Language Recall (Obsidian Plugin)

This plugin was forked from Obsidian Better Recall and extended for language learning workflows, including built-in translation while creating and editing cards.

What is it?

Language Recall gives you a simplified Anki-like spaced repetition workflow directly inside Obsidian. You can create decks, add/edit/delete cards, review due cards, and translate card content while authoring.

The plugin currently uses:

• Anki algorithm

Features

• Deck management
  • Create decks with optional descriptions
  • Edit deck name/description
  • Delete decks
  • Store deck files in a configurable vault folder (Language Recall by default)
• Card management
  • Add, edit, and delete basic cards
  • Move a card to a different deck while editing
  • Persist your last selected deck in the card editor
• Review session
  • Review cards with Again / Hard / Good / Easy
  • See estimated next-review time before answering
  • Edit the current card mid-review, then resume
  • Render card content as Markdown (including Obsidian internal links)
• Built-in translation
  • Translate front -> back in the card editor with no API key
  • Select source/target language and swap them quickly
  • Supports common language pairs (English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, and more)
  • Language choices are persisted between sessions
• Navigation and commands
  • Ribbon icon to open decks
  • Commands:
    • Language Recall: Open decks
    • Language Recall: Add card
  • Back navigation works from UI buttons and Esc (including Android hardware-back behavior mapped to Escape in WebView)
• Settings
  • Review interval multiplier (0.25 to 4.0)
  • Decks folder rename/migration (moves existing deck files)

How to use it

Quick start:

1. Open decks using the ribbon icon:

2. Or run the command Language Recall: Open decks.

3. Create a deck.

4. Add cards from the deck list, deck card, or Language Recall: Add card.

5. Start reviewing from a deck's Review button.

Reviewing cards

Click Review on a deck to start a session. During review:

• Press Space to reveal answer
• Press 1, 2, 3, 4 for Again, Hard, Good, Easy
• Use the visible next-review estimates to choose an answer
• Use the edit button to modify the current card and continue

Review timing is adjusted by the configured interval multiplier in plugin settings.

Data storage notes

• Each deck is stored as its own .md file in the configured decks folder.
• Deck files use frontmatter plus serialized card rows.
• The plugin handles deck filenames and migrations automatically when folder settings change.
• Avoid manually moving/renaming individual deck files.

Development

Clone and install dependencies:

$ git clone https://github.com/ChasKane/language-recall.git
$ cd language-recall
$ pnpm install

Create an env.mjs file in the project root:

export const obsidianExportPath =
  '<path-to-obsidian-vault>/.obsidian/plugins/language-recall';

Start the dev build/watch:

$ pnpm dev

This builds the plugin and watches for changes. It also copies plugin assets to the configured plugin directory.

Useful scripts:

$ pnpm lint
$ pnpm test
$ pnpm build