mdpeek - Quick Look for Markdown — double-click any .md then read

Hi everyone,

I'm the solo maker behind mdpeek, thanks for stopping by.

This is a one-person project, built around a pretty simple idea: reading a Markdown file shouldn't require opening a full-blown code editor.

Why I built mdpeek

Markdown is everywhere now.

READMEs, technical docs, project specs, meeting notes, personal notes, and more and more stuff generated by AI tools like Claude, Cursor, and GitHub Copilot.

But there's one thing that always bugged me. Every time I wanted to read a .md file, I had to fire up VS Code, Typora, or some other fairly heavy app. Don't get me wrong — those are great tools. I use code editors too, and they're great for writing and editing.

But sometimes, I just want to READ. I don't need a file tree, a dozen panels, a toolbar, or a workspace. I just want to double-click a Markdown file and start reading it, comfortably, like opening a webpage.

That little annoyance is where mdpeek started.

What I wanted was something closer to macOS Quick Look, but built specifically for Markdown — light, instant, and focused entirely on reading.

Who mdpeek is for

I think it'll feel most natural for:

- Developers who constantly read READMEs, API docs, technical specs, and project notes.

- Heavy AI users working with Claude, Cursor, Copilot, and other tools that keep spitting out Markdown files.

- Technical writers who want a quick way to preview docs without opening their usual editing setup.

- Students and researchers reading Markdown notes, papers, and technical material.

Anyone with a folder full of .md files who just wants a convenient way to read them.

If you spend more time reading Markdown than writing it, I hope mdpeek fits naturally into your workflow.

What makes mdpeek different

My design philosophy is simple: make the common stuff effortless, and keep everything else out of the way.

Here's what I've put a lot of thought into:

1. Very light

The installer is only about 3 MB.

Double-click a Markdown file and it opens in under a second. No long startup, no complicated setup, no need to open a browser first.

2. A reading experience, not another IDE

The document is the focus.

A clean full-page reading view, a floating outline that follows your reading position, comfortable typography, adjustable font size and column width, plus 9 color themes and dark mode.

3. Live refresh

Using an AI coding assistant, or editing Markdown in another app?

Just save. mdpeek refreshes the preview automatically and keeps your reading position.

No closing and reopening the file every time it changes.

4. Multiple docs, one window

Open multiple Markdown files in tabs instead of filling your taskbar with separate windows.

Tabs remember their order, pinned state, and session, so you can pick up where you left off.

5. More than basic Markdown

mdpeek supports syntax-highlighted code blocks, tables, footnotes, local images, PDF export, and single-file HTML export.

The Pro edition adds Mermaid diagrams, KaTeX math, version history with diff and restore, WYSIWYG editing, and split-screen editing.

And if you just want to make a quick change in your favorite external editor, you can jump straight to the exact source line.

Your files stay yours, this one matters to me.

mdpeek runs entirely on your computer. Your Markdown files are never uploaded to a server. No account, no cloud dependency, no ads, no tracking. Even the built-in version history stores its data locally.

I think a simple desktop utility should respect your privacy and stay out of your way.

What I'd really love your feedback on

The reading experience

Missing features

Bugs, suggestions, things you don't like, just say it.

Product Hunt launch offer

A little thank-you for the Product Hunt community:

Community Edition: Free forever.

Pro Edition: Use the coupon code HUNT3MB for 30% off.

That's $6.99 instead of $9.99, a one-time lifetime purchase (per-device license).

Limited to the first 100 redemptions.

No subscription, no recurring payments.

— The mdpeek maker