the marka manual
local markdown for the work you actually want to share.
Marka is a desktop markdown editor for plain files, live preview, and clean AI context bundles. It stays local, keeps the interface quiet, and leaves your notes as regular files on disk.
getting started
The app is file-first: open one or more folders, edit normal files, and keep ownership of the project structure on disk.
On macOS, you can install from the DMG or use Homebrew:
brew install --cask mattenarle10/tap/marka-md. Homebrew users
can update with brew update && brew upgrade --cask marka-md;
the signed in-app updater remains available too.
- 01 Open a folder. Pick the notes or project folder you want to work from. Pin favorites and let the sidebar become your local context library.
- 02 Open or create a file. Markdown opens beside a live preview. Use tabs to keep several notes close; CSV opens as a lightweight read-only table preview.
- 03 Stage context. Use the sidebar buttons to stage files. The context tray shows file and token counts, then copies one bundle when you are ready.
writing + preview
editor + preview
The default split view keeps source and rendered markdown side by side. Code highlighting, Mermaid diagrams, media previews, task lists, and tables render beside the source. When you want more room, open the preview in its own window and keep editing in the main app.
modes + find
Reading mode clears the chrome for proofreading; editor-only mode stays focused on text. Search, opt-in Vim mode, and platform shortcuts are there when you need them.
themes
Theme groups keep the picker tidy: mono, Catppuccin, crafted palettes, AI-inspired Claude, Codex, Gemini, and Cursor styles sit alongside quiet mono and crafted palettes. The interface also supports Traditional Chinese.
quick inserts
The command palette can insert 2×2 or 3×3 tables, bulleted and numbered lists, and fenced code blocks without breaking your flow.
context bundles
The context tray is the main Marka workflow. Stage related markdown files from the sidebar, then copy a single bundle with relative paths and estimated token counts. It is built for passing project notes, specs, changelogs, and drafts to another tool without copy-pasting fragments one by one.
path/to/file.md
---
file contents...workspace + files
Markdown is editable. CSV is previewed as a table. Plain text fallback is available when a file is safe to read.
Use the command palette while editing to insert common markdown blocks without stopping to hand-type table scaffolds: tables, bulleted lists, numbered lists, and fenced code blocks are built in.
- Markdown: edit
.md,.markdown, and.mdxfiles. - CSV: open
.csvfiles as a fast table preview. - Plain text: unsupported text files can be opened as text when the app can read them safely.
- Local images: relative image paths in markdown resolve from the current file folder.
- Workspace care: drag files to move them, undo file operations, and let Marka notice external file changes.
- Native files: right-click files to copy paths, reveal in file manager, rename, delete, or open with the default app.
export
PDF export prints the rendered preview with clean document margins and browser headers disabled by the app. Mermaid diagrams and code blocks render before the print handoff; code blocks can also be copied directly from preview.
shortcuts
These use the macOS symbols. On Windows and Linux, use the matching Ctrl-based shortcut.
troubleshooting
why did a file open in another app?
Binary files, oversized files, and unsupported formats are blocked from the editor. If a file looks like safe text, Marka can offer “open as text”.
where are settings stored?
UI preferences are local to the desktop app. Your files remain regular files on disk. No account, cloud sync, or telemetry is involved.
where do I report issues?
Use GitHub issues for bugs, feedback, and feature requests.