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MWeb for Mac users
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Posted by MadaboutDana
Jan 10, 2017 at 10:22 AM
Yo folks,
Just a quick note to say that MWeb, a promising code, Markdown and blog editor for macOS, has just been published as an iOS app, currently at a very reasonable one-off price (ca. USD 5). Thus offering a nice cross-platform solution for Mac users!
It’s a very powerful app on both platforms, and well worth acquiring/supporting. MWeb supports the (more complete) GitHub flavour of Markdown (so has support for e.g. tasks, tables), but has a special facility for resizing embedded pictures as well.
While the iOS app’s hybrid view isn’t quite as impressive as e.g. Bear’s, it’s very capable, and offers a broader range of formatting. Image support in particular is impressive, with images showing up in full even in editing mode (although you can switch that off if you wish).
It offers various Cloud service options, including iCloud.
Finally, MWeb is very much cheaper than either Bear or Outlinely!
Happy New Year to all!
Bill
Posted by Larry Kollar
Jan 10, 2017 at 10:23 PM
Sounds interesting. How do you shuttle files between iOS and the rest of the world? Dropbox? Would I need the MWeb desktop app?
I’m currently using NotesWriter+ to edit Markdown files on my iPad, but it’s awfully klunky—I have to import a file from Dropbox, edit it, then sync it back. If I edit the file on my desktop before syncing, the file seems to get forever disconnected. It might be a tough go, though; I think Scrivener for iOS was delayed a long time because they were trying to get projects to sync right.
Posted by MadaboutDana
Jan 11, 2017 at 01:32 PM
In principle, MWeb uses iCloud, but in practice, I’m having difficulty making the MWeb folder visible on my Mac (it’s created by the iOS app when you specify “Use iCloud” and “Set up Library”). Good old Documents by Riddle can see the MWeb folder, but my Mac can’t, meaning I can’t transfer my MWeb for Mac library to the relevant iCloud folder (as described on the MWeb blog). No doubt the developer will sort that out in the near future; the iOS app is only at version 1.0.
TextNut is another good Markdown editor with Mac/iOS apps, and is relatively flexible (I believe it uses iCloud and Dropbox). And it’s not a subscription app, unlike Bear or Outlinely. It also has the unusual distinction of being able to manage notes EITHER as rich-text notes OR as Markdown notes; you can take your pick.
But if you can bear to subscribe, Bear is probably the best Markdown app out there, using iCloud fast and seamlessly with almost zero delays in sync. Other all-in-one solutions (i.e. with note libraries) include Letterspace and Ulysses (both with very fast sync functions).
Finally, there are plenty of capable single-file solutions such as ByWord and iaWriter. But like yourself, I prefer note-management solutions rather than single-file solutions.
Posted by Larry Kollar
Jan 14, 2017 at 03:53 AM
In this case, a single-file solution is fine. On my Mac, I have a Dropbox folder with Markdown files, one per scene (one directory per story). I use Brackets to edit on the Mac, and Jekyll to build HTML files for previewing or building EPUB (eBook) files. I have some custom scripts to transform a validated EPUB into PDF for drafts, or typesetter markup for PoD. In some ways, it works better than Scrivener—except, right now, for editing remotely on my iPad. I might give Byword a shot.
Posted by MadaboutDana
Jul 26, 2018 at 08:22 AM
MWeb continues to turn into a decidedly interesting competitor to better-known (but subscription-based) apps like Ulysses and Bear.
The app is under steady development, and a new version has just been released - again, for a modest price. MWeb runs, incidentally, on macOS and iOS.
One of the neatest features is the ability to generate a complete static website from a set of MWeb pages and subpages. This is a remarkably powerful feature, which works extremely well.
It has a very neat interface, supports tags *and* categories (like folders, but you can assign a note to multiple categories), has a powerful search function, and support for MultiMarkdown (including e.g. tasks, tables). Not to mention multiple automatic backup options (you can select your preferred destinations for up to three different backups), and support for images.
The latest version also includes a nice Quick Note feature in the menu bar.
MWeb uses a dedicated Library (ideally stored in iCloud), but also has an “External” mode through which it can access any folder you choose; you can set up multiple folders in External mode.
It’s been around for a while, and unlike equally capable competitors (e.g. TextNut), continues to survive and even thrive. Yes, some of the help instructions are Chinese-English, but they’re all perfectly comprehensible.
Just thought I ought to raise its profile - I find myself using it more and more!