Can I keep using Obsidian alongside runnrr?
Yes. runnrr writes ordinary markdown to a folder you choose, so Obsidian, git, and any editor can work on the same files.
runnrr vs Obsidian and TODO.md
runnrr vs Obsidian TODO.md for Claude Code
A TODO.md file is flexible and free. runnrr keeps the same plain markdown on disk but adds board state, attached source context, and a run button that hands the task to Claude Code.
Short answer
They solve different problems.
A TODO.md in Obsidian or your repo is simple and it works. runnrr does not replace the markdown; it keeps notes and task context as .md files on disk too. What it adds is board state, the meeting note and files attached to each task, and the ability to press play and have Claude Code or Codex run that task locally.
If your TODO.md already gets read by your agent and nothing goes missing, you do not need runnrr. The gap it fills shows up when tasks arrive from calls, need context an agent cannot infer from one line, and start piling up faster than a flat file can hold.
Side by side
runnrr vs Obsidian / TODO.md, dimension by dimension
| Dimension | runnrr | Obsidian / TODO.md |
|---|---|---|
| File format | Notes and task context are plain .md in a folder you pick. | Plain .md, fully under your control. |
| Board state | Columns, card order, due dates, and activity in local SQLite. | Whatever convention you invent and maintain by hand. |
| Source context | Transcripts, files, and decisions linked to the specific card. | Links you remember to add; nothing enforces the connection. |
| Meeting intake | Granola scan turns calls into reviewable cards. | Manual copy and paste. |
| Agent execution | Press play; Claude Code or Codex runs locally with the card as scope. | You point the agent at the file and describe the scope yourself. |
| Agent reads state | Over MCP the assistant can query and update the board directly. | The agent reads the file if you tell it to. |
| Cost and lock-in | Free for the Mac workflow; delete the app and the markdown remains. | Free, and about as lock-in-proof as software gets. |
Pick runnrr when
Tasks arrive faster than a flat file can hold
Work comes out of calls, each task needs context an agent cannot guess, and you want to hand one card at a time to Claude Code without rebuilding the story each session.
Pick Obsidian / TODO.md when
A flat file already does the job
Your task list is short, it lives next to the code, and your agent already reads it fine. There is no reason to add an app to that. runnrr would be overhead.
FAQ
Questions people ask before trying it
Is the runnrr board itself a markdown file?
No. Notes and task context are markdown; board state lives in a local SQLite database in your home folder. Both stay on your Mac.
What does runnrr add that TODO.md genuinely cannot do?
Meeting intake with review, source context bound to a specific task, board state an assistant can query over MCP, and a local run button that scopes the agent to one card.
If I stop using runnrr, do I lose my notes?
No. The markdown files are already on your disk in a folder you picked. There is no export step because there is nothing to export.
Who this is not for
- People happy with a short TODO.md their agent already reads. That setup does not need replacing.
- Anyone wanting runnrr to manage their whole Obsidian vault. It writes to a folder you pick, not to your entire vault structure.
- Windows or Linux users. The board and local agent runs are macOS only.
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