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SnapDock — Writing & Editing

SnapDock — Writing & Editing

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Introduction

This guide covers how to write, edit, and preview Markdown within SnapDock. From basic formatting to tabbed editing and live preview, this page explains the core workflow of creating documents in a clean, distraction‑free environment.

Markdown Features

SnapDock supports a wide range of Markdown features through its Markdown‑it engine:

  • Headings
  • Bold & italic text
  • Lists (ordered and unordered)
  • Tables
  • Code blocks
  • Blockquotes
  • Links & images
  • Callouts
  • Footnotes

Everything renders instantly in the live preview panel, matching the selected theme.

Note: More advanced rendering will be added when it can be introduced safely and stably without impacting performance or editor reliability.


Live Preview

SnapDock uses a toggled live preview rather than real‑time preview. This means you write in pure Markdown and switch to the rendered view when needed:

  • Press Show Preview to switch from the editor to the rendered Markdown view
  • Press Edit Markdown to return to the editor
  • The preview uses the same Markdown‑it engine that powers exports
  • The preview always reflects your current theme

This approach keeps the editor fast, stable, and distraction‑free while giving you full control over when you view the formatted result.


Editor Layout

The editor is designed to stay out of your way:

  • Clean typography
  • Minimal chrome
  • No cluttered toolbars
  • Predictable spacing
  • Stable cursor behavior

SnapDock behaves like a traditional writing app but with the flexibility of Markdown.


Tabs & Workspace History

SnapDock uses a tabbed interface for managing multiple documents:

  • New Tab: Creates a fresh document
  • Closing a Tab: Does not delete the file; you can reopen it from the Recent Files panel
  • Recent Files: (Above the file tree) lets you reopen closed tabs instantly

Tabs include a save‑state indicator:

  • Red dot: Unsaved
  • Yellow dot: Saved once, but new edits exist
  • Green dot: Fully saved

This makes it easy to manage multiple documents without losing track of changes.


Editing Tips

A few small details that make writing smoother:

  • SnapDock auto‑focuses the editor when you open a file
  • Undo/redo works across tabs
  • The editor remembers your scroll position
  • Switching themes updates both editor and preview instantly

More advanced editing features will be documented here as SnapDock evolves.