If you're looking for a dependable Markdown editor for Linux, we have three great options for you to consider.

Markdown is a excellent format in which to write all things Web. With easy-to-use syntax, it bridges the gap between plain text and HTML smoothly. While Windows and Mac users, and even Android users, have many Markdown editors to choose from, Linux users will find fewer options.

Having said that, there are a few decent options for us Linux users; you'll find a few of them below. But first things first: if you're not sure why and how you should be using Markdown, our Markdown guide will tell you what you need to know about this time-saving format.

UberWriter

With a minimalist and no-fuss approach to Markdown editing, UberWriter is one of the most popular options in its category. Install it and you can start writing in a distraction-free environment immediately. There's no question of fiddling with settings, because there aren't any. That's a positive thing, as it ensures that your words take center stage. UberWriter's Focus mode is a useful feature that highlights only the current line and grays out all the rest, sharpening your focus further.

The app comes with the basic features that you have come to expect from most Markdown editors, such as spellcheck, word and character count, fullscreen and dark modes, and export to PDF/HTML/ODT. Inline Markdown highlighting eliminates the need for a separate preview feature.

http://youtu.be/dYrW56-qGjY

Depending on the dimensions of your computer screen, some of you might feel that the margin widths and font size are not ideal for you. But since the fonts and other visual parameters are hardcoded, if you want to make stylistic changes, you'll have to edit the source code, which is not a desirable option for many. According to the developer, upcoming versions will come with simpler methods to make such changes. If you do decide to tweak the code, UberWriter's Launchpad page has some valuable information for you.

ReText

ReText is a lightweight Markdown editor with a clean and simple tabbed interface. It makes it easy to write without distractions. Write anything in Markdown and you can export the text to HTML, PDF, and ODT formats.

While ReText is not as minimalist as Uberwriter, it's also not exactly bloated. You can change font properties, display a live preview of your text, insert special HTML tags and symbols, and make the usual text edits.

retext-preview-pane

Settings beyond these basic ones are not readily apparent, but a look at ReText's wiki reveals that it's possible to do much more with the app. With suitable extensions, you can add a spellchecking feature, export to Google Docs, and even use math formulae. ReText also supports another popular syntax, called reStructured Text.

MdCharm

MdCharm is among the feature-rich options available for Linux. It comes with various features including live previews, display of line numbers, exports to HTML/PDF/ODT, and command line support. The option to open a directory as a project can come in especially handy. With a simple keyboard shortcut, you can access all Markdown files related to that project in a side panel, and work on them simultaneously thanks to the tabbed interface.

Multitab feature in Mdcharm

 

Need to compare two files? Take advantage of the dual-view feature, which lets you keep two documents open side by side. Through the Preferences dialog, you can make more changes, such as varying font properties, setting up keyboard shortcuts, and highlighting the current line. Change the look and feel of the interface to your satisfaction with ready-to-use CSS themes for Markdown or with CSS of your own. MdCharm supports two of the advanced Markdown variations, Markdown Extra and MultiMarkdown. It is also available for Windows.

mdcharm-preferences-dialog

Also In The Fray: The Gedit-Markdown Plugin

If you use the powerful gedit text editor, you can add Markdown capabilities to it through the plugin gedit-markdown. The plugin brings features like Markdown syntax highlighting, exporting to HTML, and easy document previewing. The installation requirements might vary based on the distro and gedit version you're running on your system. If your computer runs on Windows XP and has gedit installed, gedit-markdown will work for you also.

Any More That You Can Introduce Us To?

While the desktop Markdown editors mentioned here are efficient, they are not perfect. Features like autosave and wordcount display are conspicuously missing from some of them. Also, there are certain old and buggy versions floating around the Web, which might ruin your first experience of these apps. To avoid that, ensure that you download the latest version of the app from its website. Despite the odd flaw or two, these editors can turn out to be sturdy solutions to bring the power of Markdown to your desktop. You can also use them to create lists, type emails, set up article templates, and perform similar note-taking tasks, eliminating the need to install a separate app for note-taking and organization.

Markdown can save you a lot of time and effort in dealing with HTML. Sure, you can write in Markdown using an OS-independent editor accessible from your browser, but chances are that it won't work offline. Sometimes, only a desktop client will do.

Have you come across any other good Markdown editors for Linux? Mention them in the comments. We'd love to know about the ones we have missed.