7:58AM
Byword +1
Merlin talked about using Byword in the most recent Back to Work episode. I couldn’t agree more. The Byword developer was active as Apple finished up Lion and had a Lion compatible version out even before Lion released.
The app works with Markdown flawlessly and does no more. I’ve been playing with BBEdit and TextMate but can’t seem to find a reason to use them when I am just writing Markdown text and Byword does it so well. I’m planning a future MPU episode on power text editing and looking forward to talking to some friends about why I should be using big boy tools for text editing. For the meantime though, I’m really satisfied with Byword.
;)
MacSparky.com is sponsored by Bee Docs Timeline 3D. Make a timeline presentation with your Mac.
Reader Comments (10)
Hmm... I've been a longtime TextMate user but am seeking something new; something less, um, stagnant. I may have to look at Byword.
I am curious if you use the .md or .mmd extension? As far as I can tell, that is the only way to get the sexy previewing in Byword but all of my files are .txt because none of my other markdown apps have cared about extensions.
I agree with you David. Byword becomes my main markdown app. With Notesy on the mobile device , that make the perfect couple. Of course DropBox make the link.
Perhaps, Jorge, the developer think about an mobile version…
What do you think about Bret Tepstra's "Marked"
I'm with you on Byword. I have BBEdit but I can't justify firing it up for something like a blog post when Byword is so much lighter. I have no idea what it is about the app that makes it stand out among the hoard of other "distraction free" apps.
Somehow it has become the perfect text editor I've always envisioned.
David, I purchased TextMate many months ago since I program all day for a living. The tool is awesome for many many tasks but I totally agree that it is not worth the money, time to learn or effort if (Multi)Markdown is all you are using it for. I am very comfortable with TM but still feel a bit grimy using it just for MMD - and it's just a hacked bundle that does it instead of being a dedicated tool.
I'm all for tools that do multiple variations of a task - write a letter, write a program - but sometimes the small dedicated tool is exactly what you need. A pocket knife *can* remove a screw sometimes but a small screwdriver is the best tool.
Thanks!
Jim
How does this compare with Marked?
Some follow up:
- Compared to Marked
Marked does something else. It renders Markdown from any text editor. It is an across the board feature improvement. Byword is a dedicated text editor.
@Grant
To get any text file in Markdown with Byword, the bottom entry in the format menu cycles rich text, plain text, Markdown. I know its a bit cryptic.
Great post. On David's recommendation I have now purchased Byword, and use a Byword/Marked tango for Markdown. They work beautifully together. What are you all using for writing Markdown on the iPad?
My seamless text/Markdown workflow: Alt NV, ByWord, Marked on all Macs, and on iPhone/iPad Nebulous Notes (4.4) or Notesy (both preview/email in Markdown; Nebulous has extra MD keys). All seamlessly sync with DropBox or Simplenote. Dragon input on IOS (Dictation) and on Mac (Remote Mic) and to Scrivener for large projects.