Documents-obsidian/424d3069-866c-4d4c-b909-131f7d8113b9/tool-results/b154xrjaa.txt

Preview (first 2KB):
==> Auto-updating Homebrew...
Adjust how often this is run with `$HOMEBREW_AUTO_UPDATE_SECS` or disable with
`$HOMEBREW_NO_AUTO_UPDATE=1`. Hide these hints with `$HOMEBREW_NO_ENV_HINTS=1` (see `man brew`).
==> Downloading https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core/portable-ruby/blobs/sha256:8ad98d9cf15477d1a43f4012cfd5eff5c271398bca1e2724b55bd4944a0bb1d4
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</persisted-output>

==> Auto-updating Homebrew...
Adjust how often this is run with `$HOMEBREW_AUTO_UPDATE_SECS` or disable with
`$HOMEBREW_NO_AUTO_UPDATE=1`. Hide these hints with `$HOMEBREW_NO_ENV_HINTS=1` (see `man brew`).
==> Downloading https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core/portable-ruby/blobs/sha256:8ad98d9cf15477d1a43f4012cfd5eff5c271398bca1e2724b55bd4944a0bb1d4
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command -v git-crypt && git-crypt --version

Verify git-crypt installed


/opt/homebrew/bin/git-crypt
git-crypt 0.8.0


git-crypt 0.8.0 installed. Initializing it in the repo.


git-crypt init && echo "---" && ls .git/git-crypt/keys/

Initialize git-crypt and verify key file


Generating key...
---
drwxr-xr-x steve.briggs staff  96 B Thu Apr 30 15:01:29 2026 ..
drwxr-xr-x steve.briggs staff  96 B Thu Apr 30 15:01:29 2026 .
.rw------- steve.briggs staff 148 B Thu Apr 30 15:01:29 2026 default


Key file generated at `.git/git-crypt/keys/default`. Task 4 done.


Updated task #5 status


Write

#!/usr/bin/env bash
# Test cases for hooks/pre-push.
# Run from the repo root: bash tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh

set -u

REPO_ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd)"
HOOK="$REPO_ROOT/hooks/pre-push"

cd "$REPO_ROOT" || exit 1

pass=0
fail=0

run_case() {
    local name="$1"
    local expected_exit="$2"
    local actual_exit="$3"
    if [[ "$actual_exit" == "$expected_exit" ]]; then
        echo "PASS: $name (exit $actual_exit)"
        pass=$((pass + 1))
    else
        echo "FAIL: $name (expected exit $expected_exit, got $actual_exit)"
        fail=$((fail + 1))
    fi
}

# --- Case 1: Healthy state — hook should pass ---
out=$(bash "$HOOK" origin git@example.com:fake/repo.git </dev/null 2>&1)
run_case "healthy state passes" 0 $?

# --- Case 2: Missing .gitattributes — hook should fail ---
mv .gitattributes .gitattributes.bak
out=$(bash "$HOOK" origin git@example.com:fake/repo.git </dev/null 2>&1)
run_case "missing .gitattributes fails" 1 $?
mv .gitattributes.bak .gitattributes

# --- Case 3: .gitattributes missing the git-crypt filter line — hook should fail ---
cp .gitattributes .gitattributes.bak
echo "# only comments" > .gitattributes
out=$(bash "$HOOK" origin git@example.com:fake/repo.git </dev/null 2>&1)
run_case "no git-crypt patterns fails" 1 $?
mv .gitattributes.bak .gitattributes

echo
echo "Results: $pass passed, $fail failed"
[[ "$fail" -eq 0 ]]


File created successfully at: /Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian/tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh

#!/usr/bin/env bash
# Test cases for hooks/pre-push.
# Run from the repo root: bash tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh

set -u

REPO_ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd)"
HOOK="$REPO_ROOT/hooks/pre-push"

cd "$REPO_ROOT" || exit 1

pass=0
fail=0

run_case() {
    local name="$1"
    local expected_exit="$2"
    local actual_exit="$3"
    if [[ "$actual_exit" == "$expected_exit" ]]; then
        echo "PASS: $name (exit $actual_exit)"
        pass=$((pass + 1))
    else
        echo "FAIL: $name (expected exit $expected_exit, got $actual_exit)"
        fail=$((fail + 1))
    fi
}

# --- Case 1: Healthy state — hook should pass ---
out=$(bash "$HOOK" origin git@example.com:fake/repo.git </dev/null 2>&1)
run_case "healthy state passes" 0 $?

# --- Case 2: Missing .gitattributes — hook should fail ---
mv .gitattributes .gitattributes.bak
out=$(bash "$HOOK" origin git@example.com:fake/repo.git </dev/null 2>&1)
run_case "missing .gitattributes fails" 1 $?
mv .gitattributes.bak .gitattributes

# --- Case 3: .gitattributes missing the git-crypt filter line — hook should fail ---
cp .gitattributes .gitattributes.bak
echo "# only comments" > .gitattributes
out=$(bash "$HOOK" origin git@example.com:fake/repo.git </dev/null 2>&1)
run_case "no git-crypt patterns fails" 1 $?
mv .gitattributes.bak .gitattributes

echo
echo "Results: $pass passed, $fail failed"
[[ "$fail" -eq 0 ]]


Bash

chmod +x tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh && bash tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh; echo "exit: $?"

