Sync Dashboard
Updates ~/obsidian/research-dashboard.md with recent research documents, status changes, and task updates.
When to Use
- •After creating significant research documents
- •When project status or decisions change
- •When user explicitly asks to sync or update dashboard
- •Weekly task refresh
Workflow
1. Archive Current Dashboard
When to archive (before updating):
- •Major status changes (phase transitions)
- •New research with changed conclusions
- •Weekly review (7+ days since last archive)
- •NOT required for minor content additions
Run the archive script to capture current state:
bash ~/.claude/scripts/archive-dashboard.sh
This creates timestamped snapshot and diff before making changes.
2. Scan Recent Research
Find documents created/modified in the last 7 days:
find ~/obsidian/Research -name "*.md" -type f -mtime -7 -exec ls -lt {} + | head -20
Read each recent document to understand:
- •What it covers
- •Key findings or decisions
- •Numbers or projections (confirmed vs modeled)
- •What needs validation
3. Read Current Dashboard
cat ~/obsidian/research-dashboard.md
Note current state:
- •Active project and stage
- •This week's tasks (what's checked/unchecked)
- •Latest documents section
- •Key numbers and decisions
4. Identify Changes
Compare recent documents to dashboard:
- •New research documents not yet linked
- •Changed status (validation phase → implementation, etc.)
- •Completed tasks that should be checked off
- •New numbers that replace old assumptions
- •Decisions made that update "Key Decisions Needed"
- •New critical questions answered
5. Apply Updates
Use Edit tool to update dashboard sections:
- •Latest Research Documents: Add new links chronologically
- •Current Status: Update phase/stage
- •This Week's Critical Tasks: Check off completed, add new
- •Key Decisions Needed: Update or remove resolved decisions
- •What We Actually Know: Move items from "Need Validation" to "Confirmed"
- •Key Numbers: Update with new data, note if still modeled
6. Verify
Read the updated dashboard to confirm:
- •All new documents linked
- •Status accurate
- •Tasks reflect reality
- •Numbers current
- •No broken links
Guidelines
Maintain Existing Structure
Do NOT redesign the dashboard. Preserve:
- •Section order and headers
- •Formatting style (markdown lists, bold, etc.)
- •Tone and language
- •Date format (YYYY-MM-DD)
Chronological Organization
Latest Research Documents section:
- •This Week section first (current week's docs)
- •Previous Week section below
- •Move docs from "This Week" to "Previous Week" when they age
- •Within each section: newest first
Link Format
Use Obsidian wikilink format with display text:
- **[Document Title](Research/Subfolder/2026-01-08-filename.md)** - Brief description
Facts vs Assumptions
When updating numbers:
- •Mark clearly if "Confirmed" or "Modeled"
- •In "What We Actually Know" section, only move to Confirmed if there's actual validation
- •Keep modeling assumptions visible
Task Hygiene
- •Check off completed tasks:
- [x] Task name - •Remove tasks that are no longer relevant (don't leave them unchecked)
- •Add new tasks discovered during research
- •Keep list focused: 3-5 critical tasks
Date Management
Update "Last Updated" field at top:
**Last Updated:** YYYY-MM-DD
Use current date when syncing.
Example Updates
Adding New Document
Before:
### This Week (Jan 6-8) - **[User Interview Quick Start](Research/Project-A/2026-01-08-user-interview-quick-start.md)** - 10 critical questions
After:
### This Week (Jan 6-8) - **[Risk Analysis Framework](Research/Project-A/2026-01-09-risk-analysis.md)** - Default rates and liquidity risks - **[User Interview Quick Start](Research/Project-A/2026-01-08-user-interview-quick-start.md)** - 10 critical questions
Completing Tasks
Before:
- [ ] **User Interviews:** 8-10 target users (Wed-Fri)
After:
- [x] **User Interviews:** 8-10 target users (completed 10 interviews)
Updating Status
Before:
## Current Status: Validation Phase **Stage:** Active validation - user interviews happening this week
After:
## Current Status: Decision Phase **Stage:** Validation complete - analyzing results, making GO/NO-GO decision
Important Notes
- •Always archive before updating (captures history)
- •Preserve user's voice and formatting
- •Focus on factual updates, not editorializing
- •Keep dashboard scannable: concise bullets, clear structure
- •Link to actual files (verify paths exist)
Paths Reference
- •Dashboard:
~/obsidian/research-dashboard.md - •Archive script:
~/.claude/scripts/archive-dashboard.sh - •Research root:
~/obsidian/Research/ - •Active project folder: Check dashboard for current project path
Note: Paths can be customized in ~/.claude/config/paths.env