Minimal Markdown Editor
A beautiful, distraction-free markdown editor with live preview, syntax highlighting, keyboard shortcuts, and automatic local storage sync—perfect for writers and developers.
Project Overview
Minimal Markdown Editor is a clean, focused writing environment for markdown enthusiasts. Built with the philosophy that writing tools should get out of your way, it provides just the essential features: split-pane live preview, syntax highlighting, keyboard shortcuts, and automatic saving.
No accounts, no cloud sync complexity—just write. Perfect for developers, writers, and anyone who loves markdown for taking notes, writing documentation, or blogging.
Core Features
Split-Pane Editor
Edit markdown on left, see live preview on right. Synchronized scrolling between panes. Toggle preview on/off with adjustable sizes.
Syntax Highlighting
CodeMirror editor with markdown syntax highlighting. Code blocks with language-specific highlighting and theme customization.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Vim-mode support for power users. Standard shortcuts like Cmd+B for bold. Quick formatting toolbar and customizable keybindings.
Auto-Save
Automatic localStorage sync every 2 seconds. Never lose your work. Works completely offline with export to .md file anytime.
Distraction-Free Mode
Full-screen mode hides all UI. Focus mode dims everything except current line. Typewriter scrolling with customizable fonts.
Document Management
Multiple documents with tabs. Quick document switcher (Cmd+P). Export to HTML or PDF and import from .md files.
Technical Implementation
Built with React and CodeMirror for a fast, focused writing experience:
Editor Technology
CodeMirror 6 for editing with marked.js for markdown parsing, highlight.js for code blocks, custom extensions, and Vim mode support.
Frontend Architecture
React 18 with Hooks, Vite for build tooling, CSS Modules for styling, React Context for state, and debounced auto-save.
Features & Storage
localStorage persistence, file export (MD, HTML, PDF), keyboard shortcuts, theme customization, and responsive design.
Performance
Virtual scrolling for large documents, lazy rendering, memoized components, optimized re-renders, and bundle size under 200KB.
Results & Impact
User Adoption
5000+ monthly users organically discovered. Users report using daily for note-taking, documentation, and blogging. Positive feedback on simplicity and speed.
Performance Excellence
Perfect 100 Lighthouse score. Loads in under 1 second on 3G. Handles documents up to 10,000 lines smoothly with minimal bundle size.
Open Source Success
100+ GitHub stars. Used as learning resource for React and CodeMirror. Featured in "best markdown editors" articles with community contributions.
Philosophy Validation
Users appreciate simple, focused tools. Proves that removing features can improve UX. Sometimes localStorage is better than cloud complexity.