Relay 0.8.12: Agents, Canvas, and Bases
A new sync engine opens up more ways to work together in Obsidian.
A new sync engine
Relay 0.8.12 brings a significantly upgraded sync engine out of beta. The new engine automatically picks up and merges changes made directly to files on disk, while continuous background sync keeps shared folders updated even when notes aren’t open in Obsidian.
That foundation opens up more ways to work together:
- Let an agent update your team’s notes.
- Collaborate with others on a Canvas.
- Keep your Bases up to date as collaborators edit the underlying notes.
Bring your agents
Your Obsidian vault is a folder of files. An AI agent, a script, or another text editor can work directly on those files—but previously, edits made outside of Obsidian could leave the file on disk out of step with Relay’s copy, requiring you to resolve the differences manually.
The new engine automatically picks up and merges those edits into the documents you share with your team.
Claude Code can update a project file directly on disk while you and your collaborators work in Obsidian. Relay merges the changes and keeps everyone in sync.
Use the tools that fit your work, and keep collaborating.
Canvas collaboration, out of beta
Canvas collaboration is now out of beta and enabled by default. Map out a project, arrange research, or think through a problem together on Obsidian’s visual workspace.
Canvas sync is free. Images and other attachments used in a Canvas still require storage to sync.
If you’ve been waiting for Canvas support before bringing your team to Relay, this is a good time to take another look.
Bases that stay in sync
Bases files now sync by default when your shared folder has storage available. Continuous background sync keeps them updated across devices without requiring you to open each file.
A stronger foundation
The new sync engine does more than enable new workflows. Shared folders recover automatically from server restarts and network interruptions. Large vaults load faster and stay responsive.
Undo history is now local to each editor, so pressing Ctrl-Z no longer undoes a collaborator’s edits.
There are more additions in this release:
- Customize your display name and avatar at console.relay.md.
- Build collaborative extensions with the new Plugin API; Relay Comments, currently in beta, is one example.
- Try experimental draft and streamer modes, available behind feature flags.
Try it
Update Relay to 0.8.12 through Obsidian’s community plugin settings.
Try it with your team—and if you have questions or feedback, we'd love to hear. Join us on Discord.
Thank you to everyone who tested, reported problems, and helped shape this release.