mdmap

mdmap is a web application for writing markdown files and instantly visualising them as hierarchical mindmaps without sacrificing detailed information.

mdmap offers non-standard cool features :

• cross-node lines
• hover notes
• plain markdown files and rendered images in persistent storage
• additional content such as deep documentation / thought captures are not rendered in the map but are available in the markdown source.

It is packaged for deployment on Cloudron as a single user app with authentication handled by the Cloudron proxyAuth addon — no separate login.

Written from scratch after inspration from MarkMap.

Key features:

• Edit markdown source with a built-in text editor
• Three view modes: Edit (markdown only), Split (markdown + mindmap side by side), Preview (mindmap only)
• Split mode defaults to 30% editor / 70% canvas; the divider is draggable (15–55%) and the last ratio is remembered per-user
• Multiple top-level # headings in one file render as independent root nodes on a canvas (level-1 nodes are never connected to each other)
• Styled nodes via inline markdown metadata placed directly below a heading: - bgcolor:, - fgcolor:, - corner: square|round, - line: solid|dots — all of these cascade down to children that don't override them
• Per-root layout switch: add - layout: square under a level-1 # heading to render that root balanced (root centered, children split around it); declare nothing or - layout: default for the standard left-to-right tree. Per-root, so you can mix styles in one file.
• Cross-links between any nodes on any branches/levels: write - base: TargetHeading and - link: SourceHeading on the same heading, with optional - linkcolor: color. A sparse dotted bezier is drawn from the source node to the target with a small arrow at the destination end.
• Hover notes: add - note: free text under any heading to attach a tooltip; a small i badge appears on the node so you know which items carry notes (notes do not cascade)
• Tapering edge thickness: thicker lines for level 1 → 2, thinning at each subsequent parent→child level; each edge uses the child node's accent color and dash style
• Pan by dragging the canvas background, zoom with the mouse wheel, double-click anywhere to zoom in at that point, plus on-screen zoom controls (+, −, fit) in the top-right
• Keyboard zoom shortcuts: +/=/numpad + in, −/numpad − out
• Full-canvas image export — renders the full mindmap at its native size (no current pan/zoom letterboxing) to SVG, PNG, or JPG, including cross-links and layout styles, saved directly into the app's image library
• ? help button to the right of Export opens an in-app metadata reference, so the bundled welcome.md can be deleted without losing documentation
• All data is stored as plain markdown files and images in persistent storage
• User preferences (last view mode, last opened file, split ratio) are remembered in a local SQLite settings database