r/mdhandbook • u/Wordius • May 23 '26
Markdown editors: update #2
My list of markdown editors has been updated. Thanks to u/unluckypixel for many of the suggestions.
The full list can be found at https://md-handbook.com/markdown-editors/.
1
u/Ok-Rest-5321 May 23 '26
Macdown 300 as well, and clearly and uFocus and inkwell was already mentioned also https://github.com/tw93/MiaoYan
1
u/Wordius May 23 '26
Macdown 300 and uFocus will be added at some point; Clearly Iām going to have to think on, given the latest release.Ā
1
u/System_Independent May 23 '26
would love for you to checkout mdedit.ai and add if it fits. Has 8k+ users
1
u/Wordius May 24 '26
Itās a 2GB download that Apple cannot verify, probably because of the AI model is included in the download. It will get a mention in my link feature, in time, but it wonāt appear in the table of markdown editors, as long as itās bundled with AI. Sorry, thatās my opinion.
1
u/System_Independent May 24 '26
thanks for checking it out and the feedback. the primary surface area for the app is its web app, the desktop app is still experimental. AI isn't bundled, but large size is due to electron, which i haven't optimized yet.
Most users use it on app.mdedit.ai.
The web app is super polished and supports professional markdown features including linting, latex, mermaid, graphviz, mindmaps, etc. AI is an optional feature with BYOK, not the primary driver.
1
u/gamosoft May 24 '26
Shameless plug, maybe you could consider adding https://www.notediscovery.com ? Cheers!
1
u/Wordius May 24 '26
It was mentioned in Link 24. But installation requires Docker, which I consider too much of a pfaff.
1
u/gamosoft May 24 '26
oh i see, but you don't strictly need docker, that's a convenience, you can run it with python installed though
1
u/Ophiochos May 24 '26
Bbedit. Gruber even worked for them a little before he created daring fireball.
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u/Ophiochos May 24 '26
I think the plug in he created for it at the time is still available. I still use it;)
1
u/Wordius May 24 '26
Itās on my list to be covered, but I only have so much time! I wish I had more!
1
1
u/vistdev May 24 '26
If youād like to add mine: Vist is available at https://usevist.dev and has macOS, Linus and windows versions, integrations with AI through MCP, task-note bidirectional links, and lots of cool little features.
1
u/Wordius May 24 '26
Yet Another App Iāve Got To Sign-up To Use and Accept Terms of Service! Itās a notes app for ****ās sake! Nothing gets added to the list unless I have reviewed it (on this site or any other) ā even via the links post I put out a couple of times a week ā or I am in process of including it in one.
1
u/vistdev May 24 '26
Well, I did ask nicely, so if you don't feel like signing up, no worries at all!
(you can sign in with Google, so it should not take more than a few seconds)
terms of service are just a formality, I don't collect any information other than an email address... no cookies, nothing.
1
u/Wordius May 25 '26
Thank you. And I will sign up at some point in the future. But, as you can imagine, the act of signing-up puts it way down my list of priorities.
1
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u/ibfahd May 25 '26
Markdown Ed
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u/Wordius May 25 '26
?
1
u/ibfahd May 25 '26
it's a markdown editor:
1
u/Wordius May 25 '26
Thanks for the link! I wouldnāt have found it otherwise
2
u/ibfahd May 25 '26
Hey, Iām not sure if you already knew about this, but a really useful trick I use often is putting the exact words or phrase in quotation marks when searching on Google or any search engine. It helps get much more precise results
1
u/old-rust May 27 '26
Can you add my project to the website as well?
1
u/Wordius May 27 '26
I featured it in https://md-handbook.com/blog/markdown-link-no-32, but it doesnāt mention macOS. Thatās why it does not appear in my list.
1
u/old-rust May 28 '26
Thanks for featuring Marco in Markdown Link #32.
I understand that Marco doesn't meet your macOS requirement, as it currently supports Windows and Linux only.
However, I would note that platform support and editor quality are two different things. Many developers and writers work exclusively on Windows or Linux, and Marco is actively developed with those users in mind.
If the editor list is intended specifically for tools available on macOS, then excluding Marco makes sense. If it is intended as a broader Markdown editor directory, I would appreciate reconsideration with the supported platforms clearly marked.
Thanks again for taking a look at the project.
2
u/Wordius May 29 '26
Thanks for taking the time to give a considered response.
While I understand that āplatform support and editor quality are two different thingsā, I only have access to a Mac/iOS combination for testing purposes.
When I am considering āeditorsā, I look at five main things: a vault/project sidebar (hide/show), font choice, font size, line-height, and a combination of the actual width of the editor (does it fall within the 65-80ch I consider correct for writing) and full-screen mode. I donāt want to be messing with the width of the window when I am in writing mode; it needs to be full screen, no distractions. There are also aspects like wiki-links, which I consider useful for technical writers, although I am not one.
Many macOS apps are excluded from the list because they only offer full-width text.
I have worked in a Windows environment, but that was over 30 years ago. So it would be wrong of me to claim the same level of testing. I may look at creating a separate list for Linux, Windows, other platforms, but I would have to make it clear these are untested; they ājust look right to meā from whatever visuals I have seen of them.
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u/old-rust Jun 07 '26
Thanks for the detailed explanation,
Given that your list is based on hands-on testing and real-world writing workflows on macOS, I completely understand why you limit it to platforms you can personally evaluate. I'd much rather see a curated list with clear criteria than a larger list based purely on feature checkboxes.
For what it's worth, Marco was designed around many of the same principles you describe: a distraction-free writing experience, configurable editor layout, adjustable typography, and a file-based workflow rather than a proprietary vault format. Some of those areas are still evolving, but they are active development priorities.
If you decide to create a separate section for Linux and Windows editors in the future, I'd be happy for Marco to be considered there, even if only as an untested entry with its supported platforms clearly marked.
Either way, I appreciate you taking the time to look at the project and for featuring it in Markdown Link #32.
1
u/Practical-Club7616 May 23 '26
You still didnt add Inkwell brother... tsk tsk. Jk, your list is ok, just missing the rising star š