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Markify — One page, two lenses

GitHub Release License macOS 26+ Swift 6.2+

Markify

A quiet Markdown editor for macOS 26. Write on one rendered page, press ⌘/ to see the same text as plain Markdown, and let on-device Apple Intelligence proofread and rewrite. No split preview pane.

Website: spaquet.github.io/markify

Rendered lens: headings, a note callout, a task list and a table rendered in place Markdown lens: the same document as source with dimmed syntax

The same document in the Rendered lens (left) and the Markdown lens (right).

Features

  • One page, two lenses: Edit in place with headings, tables, code, math and images rendered. ⌘/ crossfades to the Markdown source and keeps your caret and scroll position.
  • Format bar: Select text to get a floating glass bar for block style, bold, italic, strikethrough, code and links.
  • Slash menu: Type / to insert tables, task lists, code blocks, callouts, math, images, footnotes or frontmatter. Each row shows its Markdown shortcut.
  • GitHub-Flavored Markdown and more: Tables, task lists, callouts (> [!NOTE]), $…$ / $$…$$ math, footnotes and YAML frontmatter.
  • Library: A glass sidebar (⌃⌘S) lists open files and library notes together.
  • Focus: The toolbar fades while you type and comes back when you move the pointer.
  • Apple Intelligence, on-device only: Writing Tools, proofread, rewrite, generate at the caret (⌘↩) and whole-document actions. Nothing leaves your Mac.
  • Plain files: Documents are ordinary .md files with system autosave, versions and Recents.

Screenshots

Floating format bar above a selection
Format bar. Appears on selection and goes away on the next keystroke.
Slash insert menu
Slash menu. Insert any block and learn its Markdown syntax.
Library sidebar in dark mode
Library. Open files and notes in one sidebar.
Code block, math and footnotes
Rendered blocks. Syntax-colored code, typeset math, images and footnotes.
Writing Tools popover
Writing Tools. Proofread, rewrite or change the tone of a selection.
Rewrite result with accept and revert
Rewrite. Review the change, compare, revert or accept.

Download

Get the latest version of Markify from the Releases page.

Pre-built Binaries

Two versions are available for download:

  • markify-as.dmg - For Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3, M4 and newer)
  • markify-intel.dmg - For Intel Macs

Not sure which one to choose? Check your Mac:

  • Apple menu → About This Mac → Look at the "Chip" field
  • If it says "Apple M1", "M2", "M3", or "M4": Download Apple Silicon (as)
  • If it says "Intel Core": Download Intel

Installation from DMG

  1. Download the appropriate DMG file for your Mac
  2. Double-click the DMG file to open it
  3. Drag the Markify app to your Applications folder
  4. On first launch, you may see a security warning (since the app is unsigned)
    • Right-click on Markify in Applications folder
    • Select "Open" from the context menu
    • Click "Open" in the security dialog
  5. On subsequent launches, you can open Markify normally from Applications or Spotlight

Note: Markify is currently distributed as an unsigned application. You will see a security warning on first launch. This is expected and safe. For more information about unsigned apps, see the FAQ.

Requirements

  • macOS 26 Tahoe or later
  • Apple Intelligence features need a Mac that supports it, with Apple Intelligence turned on
  • Xcode 26 or later (for building from source)

Building from Source

Installation

  1. Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/spaquet/markify.git
cd markify
  1. Open the Xcode project:
open Markify.xcodeproj
  1. Select the "Markify" scheme and press Cmd+R to build and run, or Cmd+B to build.

  2. The app will be built to DerivedData/ and can be installed to /Applications:

open build/Release/Markify.app

Usage

  • Open a file: ⌘O, or double-click any .md file
  • New document: ⌘N
  • Switch lens: ⌘/ or the MD button in the toolbar
  • Insert a block: type / at the start of a line
  • Format: select text, or use ⌘B ⌘I ⇧⌘X ⌘E ⌘K
  • Library: ⌃⌘S
  • Writing Tools: ⇧⌘W, or generate at the caret with ⌘↩

Development

Build

xcodebuild -project Markify.xcodeproj -scheme Markify -configuration Release build

Test

xcodebuild -project Markify.xcodeproj -scheme Markify test

See AGENTS.md for development notes.

Architecture

Markify is a SwiftUI document-based app. The Markdown source string is the single source of truth, and both lenses are stylings of the same text.

  • MarkifyApp: Entry point, DocumentGroup and Settings scene
  • MarkifyDocument: File I/O for .md files
  • ContentView: Window chrome and the floating glass control layer
  • NativeEditor: TextKit 2 NSTextView editor that renders blocks in place
  • Settings/, Theme, Shortcuts: Preferences, design tokens and key bindings

See AGENTS.md for development notes.

Dependencies

  • swift-markdown - Markdown parsing (cmark-gfm)
  • SwaTex - Math rendering
  • Mermaid 12.0.0 - Diagram rendering, bundled in Markify/Resources/Mermaid (MIT, see mermaid-LICENSE.txt)

License

Markify is source available under the MIT License with the Commons Clause condition. See LICENSE for the terms.

In summary:

  • ✅ You may use Markify for personal or work documents
  • ✅ You may study, modify and redistribute the source under the license terms
  • ❌ You may not sell Markify itself, or a product or service whose value derives substantially from it, without permission

For permission to sell Markify itself, contact the maintainer.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome, but please note the licensing restrictions. Any contributions will be subject to the same license terms.

Author

Created by Stéphane PAQUET

FAQ

Why is Markify unsigned?

Markify is currently distributed as an unsigned application without Apple's Developer ID certificate. This means:

  • First launch security warning: macOS will show a warning dialog asking if you want to open the app
  • Workaround: Right-click the app and select "Open" - this bypasses the Gatekeeper check
  • Future plans: As Markify grows, we plan to add code signing and notarization for a cleaner user experience

Is it safe to use an unsigned app?

Yes, absolutely! The source code is open and available on GitHub. You can review it yourself or build it directly from source. Unsigned just means we haven't purchased an Apple Developer ID certificate yet.

How do I know which version to download?

Check your Mac's architecture:

  1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left
  2. Select "About This Mac"
  3. Look at the "Chip" field:
    • Apple M1, M2, M3, M4: Download markify-as.dmg (Apple Silicon)
    • Intel Core: Download markify-intel.dmg (Intel)

Can I verify the downloaded file is authentic?

Yes! Each DMG file comes with a SHA256 checksum file (.sha256). After downloading:

# Navigate to your Downloads folder
cd ~/Downloads

# Verify the checksum
shasum -c markify-as.dmg.sha256
# or
shasum -c markify-intel.dmg.sha256

You should see OK if the file is authentic.

Support

For bug reports, feature requests, and questions, please use the GitHub Issues page.