Why You Should Be Writing in Markdown (And Previewing Live)

I remember my first week as a developer. I was tasked with writing a README.md file. I opened it in Notepad, typed some stuff, guessed at the syntax, committed it, and pushed to GitHub.

It looked terrible. The headers were broken, the lists didn't render, and the images were giant broken links.

I had to do 10 "fix readme" commits just to get it right.

That is why Markdown exists, and more importantly, why Live Preview tools are essential.

What is Markdown, really?

It's not just a way to make text bold or italic. Markdown is a philosophy. It separates the content from the presentation.

When you write in Word or Google Docs, you are constantly fiddling with fonts, spacing, and alignment. You are thinking about how it looks. When you write in Markdown, you are thinking about what it says.

• # This is a big idea (Header 1)
• ## This is a supporting idea (Header 2)
• > This is a quote.

It's simple. It's portable. It works everywhere.

The Problem: "Typing Blind"

The only downside to Markdown is that it's plain text. You can't see the final result until you render it.

Writing complex tables or inserting images without seeing them is like painting in the dark. You think it looks good, but you won't know until you turn the lights on.

The Solution: Real-Time Preview

This is why I built the Axonix Markdown Preview.

I wanted a tool where I could type on the left and see the pixel-perfect result on the right, instantly. No save button, no refresh, no "commit and pray."

Key Features for Writers

• Split View: Editor on the left, preview on the right.
• GitHub Flavor: It renders exactly like GitHub, so you know your READMEs will be perfect.
• Privacy First: Everything happens in your browser. Draft your secret blog posts or internal docs without sending data to a server.

A Quick Syntax Cheatsheet

If you are new to the game, here are the 20% of commands you will use 80% of the time:

1. Headers: Use hash marks. # Big, ## Medium, ### Small.
2. Lists: Just use dashes - for bullets or numbers 1. for ordered lists.
3. Links: [Link Text](URL). The brackets hold the text, the parentheses hold the destination.
4. Images: ![Alt Text](URL). Same as links, but with an exclamation mark at the front.
5. Code: Wrap inline code in backticks `variable`. Wrap blocks in triple backticks.

Why "Privacy First" Matters

Most online markdown editors save your text to their database. They have to, in order to generate a "shareable link."

But what if you are writing a sensitive internal memo? Or drafting a patent idea? Or just writing a personal journal entry?

You shouldn't have to trust a random cloud service with your thoughts. That is why our Markdown Tool is designed to be client-side only. When you type, the text relies in your browser's memory. When you close the tab, it's gone (unless you save it). We literally cannot read your drafts even if we wanted to.

VS Code vs. Web Tools

I use VS Code for 8 hours a day. It has a great markdown preview. So why use a web tool?

Context Switching.

When I'm in VS Code, I'm in "Coder Mode". I have my terminal open, my git blame on, and my linter yelling at me. It is a high-cognitive-load environment. Sometimes, I just need to write content. I want a blank canvas. I want to be in "Writer Mode".

Opening a lightweight web tool allows me to separate the writing from the coding. It helps me flow.

The "Universal" Format

The best part about Markdown is that it is the "Universal Donor" of text formats.

• Need an HTML page? Most parsers can output HTML.
• Need a PDF? Values like Pandoc can convert MD to PDF instantly.
• Need a Word doc? Yes, even that is possible.

By writing in Markdown, you are future-proofing your content. You aren't locked into a proprietary format like .docx or .pages. In 50 years, you will still be able to open a .md file with any text editor.

Give It a Try

Next time you need to draft a blog post, a Jira ticket, or a documentation file, don't use a heavy word processor. Open the Markdown Preview, toggle strict mode, and just write.

You'll be amazed at how fast the words flow when you stop worrying about the font size.