Comprehensive Guide to Publishing Your Obsidian Vault Online Using Quartz on Windows 10

Welcome! This guide will walk you through the process of publishing your Obsidian Vault named “General” to a live website using Quartz. We’ll cover everything from setting up the necessary tools on your Windows 10 machine to deploying your site online and syncing future changes seamlessly.

Prerequisites
Setting Up Quartz Locally
Integrating Your Obsidian Vault with Quartz
Previewing Your Site Locally
Setting Up Git and GitHub
Deploying Your Site Online
- Option 1: Cloudflare Pages
- Option 2: GitHub Pages
Syncing Future Changes
Additional Configurations
Troubleshooting
Conclusion

1. Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have the following installed on your Windows 10 machine:

Node.js v20 or higher (You have v22.7.0 ✅)
npm v9.3.1 or higher (You have v10.8.2 ✅)
Git (If not installed, follow the instructions below)

Installing Git

Git is essential for version control and deploying your site. If you don’t have Git installed, follow these steps:

Download Git for Windows:
- Visit the official Git website: https://git-scm.com/download/win
- Download the installer and run it.
- Follow the installation prompts, leaving default settings unless you have specific preferences.
Verify Git Installation:
```
git --version
```
- You should see something like git version 2.x.x.

2. Setting Up Quartz Locally

We’ll clone the Quartz repository and set it up on your local machine.

Step 1: Choose a Directory for Quartz

Decide where you want to place your Quartz project. For this guide, we’ll use D:\ACC_ID\OneDrive\Desktop\Quartz as an example.

Step 2: Clone the Quartz Repository

Open PowerShell:
- Press Win + X and select Windows PowerShell or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
Navigate to Your Desired Directory:
```
cd D:\ACC_ID\OneDrive\Desktop
```

Clone the Quartz Repository:

git clone https://github.com/jackyzha0/quartz.git

Rename the Cloned Folder (Optional):
- For clarity, you can rename the cloned quartz folder:
```
Rename-Item -Path .\quartz -NewName Quartz
```
Navigate into the Quartz Directory:
```
cd Quartz
```

Step 3: Install Dependencies

Install npm Dependencies:
```
npm install
```
- This command installs all necessary packages required by Quartz.
Initialize Quartz with Default Content:
```
npx quartz create
```
- When prompted, choose to initialize with the default content. This sets up the necessary folder structure and example files.

3. Integrating Your Obsidian Vault with Quartz

Now we’ll replace the default Quartz content with your own Obsidian vault content.

Step 1: Backup Default Content (Optional)

It’s a good idea to backup or remove the default content provided by Quartz.

Remove Default Content:
```
Remove-Item -Recurse -Force .\content\*
```
- This command deletes all files and folders inside the content directory.

Step 2: Copy Your Obsidian Vault into Quartz

Locate Your Obsidian Vault:
- Your vault is located at D:\ACC_ID\OneDrive\Desktop\ObsidianVaults\General.
Copy Vault Content to Quartz:
```
Copy-Item -Recurse -Force D:\ACC_ID\OneDrive\Desktop\ObsidianVaults\General\* .\content\
```
- This copies all your notes and folders into Quartz’s content directory.

Step 3: Verify the Structure

Ensure that all your markdown files (.md) and associated assets (images, PDFs, etc.) are correctly placed inside the content folder.

Step 4: Update Quartz Configuration (Optional)

If your vault uses specific features or requires certain configurations, you may need to update the quartz.config.ts file.

Open quartz.config.ts for Editing:
- Use your preferred text editor (e.g., VSCode).
Set baseUrl:
- We’ll set this later once we decide on the deployment URL.
Customize Theme and Plugins:
- Adjust fonts, colors, and plugins as needed to match your preferences.

4. Previewing Your Site Locally

Before deploying, let’s build and preview your site locally to ensure everything looks good.

