diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 48925f7..08939d3 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -149,10 +149,12 @@ The `.docx` and `.pptx` formats are no longer emitted. Printed handouts (lecture
 notes, Cornell handout, quiz) render to PDF via `pdflatex`; the slide deck is Slidev
 Markdown. Exams are built by lectern, not here.
 
-## Required npm/pip Dependencies (user installs once)
+## Required npm/pip Dependencies (installed once, at the vault PARENT when in-vault)
+
+⚠️ **NEVER run `npm install` inside an Obsidian vault.** When this skill is checked out inside a vault, an in-vault `node_modules/` crash-loops Obsidian sync (inotify watch exhaustion). Install **one level above the vault** at `documents/obsidian/node_modules`; Node's upward module resolution finds them automatically, so you normally install nothing. If a (re)install is truly needed, target the parent:
 
 ```bash
-npm install
+npm install --prefix "$(cd <vault>/.. && pwd)"   # vault PARENT, never the skill dir
 ```
 
 `pptxgenjs` and `docx` are no longer dependencies. The slides generator emits Slidev
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4d52419..a0db8f0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -243,6 +243,11 @@ Then, once per clone:
 npm install
 ```
 
+> ⚠️ **If this checkout lives inside an Obsidian vault** (e.g. `vault/skills/…`), do **not**
+> run `npm install` here — an in-vault `node_modules/` crash-loops Obsidian sync. Install at
+> the vault parent instead: `npm install --prefix "$(cd <vault>/.. && pwd)"`. Node resolves the
+> parent `node_modules` upward automatically, so usually you install nothing.
+
 ---
 
 ## Repository layout
diff --git a/SKILL.md b/SKILL.md
index 6662670..9b5553a 100644
--- a/SKILL.md
+++ b/SKILL.md
@@ -138,9 +138,10 @@ Workflow:
 node generate.js --main <vault>/classes/<course>/<topic>_lecture_main.md --out .
 ```
 
-**Dependencies** (install once per skill checkout):
+**Dependencies** — ⚠️ **NEVER run `npm install` inside the vault.** When this skill is checked out *inside* an Obsidian vault (e.g. `vault/skills/…`), an in-vault `node_modules/` (thousands of files) blows the inotify watch limit and crash-loops Obsidian sync. Install **once at the vault parent** (`documents/obsidian/node_modules`, one level *above* `<vault>/`). Node's upward module resolution finds them from the skill dir automatically — so normally you install **nothing**. If you ever must (re)install, target the parent explicitly:
 ```bash
-npm install
+# install to the vault PARENT — never the skill dir:
+npm install --prefix "$(cd <vault>/.. && pwd)"
 ```
 
 A LaTeX toolchain with `pdflatex` is required for the lecture-notes, Cornell, and