Run failing test (hook does not exist yet, expect 0/3 pass)


FAIL: healthy state passes (expected exit 0, got 127)
FAIL: missing .gitattributes fails (expected exit 1, got 127)
FAIL: no git-crypt patterns fails (expected exit 1, got 127)

Results: 0 passed, 3 failed
exit: 1


3/3 failing as expected (exit 127 = `bash: file not found`). The Red phase of TDD is solid. Task 5 done.


Updated task #6 status


Write

#!/usr/bin/env bash
# Pre-push safety hook for git-crypt-encrypted vault.
# Blocks the push if encryption looks misconfigured.
#
# Checks:
#   1. git-crypt binary is installed.
#   2. .gitattributes exists and contains at least one filter=git-crypt pattern.
#   3. `git-crypt status` reports no files matched-but-not-encrypted.

set -u

repo_root=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)
cd "$repo_root" || exit 1

fail() {
    echo "pre-push hook: $1" >&2
    echo "Push BLOCKED. Fix and try again." >&2
    exit 1
}

command -v git-crypt >/dev/null 2>&1 \
    || fail "git-crypt is not installed (brew install git-crypt)"

[[ -f .gitattributes ]] \
    || fail ".gitattributes is missing — encryption rules would not apply"

grep -q 'filter=git-crypt' .gitattributes \
    || fail ".gitattributes contains no 'filter=git-crypt' patterns"

# git-crypt status prints "not encrypted: <path>" for any file that is matched
# by .gitattributes but is currently plaintext in the index. Any such line is
# a leak waiting to happen.
leaks=$(git-crypt status 2>&1 | grep -E '^[[:space:]]*not encrypted: ' || true)
if [[ -n "$leaks" ]]; then
    echo "pre-push hook: files matched by .gitattributes are NOT encrypted:" >&2
    echo "$leaks" >&2
    fail "run 'git-crypt status -f' to fix, then commit and re-push"
fi

exit 0


File created successfully at: /Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian/hooks/pre-push

#!/usr/bin/env bash
# Pre-push safety hook for git-crypt-encrypted vault.
# Blocks the push if encryption looks misconfigured.
#
# Checks:
#   1. git-crypt binary is installed.
#   2. .gitattributes exists and contains at least one filter=git-crypt pattern.
#   3. `git-crypt status` reports no files matched-but-not-encrypted.

set -u

repo_root=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)
cd "$repo_root" || exit 1

fail() {
    echo "pre-push hook: $1" >&2
    echo "Push BLOCKED. Fix and try again." >&2
    exit 1
}

command -v git-crypt >/dev/null 2>&1 \
    || fail "git-crypt is not installed (brew install git-crypt)"

[[ -f .gitattributes ]] \
    || fail ".gitattributes is missing — encryption rules would not apply"

grep -q 'filter=git-crypt' .gitattributes \
    || fail ".gitattributes contains no 'filter=git-crypt' patterns"

# git-crypt status prints "not encrypted: <path>" for any file that is matched
# by .gitattributes but is currently plaintext in the index. Any such line is
# a leak waiting to happen.
leaks=$(git-crypt status 2>&1 | grep -E '^[[:space:]]*not encrypted: ' || true)
if [[ -n "$leaks" ]]; then
    echo "pre-push hook: files matched by .gitattributes are NOT encrypted:" >&2
    echo "$leaks" >&2
    fail "run 'git-crypt status -f' to fix, then commit and re-push"
fi

exit 0


Bash

chmod +x hooks/pre-push && ln -sf ../../hooks/pre-push .git/hooks/pre-push && ls -l .git/hooks/pre-push

Make hook executable and symlink into .git/hooks


lrwxr-xr-x steve.briggs staff 20 B Thu Apr 30 15:02:59 2026 .git/hooks/pre-push ⇒ ../../hooks/pre-push


bash tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh; echo "exit: $?"

Run hook test now that hook exists; expect 3/3 pass


FAIL: healthy state passes (expected exit 0, got 1)
PASS: missing .gitattributes fails (exit 1)
PASS: no git-crypt patterns fails (exit 1)

Results: 2 passed, 1 failed
exit: 1


One case failing — the healthy state case is exiting 1. Let me debug.


echo "--- git-crypt status output ---" && git-crypt status 2>&1; echo "--- exit: $? ---"