Step 1: Build and Serve the Site

Run Build Command with Live Reloading:
```
npx quartz build --serve
```
- This command builds your site and starts a local server with live reloading.
Access the Local Site:
- Open your web browser and navigate to: http://localhost:8080
Review Your Site:
- Browse through your notes to check for:
  - Proper formatting.
  - Correct link resolutions (especially for internal links).
  - Proper display of images and other media.

Step 2: Troubleshoot Issues

If you encounter issues:

Missing Links or Images:
- Ensure all internal links use relative paths and correct markdown syntax.
- Check that all images are correctly referenced and located within the content directory.
Formatting Errors:
- Review your markdown files for syntax errors.
- Quartz supports standard markdown and Obsidian-flavored markdown. Ensure you’re adhering to these standards.
Console Errors:
- Check the PowerShell console and browser console for error messages. These can provide clues on what’s going wrong.

Step 3: Stop the Local Server

When you’re done reviewing:
- Press Ctrl + C in PowerShell to stop the server.

5. Setting Up Git and GitHub

To deploy your site online and manage version control, we’ll use Git and GitHub.

Step 1: Create a GitHub Repository

Log in to GitHub:
- Go to https://github.com and log in or create an account.
Create a New Repository:
- Click the New button or navigate to https://github.com/new.
- Repository Name: Choose a name, e.g., quartz-site.
- Description: (Optional) Add a brief description.
- Public/Private: Choose according to your preference.
- Initialize Repository: Do not add a README, .gitignore, or license file.
- Click Create repository.

Step 2: Connect Local Quartz to GitHub

Navigate to Quartz Directory:
```
cd D:\ACC_ID\OneDrive\Desktop\Quartz
```
Initialize Git in the Directory (if not already initialized):
```
git init
```
Add All Files to Git:
```
git add .
```

Commit the Files:

git commit -m "Initial commit with my Obsidian content"

Set Remote Origin to Your GitHub Repository:
```
git remote add origin https://github.com/your-username/quartz-site.git
```
- Replace your-username and quartz-site with your actual GitHub username and repository name.
Push to GitHub:
```
git branch -M v4
git push -u origin v4
```
- Quartz uses the v4 branch by default. This command pushes your local v4 branch to GitHub and sets it as the upstream branch.

Step 3: Verify on GitHub

Visit Your Repository:
- Navigate to https://github.com/your-username/quartz-site.
Check Files:
- Ensure all your files are present and correctly uploaded.

6. Deploying Your Site Online

Now that your site is on GitHub, let’s deploy it so it’s accessible online. We’ll cover two options: Cloudflare Pages and GitHub Pages.

Option 1: Cloudflare Pages

Cloudflare Pages offers fast and free hosting optimized for static sites like Quartz.

Step 1: Create a Cloudflare Account (If Not Already)

Sign Up or Log In:
- Visit https://dash.cloudflare.com/sign-up.

Step 2: Create a New Project

Navigate to Cloudflare Pages:
- From the dashboard, select Workers & Pages > Pages.
Create a New Project:
- Click Create a project.
- Select Connect to Git.
Connect GitHub Account:
- Authorize Cloudflare to access your GitHub repositories.
- Select your quartz-site repository.
Configure Build Settings:
- Production Branch: v4
- Framework Preset: None
- Build Command:
```
git fetch --unshallow && npx quartz build
```
  - Adding git fetch --unshallow && ensures full git history is available, which Quartz uses for timestamps.
- Build Output Directory: public
Start Deployment:
- Click Save and Deploy.
- Wait for the build process to complete. This may take a few minutes.
Access Your Site:
- Once deployed, Cloudflare provides a default domain like your-project-name.pages.dev.
- Visit this URL to see your live site.

Step 3: Setting Up a Custom Domain (Optional)

Navigate to Custom Domains:
- In your Cloudflare Pages project dashboard, go to the Custom Domains section.
Add Custom Domain:
- Click Set up a custom domain.
- Enter your domain name (e.g., www.example.com).
Update DNS Records:
- Cloudflare will provide DNS records that you need to add to your domain registrar’s DNS settings.
- Typically, you’ll add a CNAME record pointing your domain/subdomain to your-project-name.pages.dev.
Verify and Secure:
- After updating DNS, Cloudflare will verify ownership and issue an SSL certificate.
- Your site will now be accessible via your custom domain with HTTPS.

