The MDHero journal

Markdown,
done right.

Guides, workflows, and deep dives for people who live in plain text — from first-time writers to keyboard-wielding devs.

Latest posts

comparison · viewers

QuickMD vs MDHero: Which Markdown Viewer?

Two free, open-source, native markdown viewers under 10MB. QuickMD is Mac-only with PDF export; MDHero adds Windows, tabs and editing. An honest comparison.

Aug 7, 20265 min read New
comparison · editors

Typora vs MDHero: Free Typora Alternative?

Typora is a $14.99 WYSIWYG markdown editor. MDHero is a free, open-source viewer and editor at 8MB. Which one you need depends on whether you write or read.

Aug 7, 20265 min read New
tutorial · presenting

Markdown to Slides Without the Marp CLI

Turn a .md file into slides without installing Node, the Marp CLI, or a VS Code extension. What marp: true does, and how to present straight from the file.

Aug 6, 20265 min read New
ai workflow · files

What Is /mnt/data/pasted markdown.md?

ChatGPT gave you a link to /mnt/data/pasted markdown.md and it won't open. Here's what that path actually is, why the link is dead, and how to get your file.

Aug 6, 20265 min read New
ai workflow · docs

Paste ChatGPT Into Google Docs Without Breaking Formatting

Pasting ChatGPT output into Google Docs gives you ### symbols and asterisks instead of headings. Here's why, and four ways to keep the formatting intact.

Aug 6, 20265 min read New
tutorial · vim

Vim Keybindings for Markdown Readers

Vim keybindings and markdown reader keyboard shortcuts that turn any markdown viewer into a keyboard-driven reader. Complete reference for j/k/gg/G in MDHero.

May 9, 20265 min read
tutorial · katex

Render LaTeX Math in Markdown with KaTeX

How to render LaTeX in markdown with KaTeX — every inline and block syntax for markdown math equations, plus which markdown viewer renders math best.

May 6, 20265 min read
tutorial · beginner

What Is a .md File? How to Open Markdown Files

A .md file is a Markdown document. Learn what the .md file extension means and the easiest ways to open Markdown files on Mac and Windows in 2026.

May 3, 20265 min read
ai workflow · claude

How to Read Claude Code Plans in Markdown

Claude Code plans live in ~/.claude/plans as raw markdown. Here's how to view Claude Code output and render Claude response files with a real markdown viewer.

Apr 30, 20265 min read
comparison · readme

Quick Look vs MDHero: Best Markdown Viewer for Mac

Quicklook markdown shows raw text. MDHero renders it. The best markdown viewer Mac comparison — and how to preview markdown files in Finder properly in 2026.

Apr 26, 20265 min read
comparison · 7 apps · 2026

Best Free Markdown Viewers in 2026

Seven free markdown viewers for Mac and Windows compared on size, price and features — MDHero, MarkView, QuickMD, MD Viewer, plus Typora alternatives.

Apr 25, 20265 min read
deep dive · ~8MB

Tauri vs Electron: Building an 8MB Markdown Viewer

How we built MDHero, a native, lightweight markdown viewer under 8MB using Tauri and Rust instead of Electron — without sacrificing polish or speed.

Apr 25, 20265 min read
tutorial · windows

How to Open .md Files on Windows

How to open .md files on Windows 10 and 11 — every markdown viewer Windows option compared, from Notepad fixes to a native .md file viewer that just works.

Apr 25, 20265 min read
ai workflow · paste

Copy ChatGPT Output With Formatting Intact

Copied text from ChatGPT and got literal \n characters, ### symbols and broken lists? Here's why AI output loses formatting on paste, and four ways to fix it.

Apr 25, 20265 min read
guide · macOS · 2026 edition
Editor's pick

Markdown Viewer for Mac: The Complete 2026 Guide

Choosing a markdown viewer for Mac in 2026 — Quick Look, VS Code, and native apps compared. How to open .md files on macOS without hitting TextEdit.

Apr 22, 202612 min read

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Free, native, ~8MB. Takes fifteen seconds to install — no account needed.