Fulvid

Product Introduction

1. Definition: Fulvid is an open-source, standalone desktop application (built with Electrobun, Vite, and Monaco Editor) specifically designed as a filesystem-first Markdown and MDX editor. It operates as a native desktop application for Linux, Windows, and macOS, treating local .md, .markdown, and .mdx files as the single source of truth.
2. Core Value Proposition: Fulvid exists to provide a lightweight, portable, and non-proprietary editing environment for users who manage knowledge bases, documentation, or notes in plain Markdown and MDX files on their local disk. Its primary value is enabling frictionless editing without lock-in, cloud dependencies, or converting documents into a proprietary vault format, ensuring maximum portability and interoperability with other tools and version control systems like Git.

Main Features

1. Filesystem-First Architecture: Fulvid has no internal database or proprietary file format. It reads from and writes directly to standard Markdown/MDX files on your disk. This means all changes are saved as plain text, and documents remain fully accessible and usable by any other text editor, static site generator (like Next.js, Astro, or Gatsby), or Large Language Model (LLM) workflow. The application acts as a guest on your filesystem.
2. Dual-Format Editor for Markdown and MDX: Fulvid natively supports editing both standard Markdown (.md) and MDX (.mdx) files within the same interface. Crucially, it treats MDX as source code—syntax highlighting JSX and MDX constructs—but does not attempt to compile, execute, or render React components within the app. This preserves MDX as a portable source file for external build pipelines.
3. Inert Preview and Local Graph Navigation: The preview pane renders Markdown to formatted HTML for readability but is deliberately inert: it escapes embedded HTML, does not fetch remote images, and does not execute MDX/JSX. The Graph view provides visual navigation based on actual resolved links between documents in the opened folder, creating a map of your knowledge base without inferring or scoring connections.
4. Session-Local Document Annotations: Users can pin temporary, line-specific notes called "document annotations" via Quick Actions or the glyph margin. These annotations are session-local; they are never written to the disk file and disappear when the tab is closed, making them ideal for transient thoughts or editing notes without polluting the source document.
5. Controlled Extension System: Fulvid supports local extensions (packs) that add commands, templates, or text transforms. These extensions are installed as ordinary files in the user data directory and operate within a bounded security model, meaning they do not have unrestricted access to the filesystem, network, or live editor state, prioritizing safety and inspectability.

Problems Solved

1. Pain Point: Vendor lock-in and data portability issues common with many modern note-taking apps (like Obsidian, Notion, or Evernote) that use proprietary databases or cloud-synced vaults. Fulvid solves this by ensuring your notes are always standard, portable files on disk.
2. Target Audience: Technical writers, developers, and open knowledge enthusiasts who maintain documentation in Git repositories; users who work with MDX-based static sites (e.g., using Docusaurus, Contentlayer) and need a dedicated editor; individuals who prioritize local-first, privacy-focused software and want to avoid subscription models.
3. Use Cases: Editing a local folder of documentation for a software project; writing and linking personal knowledge base (PKM) notes stored as plain Markdown; preparing MDX content for a static site without running a full dev server; quickly reviewing and annotating Markdown files without altering the original source.

Unique Advantages

1. Differentiation: Unlike Obsidian (which uses a proprietary .obsidian config folder and plugin ecosystem) or cloud-based editors, Fulvid has zero lock-in and no account requirement. Unlike VS Code with Markdown extensions, Fulvid is a focused, standalone tool with built-in features like document graph and annotations without the overhead of a full IDE. Unlike MDX playgrounds, it does not execute code, keeping the focus on source editing.
2. Key Innovation: Its strict adherence to the "source-first" principle for MDX. By refusing to compile or execute MDX within the editor, Fulvid guarantees that the file on disk is the canonical source, perfectly compatible with external build tools. This eliminates a layer of abstraction and potential divergence between what you edit and what gets built.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is Fulvid free and open source? Yes, Fulvid is completely free and open-source software released under the MIT License. The entire source code is available on GitHub, allowing for auditing, modification, and self-hosting.
2. Can I use Fulvid with my existing Obsidian or Zettelkasten vault? Yes, if your vault consists of standard Markdown files (.md), you can open the vault folder directly in Fulvid. However, Fulvid will not read Obsidian-specific settings, plugins, or dataview queries, as it only interacts with the raw text files.
3. Does Fulvid sync my notes across devices? No, Fulvid is a local desktop application with no built-in sync functionality. Synchronization must be handled by the user via third-party services like Dropbox, Google Drive, or, more appropriately, through a version control system like Git.
4. How does Fulvid handle wikilinks or backlinks? Fulvid supports wikilink syntax ([[Link]]) as an alternative link resolution mode, but you must select either standard Markdown links or wikilinks for a session. It shows resolved links in the Graph view but does not automatically create files for broken links or generate inferred backlinks.
5. Is Fulvid suitable for writing MDX with interactive React components? Fulvid is excellent for writing the source code of MDX files, including JSX. However, it will not render or preview interactive React components. For that, you need a dedicated development server (like Vite or Next.js) in your project. Fulvid keeps the editing and runtime concerns separate.