📓 mdnotes.nvim

Simple and improved Markdown note taking.

---

☀️ Introduction

Mdnotes aims to be a lightweight plugin that improves the Markdown note-taking experience in Neovim, with minimal configuration required. It also exposes most of the functions used internally, so that the user can create a hyper-extensible note-taking experience similar to Neovim's philosophy.

It provides the typical Markdown features like inserting/editing inline links, ordered/unordered/task lists, generating ToC, table helpers, and formatting. The highlights are that it provides better WikiLink support, inserting/deleting assets, sequential Markdown buffer history, asset management, and link referencing/renaming. Please see the Features below for a descriptive list of features and their commands!

In the Recommendations section I've written some notes on my recommended mdnotes setup, and please see the Supported Markdown Format section to see how mdnotes aims to format your notes.

If you are migrating from another note-taking application, then MIGRATING.md might be of interest to you, and I've also written some useful tips in TIPS.md for when writing notes in OOTB Neovim. Lastly, a disclaimer I must unfortunately say, is if you are executing any mass data-altering commands, ensure you have a notes backup!

All documentation is available with :h mdnotes.txt. Execute :checkhealth mdnotes to ensure there are no problems with your plugin config.

🔥 Features

All the features of mdnotes and their associated commands are listed and categorised below.

🔗 Inline Links

• Open inline links to files and URLs with :Mdn inline_link open.
• Toggle inline links with :Mdn inline_link toggle which pastes your copied text over the selected text or word under cursor. This command also removes the inline link and saves it to be used later with the same command.
• Rename the link text with :Mdn inline_link rename.
• Re-link the inline link with :Mdn inline_link relink.
• Normalize an inline link with :Mdn inline_link normalize to have consistent paths.
• Validate an inline link without opening it by executing :Mdn inline_link validate. This ensures that your inline link has a valid destination.
• Convert an inline link with a fragment to a GFM-style fragment. Useful when using LSP auto-completion and you want to create valid Markdown links on GitHub.

🧭 General Navigation

• Set your index and journal files and go there with :Mdn index and :Mdn journal.
• Can go backwards and forwards in notes history by using :Mdn history go_back and :Mdn history go_forward.
• Use :Mdn heading next/previous to easily navigate headings.

💁 Formatting

• Toggle the appropriate formatting with :Mdn formatting strong/emphasis/inline_code/strikethrough/autolink_toggle.
• Automatically continue your ordered/unordered/task lists. Works with <CR>, o, and O and can be disabled.
• Automatically renumber your ordered lists (auto_list_renumber = true by default, can also be done manually).
• Toggle through checked, unchecked, and no checkbox in a list item with :Mdn formatting task_list_toggle. Also works with linewise visual mode to toggle multiple tasks at a time.
• Unformat your line(s) with :Mdn formatting unformat_lines.

🫦 Tables

• See the Editing Tables section for how mdnotes integrates with Neovim to edit tables.
• Create a ROW by COLS table with :Mdn table create ROW COLS.
• Automatting setting of the best fit of your columns so that all your cells line up (opt-out). Can also be done manually with :Mdn table best_fit and can also add padding around your cells (table_best_fit_padding in config).
• Insert columns to the left or right of your current column with :Mdn table column_insert_left/right.
• Move columns to the left or right of your current column with :Mdn table column_move_left/right.
• Delete current column with :Mdn table column_delete.
• Duplicate current column with :Mdn table column_duplicate.
• Toggle column alignment with :Mdn table column_alignment_toggle.
• Insert empty rows to the above or below of your current line with :Mdn table row_insert_above/below.

🖇️ WikiLinks

• Create a WikiLink by highlighting or hovering over a word and executing :Mdn wikilink create.
• Open WikiLinks with :Mdn wikilink follow.
• Rename link references and the file itself using :Mdn wikilink rename_references. Also rename references of the current buffer when not hovering over a Wikilink.
• Show the references of a Wikilink by hovering over the link and executing :Mdn wikilink show_references. Also show references of the current buffer when not hovering over a Wikilink.
• Undo the most recent reference rename with :Mdn wikilink undo_rename. Only available when prefer_lsp = false.
• Delete the WikiLink under the cursor with :Mdn wikilink delete.
• Normalize your WikiLink path with :Mdn wikilink normalize.
• Show orphan pages (pages with no references) in current directory with :Mdn wikilink show_orphans.