See what git-crypt status reports in current state


--- git-crypt status output ---
not encrypted: .gitattributes
not encrypted: .gitignore
not encrypted: docs/.obsidian/app.json
not encrypted: docs/.obsidian/appearance.json
not encrypted: docs/.obsidian/core-plugins.json
not encrypted: docs/.obsidian/workspace.json
    encrypted: docs/superpowers/plans/2026-04-30-obsidian-vault-encryption.md
    encrypted: docs/superpowers/specs/2026-04-30-obsidian-vault-encryption-design.md
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/app.json
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/appearance.json
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/community-plugins.json
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/core-plugins.json
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/graph.json
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/hotkeys.json
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/plugins/mcp-tools/bin/mcp-server
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/plugins/mcp-tools/main.js
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/plugins/mcp-tools/manifest.json
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/plugins/obsidian-local-rest-api/data.json
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/plugins/obsidian-local-rest-api/main.js
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/plugins/obsidian-local-rest-api/manifest.json
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/plugins/obsidian-local-rest-api/styles.css
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/plugins/obsidian-tasks-plugin/data.json
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/plugins/obsidian-tasks-plugin/main.js
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/plugins/obsidian-tasks-plugin/manifest.json
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/plugins/obsidian-tasks-plugin/styles.css
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/plugins/templater-obsidian/main.js
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/plugins/templater-obsidian/manifest.json
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/plugins/templater-obsidian/styles.css
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/plugins/theme-picker/main.js
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/plugins/theme-picker/manifest.json
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/plugins/theme-picker/styles.css
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/themes/Dracula for Obsidian/manifest.json
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/themes/Dracula for Obsidian/theme.css
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/themes/GitHub Theme/manifest.json
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/themes/GitHub Theme/theme.css
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/themes/Obsidianite/manifest.json
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/themes/Obsidianite/theme.css
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/types.json
not encrypted: home/.obsidian/workspace.json
    encrypted: home/Claude/ruth/2026-04-29-ruth-plugin-analysis.md
    encrypted: home/Claude/ruth/2026-04-29-ruth-remove-anthropic-provider.md
    encrypted: home/Inbox/acronyms.md
    encrypted: home/Inbox/misc.md
    encrypted: home/Inbox/notes.md
    encrypted: home/Inbox/notes_quickref.md
    encrypted: home/Inbox/squads_pods.md
    encrypted: home/Inbox/todo.md
    encrypted: home/Inbox/urls.md
    encrypted: home/Inbox/useful_links.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2022/2022-02-22_kubernetes_training.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2022/2022-02-22_misc.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2022/2022-02-22_multiselect.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2022/2022-02-23.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2022/2022-02-25.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2022/2022-07-07.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2022/2022_04_08.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2022/2022_06_13.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2022/2022_06_24.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2022/2022_08_25.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2022/2022_08_30.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2023/2023_05_16.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2023/2023_06_06.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2023/2023_07_17.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2023/2023_11_21.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2024/2024_01_08.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2024/2024_01_17.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2024/2024_04_15.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2024/2024_04_17.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2024/2024_05_20.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2026/2026-04-29-claude-session.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2026/2026_01_29.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2026/2026_02_20.md
    encrypted: home/Journals/2026/2026_04_30.md
    encrypted: home/Pages/CICD.md
    encrypted: home/Pages/Env Setup.md
    encrypted: home/Pages/IMDSv2.md
    encrypted: home/Pages/Jenkins Migration.md
    encrypted: home/Pages/PGBoss Jobs.md
    encrypted: home/Pages/Query Engine.md
    encrypted: home/Pages/Useful.md
    encrypted: home/Pages/Vault Operator.md
    encrypted: home/Pages/Vault.md
    encrypted: home/Pages/aws-iam.md
    encrypted: home/Pages/contents.md
    encrypted: home/Pages/jenkins-controller.md
    encrypted: home/Pages/jenkins.md
not encrypted: hooks/pre-push
not encrypted: tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh
--- exit: 0 ---


Found the bug. My hook's grep was too eager — `git-crypt status` lists EVERY file as "encrypted" or "not encrypted", including files that aren't supposed to be encrypted (like `.gitattributes` itself, `.gitignore`, plugin `.js` files, etc.). Those "not encrypted" lines are correct, not leaks.

I need to cross-reference each "not encrypted" file against `.gitattributes` to see if it's *supposed* to be encrypted. Fixing the hook.


Edit

# git-crypt status prints "not encrypted: <path>" for any file that is matched
# by .gitattributes but is currently plaintext in the index. Any such line is
# a leak waiting to happen.
leaks=$(git-crypt status 2>&1 | grep -E '^[[:space:]]*not encrypted: ' || true)
if [[ -n "$leaks" ]]; then
    echo "pre-push hook: files matched by .gitattributes are NOT encrypted:" >&2
    echo "$leaks" >&2
    fail "run 'git-crypt status -f' to fix, then commit and re-push"
fi

exit 0

# `git-crypt status` lists every tracked file as "encrypted" or "not encrypted".
# A "not encrypted" entry is only a leak if .gitattributes says it should have
# been encrypted. Cross-reference each "not encrypted" file against the
# filter attribute to find real leaks.
leaks=()
while IFS= read -r line; do
    path=$(printf '%s' "$line" | sed -E 's/^[[:space:]]*not encrypted: //')
    [[ -z "$path" ]] && continue
    filter=$(git check-attr filter -- "$path" 2>/dev/null | awk -F': ' '{print $NF}')
    if [[ "$filter" == "git-crypt" ]]; then
        leaks+=("$path")
    fi
done < <(git-crypt status 2>/dev/null | grep -E '^[[:space:]]*not encrypted: ' || true)

if [[ ${#leaks[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
    echo "pre-push hook: files matched by .gitattributes are NOT encrypted:" >&2
    printf '  %s\n' "${leaks[@]}" >&2
    fail "run 'git-crypt status -f' to fix, then commit and re-push"
fi

exit 0


The file /Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian/hooks/pre-push has been updated successfully.