Option 2: GitHub Pages

GitHub Pages allows you to host static sites directly from your GitHub repository.

Step 1: Configure GitHub Actions Workflow

Create GitHub Actions Workflow File:

In your local Quartz directory, create a new file at .github/workflows/deploy.yml.

name: Deploy Quartz site to GitHub Pages
 
on:
  push:
    branches:
      - v4
 
permissions:
  contents: read
  pages: write
  id-token: write
 
jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
        with:
          fetch-depth: 0 # Fetch all history for git info
      - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
        with:
          node-version: 22
      - name: Install Dependencies
        run: npm ci
      - name: Build Quartz
        run: npx quartz build
      - name: Deploy to GitHub Pages
        uses: peaceiris/actions-gh-pages@v3
        with:
          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
          publish_dir: ./public

Commit and Push Workflow File:

git add .github/workflows/deploy.yml
git commit -m "Add GitHub Pages deployment workflow"
git push

Step 2: Enable GitHub Pages

Navigate to Repository Settings:
- Go to your repository on GitHub.
- Click on the Settings tab.
Configure GitHub Pages:
- In the sidebar, click Pages.
- Source: Ensure it’s set to GitHub Actions.
- GitHub will automatically detect the workflow and start the deployment process.
Access Your Site:
- Once deployment is complete, your site will be available at:
```
https://your-username.github.io/quartz-site/
```
- Visit this URL to view your live site.

Step 3: Setting Up a Custom Domain (Optional)

Add Custom Domain in Settings:
- In the Pages settings, under Custom domain, enter your domain name (e.g., www.example.com).
- GitHub will provide instructions and necessary DNS records to add to your domain registrar.
Update DNS Records:
- Add an A or CNAME record as instructed by GitHub.
- Wait for DNS propagation, which can take up to 24 hours.
Enforce HTTPS:
- Once the custom domain is verified, enable Enforce HTTPS in the GitHub Pages settings.

7. Syncing Future Changes

Keeping your live site up-to-date with your local Obsidian vault is straightforward.

Step 1: Make Changes Locally

Edit or Add Notes:
- Use Obsidian to create or modify notes within your vault (D:\ACC_ID\OneDrive\Desktop\ObsidianVaults\General).

Step 2: Sync Changes to Quartz

Copy Updated Content to Quartz:

Copy-Item -Recurse -Force D:\ACC_ID\OneDrive\Desktop\ObsidianVaults\General\* D:\ACC_ID\OneDrive\Desktop\Quartz\content\

This overwrites the existing content in Quartz with your latest changes.

Step 3: Commit and Push Changes

Navigate to Quartz Directory:
```
cd D:\ACC_ID\OneDrive\Desktop\Quartz
```
Check Git Status:
```
git status
```
- Review the changes to ensure everything is as expected.
Add Changes to Git:
```
git add .
```

Commit Changes:

git commit -m "Update notes on [Date or Description]"

Push to GitHub:
```
git push
```

Step 4: Automatic Deployment

Wait for Deployment:
- Depending on your hosting provider:
  - Cloudflare Pages: Automatically detects the new commit and rebuilds the site.
  - GitHub Pages: GitHub Actions workflow triggers and redeploys the site.
Verify Update:
- After the deployment process completes, refresh your website to see the updates live.

8. Additional Configurations

Fine-tune your Quartz site to better suit your needs and preferences.

Step 1: Updating `quartz.config.ts`

Open Configuration File:
- Located at D:\ACC_ID\OneDrive\Desktop\Quartz\quartz.config.ts.

Set baseUrl:

For Cloudflare Pages:
```
baseUrl: "your-project-name.pages.dev",
```
For Custom Domain:
```
baseUrl: "www.yourcustomdomain.com",
```

Customize Theme:
- Modify colors, fonts, and other aesthetic settings under the theme section.
Configure Plugins:
- Enable or disable plugins as needed.
- For example, enable full-text search or graph view for enhanced navigation.

