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Access settings by pressing ⌘, (Cmd+Comma) or selecting Settings… from the application menu.

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API Configuration

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Anthropic API Key

Required for the Build feature (⌘↵) to generate AI widgets. How to get an API key:
  1. Sign up at console.anthropic.com
  2. Navigate to API Keys
  3. Create a new key
  4. Copy the key (starts with sk-ant-)
  5. Paste into Philo settings
Storage: Your API key is stored locally in: 
~/Library/Application Support/philo/settings.json
It never leaves your device except when making direct requests to Anthropic’s API. Location: src/services/settings.ts:59-68

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Vault Settings

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Vault Location

The root directory for your notes. Useful for:
  • Integration with Obsidian vaults
  • Cloud sync via Dropbox, iCloud, or other services
  • Custom organization structures
Default: 
~/Library/Application Support/philo/journal/
To change:
  1. Open Settings (⌘,)
  2. Click Choose… next to Vault Location
  3. Select your desired directory
  4. Click Save
Reset to default: Click “Reset to default” below the vault path. Location: src/services/paths.ts:43-60

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Daily Logs Folder

Subfolder within your vault for daily journal entries. Default: "" (root of vault) Common value: "Daily Notes" Example structure: 
Vault/
├── Daily Notes/
│   ├── 2026-03-04.md
│   ├── 2026-03-03.md
│   └── 2026-03-02.md
├── Projects/
└── Archive/
Location: src/services/settings.ts:85-88

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Excalidraw Folder (Optional)

Where Excalidraw drawings are stored when using ![[drawing.excalidraw]] embeds. Common values:
  • "Excalidraw"
  • "Drawings"
  • Leave empty to disable Excalidraw support
Location: src/services/settings.ts:90-93

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Assets Folder (Optional)

Where pasted images and other media files are saved. Default: "assets" Example: When you paste an image, it’s saved as: 
{vaultDir}/assets/image-1234567890.png
And referenced in markdown as: 
![](assets/image-1234567890.png)
Location: src/services/settings.ts:95-98

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File Organization

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Filename Pattern

Defines how daily note files are named and organized. Available tokens:
  • {YYYY} - Four-digit year (e.g., 2026)
  • {MM} - Two-digit month (e.g., 03)
  • {DD} - Two-digit day (e.g., 04)
Presets: Flat - All files in one folder 
{YYYY}-{MM}-{DD}
→ 2026-03-04.md
By year - Organized by year 
{YYYY}/{YYYY}-{MM}-{DD}
→ 2026/2026-03-04.md
By year + month - Organized by year and month 
{YYYY}/{MM}/{YYYY}-{MM}-{DD}
→ 2026/03/2026-03-04.md
Custom patterns: You can create any pattern using the tokens and / for subdirectories: 
{YYYY}/Q1/{YYYY}-{MM}-{DD}  → 2026/Q1/2026-03-04.md
Journal/{YYYY}-{MM}/{DD}    → Journal/2026-03/04.md
Changing the filename pattern does not rename existing files. New entries will use the new pattern, but old files remain at their original paths.
Location: src/services/paths.ts:124-140

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Settings Storage

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Settings File Location

All settings are stored in a JSON file: Development: 
~/Library/Application Support/com.philo.dev/settings.json
Production: 
~/Library/Application Support/philo/settings.json
Location: src/services/settings.ts:16-34

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Settings Schema

interface Settings {
  anthropicApiKey: string;        // Your Anthropic API key
  journalDir: string;             // Computed journal path
  filenamePattern: string;        // Pattern for daily note files
  vaultDir: string;               // Root vault directory
  dailyLogsFolder: string;        // Subfolder for journal entries
  excalidrawFolder: string;       // Subfolder for drawings
  assetsFolder: string;           // Subfolder for images/media
  hasCompletedOnboarding: boolean; // Onboarding state
}
Location: src/services/settings.ts:5-14

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Default Values

{
  "anthropicApiKey": "",
  "journalDir": "",
  "filenamePattern": "{YYYY}-{MM}-{DD}",
  "vaultDir": "",
  "dailyLogsFolder": "",
  "excalidrawFolder": "",
  "assetsFolder": "",
  "hasCompletedOnboarding": false
}
Location: src/services/settings.ts:20-29

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Obsidian Integration

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Auto-Detection

When you select a vault directory, Philo automatically detects Obsidian configuration: Detects:
  • Daily notes folder from .obsidian/daily-notes.json
  • Filename pattern (converts Obsidian format to Philo format)
  • Excalidraw folder from .obsidian/plugins/obsidian-excalidraw-plugin/data.json
  • Assets folder from .obsidian/app.json
Location: src/components/settings/SettingsModal.tsx:77-93

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Compatibility

Philo’s markdown format is compatible with Obsidian:
  • Standard markdown syntax
  • Frontmatter support
  • Image embeds
  • Excalidraw embeds
  • Task lists
Widgets are stored as HTML and won’t render in Obsidian, but they won’t break your notes either.

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Keyboard Shortcuts

Save settings: ⌘↵ (Cmd+Enter)
Cancel: Esc Location: src/components/settings/SettingsModal.tsx:108-114

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