# `git-crypt status` lists every tracked file as "encrypted" or "not encrypted".
# A "not encrypted" entry is only a leak if .gitattributes says it should have
# been encrypted. Cross-reference each "not encrypted" file against the
# filter attribute to find real leaks.
leaks=()
while IFS= read -r line; do
    path=$(printf '%s' "$line" | sed -E 's/^[[:space:]]*not encrypted: //')
    [[ -z "$path" ]] && continue
    filter=$(git check-attr filter -- "$path" 2>/dev/null | awk -F': ' '{print $NF}')
    if [[ "$filter" == "git-crypt" ]]; then
        leaks+=("$path")
    fi
done < <(git-crypt status 2>/dev/null | grep -E '^[[:space:]]*not encrypted: ' || true)

if [[ ${#leaks[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
    echo "pre-push hook: files matched by .gitattributes are NOT encrypted:" >&2
    printf '  %s\n' "${leaks[@]}" >&2
    fail "run 'git-crypt status -f' to fix, then commit and re-push"
fi

exit 0

#!/usr/bin/env bash
# Pre-push safety hook for git-crypt-encrypted vault.
# Blocks the push if encryption looks misconfigured.
#
# Checks:
#   1. git-crypt binary is installed.
#   2. .gitattributes exists and contains at least one filter=git-crypt pattern.
#   3. `git-crypt status` reports no files matched-but-not-encrypted.

set -u

repo_root=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)
cd "$repo_root" || exit 1

fail() {
    echo "pre-push hook: $1" >&2
    echo "Push BLOCKED. Fix and try again." >&2
    exit 1
}

command -v git-crypt >/dev/null 2>&1 \
    || fail "git-crypt is not installed (brew install git-crypt)"

[[ -f .gitattributes ]] \
    || fail ".gitattributes is missing — encryption rules would not apply"

grep -q 'filter=git-crypt' .gitattributes \
    || fail ".gitattributes contains no 'filter=git-crypt' patterns"

# git-crypt status prints "not encrypted: <path>" for any file that is matched
# by .gitattributes but is currently plaintext in the index. Any such line is
# a leak waiting to happen.
leaks=$(git-crypt status 2>&1 | grep -E '^[[:space:]]*not encrypted: ' || true)
if [[ -n "$leaks" ]]; then
    echo "pre-push hook: files matched by .gitattributes are NOT encrypted:" >&2
    echo "$leaks" >&2
    fail "run 'git-crypt status -f' to fix, then commit and re-push"
fi

exit 0

-# git-crypt status prints "not encrypted: <path>" for any file that is matched

-# by .gitattributes but is currently plaintext in the index. Any such line is

-leaks=$(git-crypt status 2>&1 | grep -E '^[[:space:]]*not encrypted: ' || true)

+# `git-crypt status` lists every tracked file as "encrypted" or "not encrypted".

+# A "not encrypted" entry is only a leak if .gitattributes says it should have

+# been encrypted. Cross-reference each "not encrypted" file against the

+    path=$(printf '%s' "$line" | sed -E 's/^[[:space:]]*not encrypted: //')

+    filter=$(git check-attr filter -- "$path" 2>/dev/null | awk -F': ' '{print $NF}')

+    if [[ "$filter" == "git-crypt" ]]; then

+done < <(git-crypt status 2>/dev/null | grep -E '^[[:space:]]*not encrypted: ' || true)


Bash

bash tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh; echo "exit: $?"

Re-run hook test after fix


PASS: healthy state passes (exit 0)
PASS: missing .gitattributes fails (exit 1)
PASS: no git-crypt patterns fails (exit 1)

Results: 3 passed, 0 failed
exit: 0


3/3 pass. Updating the plan file to reflect the corrected hook code so it stays accurate as a record.


Edit

# git-crypt status prints "not encrypted: <path>" for any file that is matched
# by .gitattributes but is currently plaintext in the index. Any such line is
# a leak waiting to happen.
leaks=$(git-crypt status 2>&1 | grep -E '^[[:space:]]*not encrypted: ' || true)
if [[ -n "$leaks" ]]; then
    echo "pre-push hook: files matched by .gitattributes are NOT encrypted:" >&2
    echo "$leaks" >&2
    fail "run 'git-crypt status -f' to fix, then commit and re-push"
fi

exit 0

# `git-crypt status` lists every tracked file as "encrypted" or "not encrypted".
# A "not encrypted" entry is only a leak if .gitattributes says it should have
# been encrypted. Cross-reference each "not encrypted" file against the
# filter attribute to find real leaks.
leaks=()
while IFS= read -r line; do
    path=$(printf '%s' "$line" | sed -E 's/^[[:space:]]*not encrypted: //')
    [[ -z "$path" ]] && continue
    filter=$(git check-attr filter -- "$path" 2>/dev/null | awk -F': ' '{print $NF}')
    if [[ "$filter" == "git-crypt" ]]; then
        leaks+=("$path")
    fi
done < <(git-crypt status 2>/dev/null | grep -E '^[[:space:]]*not encrypted: ' || true)

if [[ ${#leaks[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
    echo "pre-push hook: files matched by .gitattributes are NOT encrypted:" >&2
    printf '  %s\n' "${leaks[@]}" >&2
    fail "run 'git-crypt status -f' to fix, then commit and re-push"
fi

exit 0


The file /Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian/docs/superpowers/plans/2026-04-30-obsidian-vault-encryption.md has been updated successfully.


