# ThoughtLint

> ThoughtLint is a local-first Obsidian plugin that helps users find weak thinking before it becomes bad work.

## Summary

ThoughtLint reviews the active Markdown note inside Obsidian and scores it for reasoning quality. It is intended for research notes, specifications, decision documents, meeting notes, and strategy documents.

The plugin's core value is not generic rewriting. It identifies where reasoning is weak, vague, unsupported, or incomplete. The deterministic analysis runs locally without an API key or backend. Optional external features are available only when the user explicitly enables them and confirms the action.

## Core Positioning

- Tagline: Find weak thinking before it becomes bad work.
- Category: Local-first Obsidian plugin
- Core job: Review note quality before execution
- Primary environment: Active Markdown note in Obsidian
- Default privacy model: On-device analysis only

## What ThoughtLint Checks

- Vague words that reduce precision
- Missing conclusion or decision
- Missing next action
- Missing owner or date
- Unsupported claims
- Too many questions without decisions
- Weak evidence markers
- Missing acceptance criteria when a note appears to be a spec
- Missing risks or assumptions when a note appears to be a plan or strategy

## What ThoughtLint Outputs

- Overall score from 0 to 100
- Issue list with explanations
- Suggested fixes
- Improved version of the selected section
- Extracted decisions
- Extracted action items
- Acceptance criteria for spec-like notes
- Copy-to-clipboard action for the improved section

## Privacy Model

ThoughtLint is privacy-first by default.

- Deterministic checks run locally
- No backend is required
- No note content leaves the device in default mode
- Optional OpenAI-compatible enrichment is off by default
- Optional Ground Truth claim verification is off by default
- External features require a warning and user confirmation before any request is sent

## Optional External Features

### OpenAI-Compatible Enrichment

Users can optionally configure:

- API base URL
- API key
- model name

If enabled, ThoughtLint can send note content and the selected section to the user-configured endpoint for enrichment. This is a bring-your-own-key feature.

### Ground Truth Verification

Users can optionally configure a Ground Truth endpoint. If enabled, ThoughtLint sends extracted claims for verification rather than requiring a dedicated backend.

## Supported Note Types

- Research
- Spec
- Decision
- Meeting notes
- Strategy

## FAQ

### What is ThoughtLint?

ThoughtLint is a local-first Obsidian plugin that analyzes Markdown notes for weak reasoning, unsupported claims, vague language, and incomplete action plans.

### Does ThoughtLint require AI?

No. The main product works with deterministic local checks. AI enrichment is optional.

### Does ThoughtLint send note content to a server?

No, not by default. Note content leaves the device only if the user explicitly enables an external feature and confirms the request.

### Who should use ThoughtLint?

People who use notes to think, decide, plan, or write. Common users include founders, product teams, operators, researchers, and strategists.

### Why not just use a chatbot?

ThoughtLint provides a structured local reasoning review before any external model is involved. That means more privacy, more deterministic output, and a product focused on thinking quality rather than generic rewriting.