In this post, I’ll explain what the Markdown syntax is, why I use it frequently, and the apps I use to create Markdown documents.
Where did markdown come from and why?
Created by John Gruber in 2004, Markdown is a lightweight markup language designed for easy text formatting using plain text. It allows users to add formatting elements to documents without complex coding, making it simple to read and write.
What are the advantages of Markdown
I personally use Markdown extensively. Every blog post I’ve created since December 2024 has been written in Markdown. Here are four reasons behind this preference:
All major operating systems can read Markdown files, as they are simply text files. Some people use the .txt extension, while others use the .md extension. Personally, I use the .md extension to distinguish between text files and Markdown files. However, any text editor can read and write Markdown files.
Markdown files are inherently small due to their simple text format.
Markdown files are easy to read because they are just text files with additional formatting characters. This makes them accessible and understandable to anyone.
Why use a markdown editor instead of a plain text editor
One of the advantages of using a markdown editor over a simple text editor is that it displays the formatting within the document. Most markdown editors also enable you to export the document in various formats, such as PDF, HTML, Word Document, ePub, and others, while preserving the formatting.
Additionally, some markdown editors allow you to link markdown documents together. For instance, chapters in a book can be separate documents linked to a master document using markdown. When you export the master document, all the chapters are combined into a single file. This feature enables you to separate the chapters into smaller files for creation, editing, and ease of management.
These are just a few reasons why you should use a Markdown editor instead of a plain text editor.
Apps that can create markdown files
There are many apps that can generate Markdown files. The simplest ones are Notepad on Windows and TextEdit on macOS. Since these are basic text editors, they don’t understand the markup syntax, which prevents them from displaying the formatting, but they still show the syntax.
Here are some of the markdown editors I have used.
iA Writer: This is the app I use the most these days since I primarily use iPads for my main computer. It’s a distraction-free writing app with more features for bloggers and writers than any other app on this list. It supports wikilink’s, a subset of the markdown syntax that allows you to link documents together amongst other things. I also have the Windows version installed on my Office PC and Gaming Laptop. There is also a version available for macOS that I have installed on my old MacBook Pro.
iWriter Pro: This is another distraction-free app for Mac/iPad. The main reason I don’t use it as much as iA Writer is that it supports the multimarkdown syntax. This is similar to wikilink’s but not as easy to use in my opinion. It is also not as fully featured as iA Writer.
Obsidian: This open-source app is available on all modern desktop and mobile operating systems. It uses the wikilink’s markdown syntax but isn’t a distraction-free app. It can do a lot more than something like iA Writer, but if you don’t mind the interface, which I personally found to be too distracting, it’s a good option.
MWeb: MWeb is similar to iA Writer but not as fully featured and doesn’t support distraction-free writing, at least on iPads. It’s also not available on Windows.
MarkText: Marktext is a free distraction free Markdown editor for Microsoft Windows similar to iWriter Pro.
These markdown editors I have heard about but not used.
NotePad ++ : This is a free text/coding app that can also be a good markdown editor for the Windows operating system.
Visual Studio Code (VSCode): While it’s best known as a code editor, VSCode can also be a good markdown editor.
Ulysses: This app is primarily designed for authors.
Drafts: This app is primarily designed for scriptwriters and playwrights.
Vim: This granddaddy of text editors has plugins that can make it a markdown editor as well.
Not only that, some note-taking apps, such as Nextcloud Notes and Bear Notes, also use Markdown. So, you might even be using Markdown without realising it.
Another advantage for me as a blogger is that when I upload a Markdown-formatted document to WordPress, it preserves the formatting for the blog post. This blog post was entirely written and uploaded to WordPress in Markdown using iA Writer. I applied all the formatting in Markdown, so when it was uploaded to WordPress, the formatting remained intact without me having to manually add it to the post.
This isn’t a unique feature of iA Writer. You can create a Markdown file in Notepad on Windows, copy and paste the text into WordPress, and as WordPress understands Markdown so will implement all the formatting.
However, not all Markdown editors support direct uploads to a blogging platform from the app. iWriter Pro for example lacks this feature. I have yet to find an editor in Windows that allows direct uploading to a blogging platform.
Disadvantages of Markdown
As you can see, there are several significant advantages to using Markdown. However, there are also some drawbacks to consider.
One of the most notable disadvantages is that not all Markdown apps support the same features. For instance, as I eluded to earlier there are two main ways to link Markdown documents, depending on the app you use.
iA Writer, the main app I use, uses Wikilink’s to link Markdown documents, while iWriter Pro uses multimarkdown. Although the syntax is quite similar between the two, they are not compatible.
I’ve found that Wikilink’s is the more popular method, as most other apps use this system. It’s also the main reason why I stopped using iWriter Pro to create Markdown files.
This is just one example of how some programs differ in their use of markdown.
Another disadvantage is that you need to learn the syntax of Markdown. This can be as simple as using the hash key to create headers or the asterisk key to make text bold, or as complex as creating complex mathematical equations.
Conclusion
I’m a big fan of writing in Markdown. I prefer it over proprietary systems like Microsoft Word or Apple Pages because they’re cross-platform, have small file sizes, not tied to one app or company, and offer a lot more features than I’ve mentioned here.
As I mentioned earlier in this post, I love distraction-free writing apps, and most Markdown apps I have come across are designed to be distraction-free. However, there can also be a cost involved.
You can find many Markdown apps for free. There are markdown apps ranging from basic editors to subscription-based specialist ones like Ulysses. My main app, iA Writer, costs £49.99 for iOS/iPadOS and Mac, £24.99 for Windows. It’s the most expensive and used app that I currently have on my iPad, but it is excellent for bloggers and general use writing. The other Markdown apps I have used are cheaper: iWriter Pro cost £2.99 and is only available for all of Apple’s devices, while MWeb cost £14.99 for the iPad/iPhone version.
In my opinion Obsidian is the best starting point for anyone interested in trying Markdown. It’s a free and open-source application available on all major desktop operating systems and mobile operating systems. It also follows the Wikilink’s syntax of Markdown, which is the most commonly used syntax I’ve encountered. You can install plugins to enhance its functionality, such as making it a distraction-free writing app, adding syntax highlighting, and more. The only reason I don’t use it is because I don’t like the application’s interface and I don’t like how it organises your markdown files.
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