Task 1: Initialize git repository

git init in the obsidian vault, verify clean state, ensure branch is `main`.

Task 2: Create .gitignore

Write .gitignore with Obsidian churn and OS noise entries; verify it ignores test files.

Write .gitattributes with filter=git-crypt patterns for md/canvas/images/pdf; verify with git check-attr.

brew install git-crypt, run git-crypt init, verify .git/git-crypt/keys/default exists.

Create tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh with three scenarios; confirm it fails because the hook doesn't exist yet.

Task 6: Write the pre-push hook

Create hooks/pre-push, symlink into .git/hooks, run the test and confirm 3/3 pass.

Create a temporary note, stage it, verify the staged blob starts with \0GITCRYPT, working tree stays plaintext, then remove.

Task 8: Write the README

Write README.md documenting bootstrap, daily use, restore, and key backup procedures.

git-crypt export-key ~/vault.key. User stores in 1Password. Then securely delete the temp file.

Inspect git status, re-run hook test, run hook directly to confirm exit 0.

Task 11: Initial commit

git add ., verify staged content, optionally spot-check encrypted blob, commit.

User creates private repo via gh CLI or web UI, sets origin, pushes, hook gates the push.

Task 13: Verify ciphertext on GitHub

User opens an .md file on GitHub, confirms binary blob output, not plaintext.


Updated task #7 status


Bash

echo "this is a secret test note" > home/_encryption-test.md && git add home/_encryption-test.md && echo "--- staged blob first 9 bytes (hex) ---" && git show :home/_encryption-test.md | head -c 9 | xxd && echo "--- working tree ---" && cat home/_encryption-test.md && echo "--- cleanup ---" && git rm -f home/_encryption-test.md

Sanity-check encryption: stage a secret note, verify staged blob is encrypted while working tree stays plaintext, then remove


--- staged blob first 9 bytes (hex) ---
00000000: 0047 4954 4352 5950 54                   .GITCRYPT
--- working tree ---
this is a secret test note
--- cleanup ---
rm 'home/_encryption-test.md'


Encryption verified. Staged blob starts with `\0GITCRYPT`, working tree is plaintext. Task 7 done.


Updated task #8 status


Write

# Obsidian Vault (encrypted)

This vault uses [`git-crypt`](https://github.com/AGWA/git-crypt) for transparent per-file encryption. Plaintext lives on disk locally; only ciphertext is committed and pushed to GitHub.

## What's encrypted

Anything matched by `.gitattributes` — currently `*.md`, `*.canvas`, and common image / PDF extensions. Filenames, directory structure, and commit metadata are NOT encrypted (this is fine for our threat model: belt-and-suspenders for an already-private repo).

## Setting up a new machine

```bash
# 1. Install git-crypt
brew install git-crypt   # macOS
# (or: apt install git-crypt / pacman -S git-crypt / etc.)

# 2. Clone the repo
git clone git@github.com:<you>/<repo>.git
cd <repo>

# 3. Get the key from 1Password
#    Open the "Obsidian Vault git-crypt key" item, download the attachment
#    to a temp location, e.g. ~/vault.key

# 4. Unlock
git-crypt unlock ~/vault.key

# 5. Securely delete the temp key file
rm -P ~/vault.key   # macOS; on Linux use `shred -u ~/vault.key`

# 6. Install the pre-push hook (the file is committed at hooks/pre-push)
ln -sf ../../hooks/pre-push .git/hooks/pre-push

# 7. Verify
cat home/some-note.md   # should be plaintext
```

## Daily use

Just use Obsidian and `git` normally. `git status` / `git add` / `git commit` / `git push` all work. The pre-push hook will block the push if encryption looks misconfigured.

## Adding new file types to encryption

Edit `.gitattributes`, add a `filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt` line for the new pattern, then run:

```bash
git-crypt status -f      # re-encrypts any newly-matched files
git add .
git commit -m "Encrypt <pattern>"
```

## Backing up the key

The key is the only thing that lets you decrypt this vault. Lose it and the GitHub repo is permanently unreadable. It is stored in 1Password as an attachment on the secure note "Obsidian Vault git-crypt key". Do not store it anywhere else.

## Rotating the key

Not currently supported by `git-crypt` natively. If ever needed, the procedure is: clone, decrypt, re-init with a new key, force-push. One-off ceremony — write it up if/when you actually need to.


File created successfully at: /Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian/README.md

# Obsidian Vault (encrypted)

This vault uses [`git-crypt`](https://github.com/AGWA/git-crypt) for transparent per-file encryption. Plaintext lives on disk locally; only ciphertext is committed and pushed to GitHub.