👩‍💼 Asset Management

• Use :Mdn assets delete_unused to easily cleanup assets that you no longer use.
• Use :Mdn assets move_unused to move unused assets to a separate folder.
• Insert an image or file from clipboard using :Mdn assets insert_image or :Mdn assets insert_file which creates the appropriate link and copies or moves the image to your assets folder. Requires xclip or wl-clipboard for Linux.
• Open your assets folder using :Mdn assets open_containing_folder.
• Download website HTML to your assets folder with :Mdn assets download_website_html.

🧍‍♂️ Uncategorised

• Generate and insert at the cursor a Table Of Contents (ToC) for the current Markdown buffer with :Mdn toc generate. Can also customise the depth of the ToC by changing the toc_depth = 4.
• Implements an outliner mode by doing :Mdn outliner_toggle. Make sure to exit afterwards by re-toggling. Can also use outliner-like indentation with :Mdn outliner indent/unindent.
• Insert a journal entry automatically by doing :Mdn journal insert_entry.
• Open your folder containing the index file with :Mdn index open_containing_folder.
• Tips for repeating last command, find/replace words, finding tags, and finding files, can be found in TIPS.md.
• Opt-in use of existing Markdown LSP functions by setting prefer_lsp = true.
• Supports Windows eccentricities.

👽 Setup

Using the lazy.nvim package manager,

{
    "ymich9963/mdnotes.nvim",
}

and specify your config using opts = {} or with a setup({}) function,

{
    "ymich9963/mdnotes.nvim",
    opts = {
        -- Config here
    }
    -- or
    config = {
        require("mdnotes").setup({
            -- Config here
        })
    }
}

🌐 Default Config

{
    index_file = "",
    journal_file = "",
    assets_path = "",
    asset_insert_behaviour = "copy", -- "copy" or "move" files when inserting from clipboard
    overwrite_behaviour = "error",  -- "overwrite" or "error" when finding assset file conflicts
    open_behaviour = "buffer",      -- "buffer", "tab", "split", or "vsplit" to open when following links
    date_format = "%a %d %b %Y"     -- date format based on :h strftime()
    prefer_lsp = false,             -- to prefer LSP functions than the mdnotes functions
    auto_list = true,               -- automatic list continuation
    auto_list_renumber = true,      -- automatic renumbering of ordered lists
    auto_table_best_fit = true,     -- automatic table best fit
    default_keymaps = false,
    autocmds = true,                -- enable or disable plugin autocmds
    table_best_fit_padding = 0,     -- add padding around cell contents when using tables_best_fit
    toc_depth = 4                   -- depth shown in the ToC
}

📂 Directory Setup

Sample directory structure for mdnotes is shown below. See RATIONALE.md for reasons regarding the accepted file structure.

notes/
├───assets/
│   ├───fire.png
│   └───water.pdf
├───music.md
├───electronics.md
etc.

This plugin was made with this type of directory structure in mind because this is how I use it. If this directory configuration doesn't suit you please make an issue and hopefully I'll be able to accomodate anyone's needs.

💋 Recommendations

I've specified below some recommended plugins, keymaps, and optional settings for a great experience with mdnotes.

