Markdown Buddy
Native macOS Markdown Editor with Quick Look and Xcode
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What is Markdown Buddy?
Markdown Buddy is a native macOS Markdown editor with live preview, workspace browsing, and editing capabilities. It works as a standalone application, Xcode extension, and Finder QuickLook plugin, offering features like syntax highlighting, cross-folder search, link mapping with broken-link detection, and clickable task lists.
Markdown Buddy pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
€0.99 one-time purchase on Mac App Store
Markdown Buddy pros
- Native Swift application with seamless macOS integration (Xcode extension, Finder QuickLook, system dark mode support)
- Live preview with fade-out markers and synchronized scrolling across Rendered/Source/Side-by-side view modes
- Workspace tree with cross-folder search, regex support, link map visualization, and broken-link detection
- Keyboard-first interface with smart formatting shortcuts (⌘B, ⌘I, ⌘K), link autocompletion, and character/word count status bar
Markdown Buddy cons
- macOS-only; no support for Windows or Linux
- Markdown-specific tool; cannot edit other file types or serve as a general text editor
- Requires opening a folder as a workspace; less flexible for ad-hoc single-file editing
Frequently asked questions about Markdown Buddy
What view modes does Markdown Buddy offer?
Three modes accessible via ⌘⇧R: Rendered (preview only), Source (editor only with syntax highlighting), and Side-by-side (synchronized source and preview).
Does it support YAML front matter?
Yes. YAML front matter at the top of files appears as a collapsible panel or stays hidden, and is dimmed in the editor to prevent false headings in the outline.
Can it detect broken links between documents?
Yes. The link map (⌘⇧G) displays links as a graph visualization and flags broken links in a separate list.
Does it integrate with Xcode?
Yes. Markdown Buddy includes a native Xcode extension accessible from the Editor menu.