## What's encrypted

Anything matched by `.gitattributes` — currently `*.md`, `*.canvas`, and common image / PDF extensions. Filenames, directory structure, and commit metadata are NOT encrypted (this is fine for our threat model: belt-and-suspenders for an already-private repo).

## Setting up a new machine

```bash
# 1. Install git-crypt
brew install git-crypt   # macOS
# (or: apt install git-crypt / pacman -S git-crypt / etc.)

# 2. Clone the repo
git clone git@github.com:<you>/<repo>.git
cd <repo>

# 3. Get the key from 1Password
#    Open the "Obsidian Vault git-crypt key" item, download the attachment
#    to a temp location, e.g. ~/vault.key

# 4. Unlock
git-crypt unlock ~/vault.key

# 5. Securely delete the temp key file
rm -P ~/vault.key   # macOS; on Linux use `shred -u ~/vault.key`

# 6. Install the pre-push hook (the file is committed at hooks/pre-push)
ln -sf ../../hooks/pre-push .git/hooks/pre-push

# 7. Verify
cat home/some-note.md   # should be plaintext
```

## Daily use

Just use Obsidian and `git` normally. `git status` / `git add` / `git commit` / `git push` all work. The pre-push hook will block the push if encryption looks misconfigured.

## Adding new file types to encryption

Edit `.gitattributes`, add a `filter=git-crypt diff=git-crypt` line for the new pattern, then run:

```bash
git-crypt status -f      # re-encrypts any newly-matched files
git add .
git commit -m "Encrypt <pattern>"
```

## Backing up the key

The key is the only thing that lets you decrypt this vault. Lose it and the GitHub repo is permanently unreadable. It is stored in 1Password as an attachment on the secure note "Obsidian Vault git-crypt key". Do not store it anywhere else.

## Rotating the key

Not currently supported by `git-crypt` natively. If ever needed, the procedure is: clone, decrypt, re-init with a new key, force-push. One-off ceremony — write it up if/when you actually need to.


README written. Task 8 done.

Task 9 is **the first manual step**. I'll export the key, then pause so you can park it in 1Password before I securely delete the local copy.


Updated task #9 status


Bash

git-crypt export-key ~/vault.key && ls -l ~/vault.key && echo "---" && file ~/vault.key

Export git-crypt key to ~/vault.key


.rw------- steve.briggs staff 148 B Thu Apr 30 15:08:28 2026 /Users/steve.briggs/vault.key
---
/Users/steve.briggs/vault.key: data


Key exported.

```
Path: ~/vault.key
Size: 148 bytes
Perms: 600 (only you can read it)
```

🔑 **Sir Charles of St Cheese, do this by hand now:**

1. Open 1Password.
2. Create a new **Secure Note** titled exactly: `Obsidian Vault git-crypt key`
3. Drag `~/vault.key` into the note as an attachment (or use the "Add Attachment" button).
4. Save the note.
5. Quickly verify the attachment is downloadable from another device if you have one handy — but don't unzip/extract it yet, just confirm it landed.

**Reply with `done` when the key is safely in 1Password and I'll securely delete the local copy.**

(If anything goes wrong, you can re-run `git-crypt export-key ~/vault.key` later — it always exports the same key from `.git/git-crypt/keys/default`. So this isn't a one-shot operation.)


done


Securely deleting now.


/bin/rm -P ~/vault.key && ls -l ~/vault.key 2>&1

Securely delete the temp key file with rm -P


Error: Exit code 2
lsd: /Users/steve.briggs/vault.key: No such file or directory (os error 2).


Key file securely overwritten and gone. The 1Password attachment is now the sole copy. Task 9 done.


Updated task #10 status


echo "--- git status (untracked + staged) ---" && git status --short && echo && echo "--- hook test ---" && bash tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh && echo && echo "--- run hook directly ---" && bash hooks/pre-push origin none </dev/null && echo "exit: $?"

Pre-flight: git status, hook test, hook direct invocation


--- git status (untracked + staged) ---
?? .gitattributes
?? .gitignore
?? README.md
?? docs/
?? home/
?? hooks/
?? tests/

--- hook test ---
PASS: healthy state passes (exit 0)
PASS: missing .gitattributes fails (exit 1)
PASS: no git-crypt patterns fails (exit 1)

Results: 3 passed, 0 failed

--- run hook directly ---
exit: 0


Pre-flight all green. Untracked list is exactly the seven items we expect (no `.claude`, no `.obsidian/workspace.json`). Hook test 3/3, direct invocation exit 0. Task 10 done.


Updated task #11 status


git add . && echo "--- staged ---" && git status --short | head -20 && echo "..." && echo "--- file count ---" && git diff --cached --name-only | wc -l

Stage everything and review what's about to be committed


Exit code 137


Exit 137 (process killed — likely my piping to `head -20` got SIGPIPE'd in a weird way). Let me check the state more carefully.


Count staged files


Count untracked/modified files


Nothing got staged — `git add .` was the one that died. Let me try it on its own with verbose output to see if something specific is going wrong.


git add . 2>&1 | tail -20; echo "exit: ${PIPESTATUS[0]}"

Run git add . with output captured to see any errors


fatal: Unable to create '/Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian/.git/index.lock': File exists.

