How to build a markdown editor using JavaScript, Neutralino, HTML/CSS

Build Markharbor, a desktop markdown editor with live preview, open/save, and packaging notes with JavaScript, Neutralino, HTML/CSS.

  • Difficulty Intermediate
  • Parts 12
  • Stack JavaScript, Neutralino, HTML/CSS

What you are building

Markharbor is a markdown editor you assemble in twelve short stages. The teaching stack is Neutralino (JavaScript, Neutralino, HTML/CSS). By the end you should understand the shell, the data you persist, and the everyday workflows people expect from this kind of app.

Neutralino is a lighter alternative to Electron: a native webview with a small Go/ native backend for file access.

Split editor and live preview panes. Keep filesystem calls behind Neutralino APIs instead of Node’s fs.

Work in order. Early folders are intentionally small so you can see the window (or server) boot before features pile on. From the data-layer part onward, each snapshot should still run after you install dependencies.

How to use these lessons

Read the goal, clone the matching GitHub folder, run it, then skim the code against the notes below. If something fails, fix the run path first—most “bugs” on day one are the wrong directory or a skipped install.

Open the Markharbor GitHub repo →

Parts in order

Each chapter below is one checkpoint. Open a part when you are ready for that feature—not all at once.