AutoDater: never date a note by hand again. Here is why it is different from what is already out there
Hey r/ObsidianMD,
Long time vault tinkerer here. I kept dating notes by hand, and I wanted it to happen automatically without configuring anything. So I built AutoDater.
What it does
- Adds Created when you make a note
- Updates Updated whenever you edit it
- Writes both into frontmatter, so the dates live inside the note and travel with it
Let me get ahead of the obvious objection: yes, this has been done before.
That is true, and honestly it is a good sign. It means the need is real. If Linter or Update time on edit already do what you want, keep them. I built the version I wished existed, and it is a different set of tradeoffs:
- Single purpose. One job, done well. Not a giant rules engine you have to learn.
- Zero setup. Install, enable, done. No templates, no per-note frontmatter, no config file.
- Created is written once and never overwritten. Only Updated moves.
- The dates are stored in the note, not read from the filesystem, so they sync, survive, and work with Dataview and Bases.
- Works on mobile.
- Small things: exclude folders like Templates, rename the properties, and set a custom format like DD/MM/YYYY HH:mm:ss.
Who it is for: people who want it to just work, and who do not want to read a wiki to get automatic dates.
It is free, open source (GPL), passed Obsidian's automated review, and already has 1k downloads.
Get it: https://obsidian.md/plugins?id=autodater
You can also search AutoDater in Settings > Community plugins > Browse.
I am the author, so I am biased, but I do want feedback. If something is missing or annoying, tell me and I will look at it.