Save and Commit Changes:

git add quartz.config.ts
git commit -m "Update configuration settings"
git push

Step 2: Using Custom Layouts and Components

Modify Layouts:
- Edit quartz.layout.ts to change the overall layout of your site.
Add Custom Components:
- Create custom React components in the components directory and integrate them into your layouts.
Update and Deploy:
- After making changes, rebuild and deploy your site as usual.

9. Troubleshooting

Issue 1: Build Failures

Check Error Messages:
- Review the output in your terminal or hosting provider’s build logs to identify issues.
Common Fixes:
- Ensure all dependencies are installed: npm install.
- Verify Node.js and npm versions meet requirements.

Issue 2: Broken Links or Missing Assets

Relative Paths:
- Ensure all internal links and asset references use correct relative paths.
Case Sensitivity:
- Remember that some hosting environments are case-sensitive. Ensure file and folder names match exactly.

Issue 3: Deployment Delays

Build Queues:
- Hosting providers may have queues. Wait a few minutes and check again.
DNS Propagation:
- Changes to DNS settings can take up to 24-48 hours to propagate globally.

Issue 4: Local Development Issues

Port Conflicts:
- If localhost:8080 is in use, specify a different port:
```
npx quartz build --serve --port 3000
```

10. Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully published your Obsidian vault online using Quartz. With this setup:

Easy Content Management: Continue using Obsidian for seamless note-taking and organization.
Effortless Deployment: Simply push changes to GitHub to update your live site.
Customization: Tailor your site’s appearance and functionality to match your personal style and needs.

Next Steps:

Explore more advanced features and plugins offered by Quartz.
Integrate analytics to track your site’s performance.
Share your knowledge and creations with the world!

Resources:

Quartz Documentation: https://quartz.jzhao.xyz/
Obsidian Documentation: https://help.obsidian.md/
GitHub Guides: https://guides.github.com/

If you encounter any issues or have further questions, feel free to consult the official documentation or seek assistance from the community. Happy publishing!

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Comprehensive Guide to Publishing Your Obsidian Vault Online Using Quartz on Windows 10

Table of Contents

1. Prerequisites

Installing Git

2. Setting Up Quartz Locally

Step 1: Choose a Directory for Quartz

Step 2: Clone the Quartz Repository

Step 3: Install Dependencies

3. Integrating Your Obsidian Vault with Quartz

Step 1: Backup Default Content (Optional)

Step 2: Copy Your Obsidian Vault into Quartz

Step 3: Verify the Structure

Step 4: Update Quartz Configuration (Optional)

4. Previewing Your Site Locally

Step 1: Build and Serve the Site

Step 2: Troubleshoot Issues

Step 3: Stop the Local Server

5. Setting Up Git and GitHub

Step 1: Create a GitHub Repository

Step 2: Connect Local Quartz to GitHub

Step 3: Verify on GitHub

6. Deploying Your Site Online

Option 1: Cloudflare Pages

Step 1: Create a Cloudflare Account (If Not Already)

Step 2: Create a New Project

Step 3: Setting Up a Custom Domain (Optional)

Option 2: GitHub Pages

Step 1: Configure GitHub Actions Workflow

Step 2: Enable GitHub Pages

Step 3: Setting Up a Custom Domain (Optional)

7. Syncing Future Changes

Step 1: Make Changes Locally

Step 2: Sync Changes to Quartz

Step 3: Commit and Push Changes

Step 4: Automatic Deployment

8. Additional Configurations

Step 1: Updating quartz.config.ts

Step 2: Using Custom Layouts and Components

9. Troubleshooting

Issue 1: Build Failures

Issue 2: Broken Links or Missing Assets

Issue 3: Deployment Delays

Issue 4: Local Development Issues

10. Conclusion

Table of Contents

Backlinks

Step 1: Updating `quartz.config.ts`