[[Basalt]] is available to install via Cargo, aqua, and as pre-compiled binaries from GitHub releases.
cargo install basalt-tui
aqua g -i erikjuhani/basalt
Download the appropriate archive for your system and architecture from GitHub releases, extract it, and move the basalt binary to a location in your PATH.
Once installed, launch basalt from your terminal:
basalt
[[Basalt]] opens in the splash screen, showing a list of your Obsidian vaults discovered automatically from Obsidian's configuration. Use j/k or arrow keys to navigate and Enter to open a vault.
![[screenshot-splash.png]]
Once inside a vault, the interface is divided into three panes:
- [[Explorer]] on the left — browse folders and notes
- [[Note editor]] in the center — view the selected note with rendered markdown
- [[Outline]] on the right — navigate headings in the current note
![[screenshot-vault.png]]
Use Tab and Shift+Tab to move focus between panes. The status bar at the bottom shows which pane is active.
In the [[Explorer]], use j/k or arrow keys to move through the file list. Press Enter to open a note in the [[Note editor]].
Press Ctrl+g to open the vault selector and switch to a different vault.
Press ? to open the help modal. It shows the available key mappings for the currently active pane.
For more on the interface, see [[User interface]].