~/wiki

GitHub Private Repo Architecture

Confiance : high
github-architectureprivate-reposknowledge-managementgit-workflowversion-controlwiki-hostingmarkdown-storageobsidian-compatibilityautomation-pipelines

Pattern for hosting knowledge management systems using GitHub private repositories as the central storage and collaboration layer, enabling version control, automated processing, and multi-tool integration while maintaining privacy and control.

Architecture Benefits

Version Control for Knowledge

Git provides natural versioning for wiki content evolution:

  • Track changes to concepts and understanding over time
  • Rollback incorrect updates or information
  • Branch for experimental content organization
  • Merge knowledge from multiple sources systematically

Tool Ecosystem Integration

GitHub serves as a neutral platform accessible by multiple tools:

  • Local editing through Obsidian, VSCode, or any markdown editor
  • Automated processing through GitHub Actions
  • API access for programmatic updates via wiki agents
  • Web interface for manual review and curation

Privacy and Control

Private repositories maintain confidentiality while enabling automation:

  • Sensitive project information remains private
  • API tokens control access without exposing content
  • Self-hosted processing maintains data sovereignty
  • Export/migration remains straightforward through Git

Repository Structure Pattern

llm-wiki/
  SCHEMA.md              # System conventions and workflows
  index.md               # Master catalog of all content
  log.md                 # Chronological operation history
  BUILDING.md            # Meta-construction documentation
  raw/                   # Immutable source documents
    screenshots/         # Mobile-captured images
    articles/           # Web content and newsletters
    transcripts/        # Audio processing results
    projects/           # Extracted project documentation
    conversations/      # Agent interaction exports
    papers/             # Research materials
    pending/            # Medium-quality sources awaiting review
    discarded/          # Low-quality sources with rejection reasons
  wiki/                 # LLM-maintained structured content
    entities/           # People, tools, organizations
    concepts/           # Technical knowledge and patterns
    projects/           # Implementation documentation
    sources/            # Individual source summaries
    syntheses/          # Cross-source analysis
    skills/             # Mastered techniques
    flashcards/         # Spaced repetition content
    digests/            # Periodic summaries
  tools/                # Automation and processing scripts

Automation Integration

Git Hooks

Trigger processing on content changes:

  • Pre-commit hooks validate markdown structure
  • Post-commit hooks trigger wiki agent processing
  • Push hooks initiate automated backups

GitHub Actions

Enable cloud-based processing workflows:

  • Automated content quality checking
  • Scheduled digest generation
  • Integration testing for wiki structure
  • Deployment to static site generators

Local Processing

Balance privacy with cloud convenience:

  • Sensitive processing remains local
  • Public API calls for general knowledge enhancement
  • Hybrid workflows combining local and cloud resources

Multi-Tool Compatibility

Obsidian: Native markdown and wikilink support for interactive browsing and manual editing.

VSCode/Cursor: Full development environment access for complex editing and automation development.

MCP Servers: Programmatic access for LLM tools and agents through standardized protocols.

Mobile Apps: Git clients enable basic editing and review from mobile devices.

Implementation Considerations

Authentication: SSH keys or personal access tokens for automated access without exposing credentials.

Backup Strategy: Git provides inherent backup, but consider additional external backups for critical knowledge bases.

Search Integration: GitHub's search capabilities combined with local indexing provide comprehensive content discovery.

Collaboration: Private repos support controlled sharing with team members while maintaining primary ownership.

See also

  • ai-engineering-wiki - Implementation example using this pattern
  • llm-wiki-pattern - Knowledge management approach
  • version-control-for-knowledge - Git workflows for content management
  • obsidian-github-integration - Tool-specific implementation patterns