Russell White
All play

AVAILABLE NOW · OPEN SOURCE

MACOS APP · SWIFTUI · BUILT WITH CODEX

Turning documents into Markdown without sending them anywhere.

A free, open-source Mac app I designed and built with Codex to turn text, files, and folders into Markdown.

Download for macOSView source on GitHub
VERSION
0.1.2
SYSTEM
macOS 14+
TRUST
Apple notarized

Before: four steps. After: one window.

BEFORE · CHATBOT WORKAROUND

4 steps

upload, prompt, check, copy

  1. 01Paste the document into a chatbot
  2. 02Write a conversion prompt
  3. 03Check the generated Markdown
  4. 04Copy the result back

The document leaves the Mac.

AFTER · MARKDOWN MAKER

1 window

source and Markdown together

Markdown Maker Quick Paste in a single native Mac window

Nothing is uploaded.

The project in one minute

I kept using the same workaround: paste a document into a chatbot, ask for Markdown, then copy the result back. It worked, but the task was small and the detour was not.

Markdown Maker keeps the job on the Mac. Paste text, choose a file, or drop a folder. Check the result, then copy or save it.

ROLE
Product design and SwiftUI
BUILD PARTNER
Codex
PRIVACY
No account or network requests
RELEASE
Free, notarized download

Codex accelerated the build. UX judgment shaped the product.

MarkdownMaker / BulkExportView.swift

DropZone(
  title: "Drop files here",
  subtitle: "Whole folders work too.",
  systemImage: "tray.and.arrow.down.fill"
) { urls in
  store.addBulkFiles(urls)
}

Picker("Output") {
  Text("Separate files")
  Text("One Markdown")
}

Built with Codex · verified in Xcode

AI-ASSISTED BUILD

I used Codex to turn a recurring workflow problem into a working SwiftUI app.

I BROUGHT
The problem, interaction model, hierarchy, privacy bar, and what to cut.
CODEX HELPED BUILD
SwiftUI views, conversion logic, tests, and release cleanup.

The tool added speed. UX judgment supplied direction.

THREE DECISIONS

Three decisions kept the app small.

PROBLEM

Remove the prompt.

Conversion starts with the content, not instructions to a chatbot.

INTERFACE

Show both sides.

The source and Markdown stay visible until the result is ready.

SCALE

Repeat one pattern.

Paste, file, and batch conversion use the same sequence.

Paste. Check. Copy.

Quick Paste showing the source above its Markdown result with copy and save actions

  1. Source stays visible

    Compare what went in.

  2. Markdown sits below

    Check what came out.

  3. Copy or save

    Take the result when it is ready.

The toolbar puts every conversion one click away.

TOP TOOLBAR SHORTCUT

The modes I use most stay at the top.

Quick Paste
One File
Bulk Convert

QUICK PASTE

Clean up loose text or copied content.

ONE FILE

Drop a PDF, DOCX, RTF, HTML, or TXT.

BULK CONVERT

Convert a folder or ZIP in one pass.

Nothing leaves the Mac.

INPUT

Text
Files
Folders

ON THE MAC

Markdown Maker

OUTPUT

Markdown

No upload. No account. No analytics.

PDFKit, textutil, and the app’s converter run locally.

What shipped

Version 0.1.2 is public on GitHub as a signed, Apple-notarized Mac app with the full SwiftUI source and an MIT license.

People can download it, drag it to Applications, and use it without Xcode or an account.

Download for macOS
VERSION
0.1.2
LICENSE
MIT
SOURCE
github.com/th3quietloop/MarkdownMaker

REFLECTION

The useful part was removing the detour.

I started with my own workaround, then designed the smallest product that could replace it.