Another git process seems to be running in this repository, e.g.
an editor opened by 'git commit'. Please make sure all processes
are terminated then try again. If it still fails, a git process
may have crashed in this repository earlier:
remove the file manually to continue.
exit:


Stale `.git/index.lock` from the killed process. Removing it carefully — first verifying no git process is actually running.


pgrep -f "git " || echo "no git processes"; ls -la .git/index.lock 2>&1

Check for running git processes and confirm lockfile


no git processes
.rw-r--r-- steve.briggs staff 0 B Thu Apr 30 15:13:26 2026 .git/index.lock


No git processes running, lockfile is 0 bytes. Safe to remove.


/bin/rm .git/index.lock && echo "lock removed" && git add . 2>&1 | tail -10; echo "add exit: ${PIPESTATUS[0]}"

Remove stale lock and retry git add


lock removed
add exit:


Task 1: Initialize git repository

Task 2: Create .gitignore

Task 6: Write the pre-push hook

Task 8: Write the README

Task 11: Initial commit

Task 13: Verify ciphertext on GitHub


git status --short | wc -l; echo "---"; git diff --cached --name-only | wc -l

Check if add succeeded


       7
---
       0


Hmm, still nothing staged. Maybe the previous `git add .` is timing out due to the encryption work. Let me try staging incrementally and see where it gets stuck.


git add .gitattributes .gitignore README.md && echo "config files staged" && git diff --cached --name-only | wc -l

Stage just the small config files first


Error: Exit code 128
fatal: Unable to create '/Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian/.git/index.lock': File exists.

Another git process seems to be running in this repository, e.g.
an editor opened by 'git commit'. Please make sure all processes
are terminated then try again. If it still fails, a git process
may have crashed in this repository earlier:
remove the file manually to continue.


ps -ef | grep -i git | grep -v grep; echo "---"; ls -la .git/*.lock .git/index 2>&1

Look for active git processes and check lock state


  502  2648  1909   0  3Apr26 ??         1:15.23 /Users/steve.briggs/Library/Application Support/JetBrains/GoLand2024.3/plugins/github-copilot-intellij/copilot-agent/native/darwin-arm64/copilot-language-server --stdio
---
.rw-r--r-- steve.briggs staff 32 B Thu Apr 30 15:07:45 2026 .git/index
.rw-r--r-- steve.briggs staff  0 B Thu Apr 30 15:14:34 2026 .git/index.lock


No actual git process running. Lock keeps reappearing — possibly an IDE git integration scanning. Let me clear it and run `git add` cleanly with no pipe.


Clear lock and run git add . directly


Exit 137 again — looks like the operation is being killed (SIGKILL). Let me look at the file sizes; there might be a large binary or PDF that's killing the process.


/bin/rm -f .git/index.lock; find home -type f -size +1M 2>/dev/null | head -20; echo "---"; du -sh home docs 2>/dev/null

Find files larger than 1MB and total sizes


home/.obsidian/plugins/mcp-tools/main.js
home/.obsidian/plugins/obsidian-local-rest-api/main.js
home/.obsidian/plugins/mcp-tools/bin/mcp-server
---
 67M	home
 48K	docs


ls -lh home/.obsidian/plugins/mcp-tools/main.js home/.obsidian/plugins/obsidian-local-rest-api/main.js home/.obsidian/plugins/mcp-tools/bin/mcp-server

Get exact sizes of large files


.rw-r--r-- steve.briggs staff 1.4 MB Wed Apr 29 17:04:28 2026 home/.obsidian/plugins/mcp-tools/main.js
.rw-r--r-- steve.briggs staff 2.5 MB Wed Apr 29 17:05:12 2026 home/.obsidian/plugins/obsidian-local-rest-api/main.js
.rwxr-xr-x steve.briggs staff  61 MB Wed Apr 29 17:12:25 2026 home/.obsidian/plugins/mcp-tools/bin/mcp-server


Found it — there's a 61MB Go binary at `home/.obsidian/plugins/mcp-tools/bin/mcp-server` and a couple of multi-MB plugin `main.js` files. That's what's killing `git add` (the clean filter is loading huge files). These are plugin payloads that don't belong in version control.

Let me look at the full `.obsidian/` layout to decide what to ignore.


ls -la home/.obsidian/ 2>/dev/null; echo "---"; du -sh home/.obsidian/* 2>/dev/null | sort -h

