MiaoYan Blog
Notes on writing in plain Markdown and keeping notes as local files, by Tw93.
Writing in Markdown
Syntax, math, diagrams and slides in plain Markdown files.
Choosing a Markdown editor for Mac
What to check in a Mac Markdown editor: plain files, WYSIWYG or split preview, math, sync and speed, with Typora, Obsidian, VS Code and MiaoYan compared.
Markdown cheat sheet: CommonMark, GFM and extensions
The Markdown syntax you actually use, with examples, what CommonMark and GFM each define, and what MiaoYan renders on top.
LaTeX math in Markdown: syntax, KaTeX and pitfalls
Write inline and block math in Markdown, use common LaTeX constructs, avoid dollar and underscore pitfalls, and see how MiaoYan renders KaTeX.
Mermaid diagrams in Markdown: flowchart, sequence, Gantt
Draw flowcharts, sequence and Gantt diagrams with fenced Mermaid blocks, plus PlantUML and Markmap, and what MiaoYan renders offline.
Markdown to slides: --- separators and MiaoYan PPT mode
Turn a Markdown note into a slide deck with --- separators, configure reveal.js options, and compare Marp, reveal.js and Slidev.
Typora alternative for Mac: split preview with MiaoYan
Why people leave Typora, WYSIWYG versus split preview, what carries over (files, math, images) and where each app is stronger.
Managing notes
Keep notes as local files, link them, sync them and find them again.
Local-first Markdown notes: keep them as plain files
Why plain Markdown files in your own folder beat a locked-in notes app, what it costs, and how MiaoYan reads the folder you choose.
Sync Markdown notes across devices without a sync service
Use iCloud Drive, Nutstore, Dropbox or git to sync a Markdown notes folder, set MiaoYan's Note Location, and avoid conflict copies.
Wikilinks and backlinks in Markdown notes
How [[wikilinks]] differ from normal Markdown links, what MiaoYan supports, how backlinks are built, and the portability trade-offs.
Markdown notes from the terminal with the miao CLI
Install the miao CLI, learn open, new, search, list and cat, script them, and use them with AI coding agents and the MiaoYan skill.
A lighter Obsidian alternative for Mac
What MiaoYan has and leaves out compared with Obsidian, how to open a vault, and which syntax carries over.
Markdown note version history: MiaoYan, Time Machine, git
How MiaoYan saves and restores note versions, where they live, their limits, and how Time Machine and git cover what it does not.