Show HN: A user-friendly UI for viewing and editing Markdown files

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Feature set & capabilities

  • Many commenters want a clear feature list before downloading: checkboxes, Mermaid, folding, search/replace, multi‑cursor, tracked changes, math, images, raw HTML, MDX, alternate render engines (e.g., pandoc).
  • Some note it auto-adds YAML front matter (title/subtitle) even when files already have headers, and users can’t easily remove or control it.
  • Lack of built‑in math editor and advanced blocks (Kanban, diagrams, complex widgets) is noted by some as a limitation.

UX, projects, and workflow

  • A major complaint is the forced “project” (vault) model before opening a single markdown file; users want quick “open README.md” behavior.
  • Some report confusing or broken states after project creation (blank screen, no way to reset without reinstall).
  • Window behavior on macOS (e.g., can’t drag by title area) and ultra-minimal UI without obvious formatting controls are criticized by users who prefer traditional WYSIWYG toolbars.

Comparisons to existing tools

  • Strong comparisons to Typora, Obsidian, iA Writer, VS Code with markdown extensions, MarkText, Zettlr, ghostwriter, Logseq, etc.
  • Some say it looks nearly identical to Typora but is free; others argue Typora’s price is reasonable and feature-rich.
  • Obsidian’s “vault-centric” model is cited as similar and also limiting for one‑off file editing.

Licensing, implementation, and security

  • Initially no license was present; an MIT license was later added.
  • Built with Tauri and Tiptap (on top of ProseMirror) is noted; some downplay this as just a normal choice of editor component.
  • Multiple macOS users report “app is damaged” and notarization warnings; the need to run xattr workarounds is a deterrent.
  • One comment challenges marketing around “secure/local,” noting no clear encryption/security features.

Target users & positioning

  • Unclear whether it’s aimed at non‑technical users, developers, or note-takers.
  • Some see potential as a simple, clean markdown editor; others argue that existing IDEs and editors already cover most developer needs.
  • Several suggest the app needs a clearer purpose, stronger onboarding, and configuration around front matter, syncing, and linking to stand out.