Inspect .obsidian/ contents and sizes


.rw-r--r-- steve.briggs staff 696 B  Wed Apr 29 17:08:43 2026 core-plugins.json
.rw-r--r-- steve.briggs staff 909 B  Thu Apr 30 10:03:54 2026 types.json
drwxr-xr-x steve.briggs staff 224 B  Thu Apr 30 10:04:14 2026 plugins
.rw-r--r-- steve.briggs staff 115 B  Thu Apr 30 10:04:17 2026 community-plugins.json
.rw-r--r-- steve.briggs staff 135 B  Thu Apr 30 10:05:18 2026 hotkeys.json
drwxr-xr-x steve.briggs staff 384 B  Thu Apr 30 10:05:51 2026 .
drwxr-xr-x steve.briggs staff 160 B  Thu Apr 30 10:06:09 2026 themes
.rw-r--r-- steve.briggs staff   2 B  Thu Apr 30 10:06:10 2026 app.json
.rw-r--r-- steve.briggs staff  32 B  Thu Apr 30 10:06:10 2026 appearance.json
.rw-r--r-- steve.briggs staff 510 B  Thu Apr 30 12:37:21 2026 graph.json
drwxr-xr-x steve.briggs staff 256 B  Thu Apr 30 15:07:45 2026 ..
.rw-r--r-- steve.briggs staff 6.6 KB Thu Apr 30 15:07:46 2026 workspace.json
---
4.0K	home/.obsidian/app.json
4.0K	home/.obsidian/appearance.json
4.0K	home/.obsidian/community-plugins.json
4.0K	home/.obsidian/core-plugins.json
4.0K	home/.obsidian/graph.json
4.0K	home/.obsidian/hotkeys.json
4.0K	home/.obsidian/types.json
8.0K	home/.obsidian/workspace.json
108K	home/.obsidian/themes
 67M	home/.obsidian/plugins


Diagnosis:
- `.obsidian/plugins/` = 67MB (with that one 61MB Go binary)
- `.obsidian/themes/` = 108KB (reasonable)
- Everything else in `.obsidian/` = under 32KB total

Recommend gitignoring `.obsidian/plugins/` entirely. The plugin list lives in `community-plugins.json` (115 bytes, committed) — when you open the vault on a fresh machine, Obsidian will auto-download those plugins from the community store. No real loss, and it keeps the repo lean.

Adding it to `.gitignore` and updating the plan to reflect this discovery.


Edit

# Obsidian churn — rewritten constantly, not worth syncing
.obsidian/workspace.json
.obsidian/workspace-mobile.json
.obsidian/cache
.obsidian/plugins/*/data.json

# Obsidian churn — rewritten constantly, not worth syncing
.obsidian/workspace.json
.obsidian/workspace-mobile.json
.obsidian/cache

# Plugin payloads (binaries, bundled JS, ~67MB total). The list of installed
# plugins lives in community-plugins.json (committed) — Obsidian re-downloads
# them on first launch on a fresh machine.
.obsidian/plugins/

# Match the same set of paths under nested vault roots (e.g. home/, work/)
**/.obsidian/workspace.json
**/.obsidian/workspace-mobile.json
**/.obsidian/cache
**/.obsidian/plugins/


The file /Users/steve.briggs/Documents/obsidian/.gitignore has been updated successfully.

# Obsidian churn — rewritten constantly, not worth syncing
.obsidian/workspace.json
.obsidian/workspace-mobile.json
.obsidian/cache

# Plugin payloads (binaries, bundled JS, ~67MB total). The list of installed
# plugins lives in community-plugins.json (committed) — Obsidian re-downloads
# them on first launch on a fresh machine.
.obsidian/plugins/

# Match the same set of paths under nested vault roots (e.g. home/, work/)
**/.obsidian/workspace.json
**/.obsidian/workspace-mobile.json
**/.obsidian/cache
**/.obsidian/plugins/

# Obsidian churn — rewritten constantly, not worth syncing
.obsidian/workspace.json
.obsidian/workspace-mobile.json
.obsidian/cache
.obsidian/plugins/*/data.json

# Obsidian local-only state
.trash/

# macOS noise
.DS_Store

# Claude Code session state (includes the memvid mind memory file)
.claude/

+# Plugin payloads (binaries, bundled JS, ~67MB total). The list of installed

+# plugins lives in community-plugins.json (committed) — Obsidian re-downloads

+# them on first launch on a fresh machine.

+# Match the same set of paths under nested vault roots (e.g. home/, work/)


Bash

/bin/rm -f .git/index.lock; git check-ignore -v home/.obsidian/plugins/mcp-tools/bin/mcp-server home/.obsidian/workspace.json home/.obsidian/community-plugins.json 2>&1

Verify gitignore patterns hit the right files


.gitignore:15:**/.obsidian/plugins/	home/.obsidian/plugins/mcp-tools/bin/mcp-server
.gitignore:12:**/.obsidian/workspace.json	home/.obsidian/workspace.json


Patterns hit correctly. The 61MB binary is ignored, workspace.json is ignored, community-plugins.json (115B, the plugin list) is staying committed.


Retry git add . now that the 67MB plugins/ tree is excluded


exit: 0


git diff --cached --name-only | wc -l; echo "---"; git diff --cached --stat | tail -3

Confirm files are staged and summarize


      70
---
 hooks/pre-push                                     |   50 +
 tests/test-pre-push-hook.sh                        |   47 +
 70 files changed, 3738 insertions(+)


70 files staged, ~3.7K lines. Let me spot-check that an `.md` file is staged as ciphertext.


first_md=$(git diff --cached --name-only | grep '\.md$' | grep '^home/' | head -1); echo "Spot-checking: $first_md"; git cat-file blob ":$first_md" | head -c 9 | xxd

Verify a staged .md from home/ is ciphertext