🔌 Plugins

For the best Neovim Markdown note-taking experience, I've listed some other projects to optionally install alongside mdnotes,

• nvim-treesitter - Tree-sitter for Neovim; with this also install the markdown, markdown_inline, and latex parsers.
• In-Neovim Previewer for Markdown files (both are excellent),
  • markview.nvim
  • render-markdown.nvim
• Live Previewer for Markdown files in browser,
  • markdown-preview.nvim - Older, more widely used, has dependencies.
  • live-preview.nvim - Newer, no dependencies.
• LSP - Please see the Using LSPs Section for more information regarding LSPs, but I recommend,
  • markdown-oxide or
  • marksman

⌨️ Keymaps

The keymappings below can be enabled by setting default_keymaps = true as they are not enabled by default, and they will only be available in Markdown buffers. Place any mdnotes keymaps in a <Neovim config path>/after/ftplugin/markdown.lua file so that they're also Markdown specific. For organisation they use the <leader>m prefix.

vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>mgx', ':Mdn inline_link open<CR>', { buffer = true, desc = "Open inline link URI under cursor" })
vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>mgf', ':Mdn wikilink follow<CR>', { buffer = true, desc = "Open markdown file from WikiLink" })
vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>mgrr', ':Mdn wikilink show_references<CR>', { buffer = true, desc = "Show references of link or buffer" })
vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>mgrn', ':Mdn wikilink rename_references<CR>', { buffer = true, desc = "Rename references of link or current buffer" })
vim.keymap.set({"v", "n"}, "<leader>mk", ":Mdn inline_link toggle<CR>", { buffer = true, desc = "Toggle inline link" })
vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>mh", ":Mdn history go_back<CR>", { buffer = true, desc = "Go to back to previously visited Markdown buffer" })
vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>ml", ":Mdn history go_forward<CR>", { buffer = true, desc = "Go to next visited Markdown buffer" })
vim.keymap.set({"v", "n"}, "<leader>mb", ":Mdn formatting strong_toggle<CR>", { buffer = true, desc = "Toggle strong formatting" })
vim.keymap.set({"v", "n"}, "<leader>mi", ":Mdn formatting emphasis_toggle<CR>", { buffer = true, desc = "Toggle emphasis formatting" })
vim.keymap.set({"v", "n"}, "<leader>mt", ":Mdn formatting task_list_toggle<CR>", { buffer = true, desc = "Toggle task list status" })
vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>mp", ":Mdn heading previous<CR>", { buffer = true, desc = "Go to previous Markdown heading" })
vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>mn", ":Mdn heading next<CR>", { buffer = true, desc = "Go to next Markdown heading" })

👩‍💻 Optional Settings

Place these settings in your <Neovim config path>/after/ftplugin/markdown.lua file so that they are Markdown-specific. First one here is to enable wrapping only for the current Markdown buffer.

vim.wo[vim.api.nvim_get_current_win()][0].wrap = true -- Enable wrap for current .md buffer

Second one is to disable LSP diagnostics in the current Markdown buffer.

vim.diagnostic.enable(false, { bufnr = 0 }) -- Disable diagnostics for current .md buffer

Last one here is for the glorious Neovim Windows users. Setting this keymap will allow you to use the built in <C-x> <C-f> file completion for WikiLinks or just for using file paths in Markdown buffers.

vim.keymap.set("i", "<C-x><C-f>", "<cmd>set isfname-=[,]<CR><C-x><C-f><cmd>set isfname+=[,]<CR>",
{
    desc = "Mdnotes i_CTRL-X_CTRL-F smart remap to allow path completion on Windows",
    buffer = true
})

🙊 Using LSPs

The main reason I started this project was dissatisfaction with Markdown LSPs at the time, and I really wanted to use Neovim as my notes editor. Therefore, mdnotes is designed to work with Markdown LSPs by trying to fill the gaps and to also complement their current functionality. Unfortunately, I don't think the Markdown LSPs are there yet, so the default behaviour of the plugin is to have prefer_lsp = false. Please see the table below for how mdnotes tries to work with LSPs and Neovim itself.

Feature	mdnotes	LSP	Neovim
Showing references	Y (:Mdn wikilink show_references)	Y (:h vim.lsp.buf.references() or grr)	N
Rename links to current buffer	Y (:Mdn wikilink rename_references)	Y (:h vim.lsp.buf.rename() or grn, markdown-oxide only)	N
Rename links to hovered WikiLink	Y (:Mdn wikilink rename_references)	? (:h vim.lsp.buf.rename(), should work but it does not)	N
Buffer History	Y (Sequential :Mdn history go_back/forward)	N	Y (Not Sequential :h bp/:h bn
Path Completion	N	Y (:h lsp-completion)	Y (:h i_CTRL-X_CTRL-F)
Opening WikiLinks	Y (:Mdn wikilink follow)	Y (:h vim.lsp.buf.definition() or CTRL-])	Y (:h gf, needs .md extension in link, requires settings for Windows)

Note: Not all of the features of mdnotes are listed in this table, just the ones that are relevant to this section. Some LSPs provide more than just LSP features and their documentation should also be referenced along with this table.

🦠 Editing Tables

mdnotes tries to complement Neovim functionality to make editing tables as easy as possible. See the table below for what functions Neovim does and what functions are done by mdnotes.

Feature	mdnotes	Neovim
Insert empty rows	Y (:Mdn table row_insert_above/below)	N
Duplicate row	N	Y (:h yy)
Delete row	N	Y (:h dd)
Move row	N	Y (:h dd and :h p)
Insert empty columns	Y (:Mdn table column_insert_left/right)	N
Duplicate column	Y (:Mdn table column_duplicate)	Y (:h visual-block)
Delete column	Y (:Mdn table column_delete)	Y (:h visual-block)
Move column	Y (:Mdn table column_move_left/right)	N

Note: Not all of the features of mdnotes are listed in this table, just the ones that are relevant to this section.

📢 Supported Markdown Formatting

Here is the supported Markdown formatting for mdnotes.nvim. The plugin tries to adhere to the CommonMark and GitHub Flavoured Markdown (GFM) spec as well as providing WikiLink support. If any problems arise please don't hesitate to create an issue for it!

Links

Opened with :Mdn inline_link open. Inserted with the :Mdn assets insert_file/image and :Mdn inline_link toggle commands. If no extension is given to file below, it is treated as .md.

    [link](www.neovim.io)
    [link](path/to/file#fragment)
    [link](path/to/file#gfm-style-fragment-wth-spaces)
    [link](<path/to/file with spaces.md#fragment>)
    [link](#Original Section)
    [link](#original-fragment)
    [link](path/to/file.extension)
    ![image](path/to/image.extension)

WikiLinks

Opened with :Mdn wikilink follow. Can only be filenames, so link can also be link.md.

    [[link]]
    [[link#fragment]]
    [[link#fragment with spaces]]
    [[link#fragment-with-spaces]]

Formatting

Toggled with :Mdn formatting <format>_toggle. Using _ for the strong and emphasis formats needs to be specified in the strong_format and emphasis_format config options.

    **strong**
    __strong__
    *emphasis*
    _emphasis_
    ~~strikethrough~~
    `inline code`
    <autolink>

Lists

All ordered and unordered CommonMark lists along with GFM task lists are supported.

    - Item
    + Item
    * Item
    1) Item
    2. Item
    - [x] Task lists with all ordered and unordered lists above

Tables

The GFM table specification is supported.

|1r1c|1r2c|1r3c|
|----|----|----|
|2r1c|2r2c|2r3c|
|3r1c|3r2c|3r3c|

🫂 Motivation

I wanted to make a more Neovim-centric Markdown notes plugin that tries to work the available Markdown LSPs, is command/subcommand focused, concise, adheres to the CommonMark and GFM specs, while also providing the more widespread WikiLink support other note-taking apps provide. I hope I did in fact accomplish this for you as well as for me and if I have not then please create an issue! Thanks for reading this :).

🫰 Other Cool Markdown-related Plugins

• obsidian.nvim
• markdown-plus
• mkdnflow.nvim
• markdown.nvim

Tests

Using mini.test for testing. For this project, if you want to run the tests then you need to install mini.test as a plugin locally. This was done to minimise dependencies in the repo. If you're not using lazy then you need to specify the mini.test location, using the mini_path variable in scripts/minimal_init.lua. To run the tests execute the following command in the project root,

nvim --headless --noplugin -u ./scripts/minimal_init.lua -c "lua MiniTest.run()"