MCP Server

MCP server for MarkView — preview Markdown files in a native macOS viewer

Local serverstdio

What is the MCP MCP server?

MCP server for MarkView — preview Markdown files in a native macOS viewer. That is what the mcp mcp server brings to an AI assistant: the same capability, reachable through the Model Context Protocol rather than a separate app or dashboard.

The short version

Native macOS markdown preview with MCP server for Claude Code. Claude writes markdown — MarkView renders it live, in a real native window, while you work.

  • GitHub Flavored Markdown — via swift-cmark (tables, strikethrough, autolinks, task lists, footnotes)
  • Mermaid diagrams — — flowcharts, sequence, Gantt, ER, and pie charts
  • Syntax highlighting — via Prism.js (18 languages)
  • Quick Look integration — — spacebar-preview .md files in Finder without opening the app
  • Markdown linting — with 9 built-in rules and status bar diagnostics
  • Live split-pane editor — with WKWebView rendering and bidirectional scroll sync

The tools it exposes

The server publishes 2 tools. What each one is for:

  • Finder — Right-click any .md, .markdown, .mdown, .mkd file > Open With > MarkView
  • Programmatic — The Programmatic tool exposed by this server

Getting it running

The server ships on npm as mcp-server-markview, so your MCP client can launch it on demand — there is no separate build step. Add the server block to your client's configuration, restart it, and the tools register themselves.

How it compares

Among the developer tooling options, the useful question is rarely "what can it do" but "what does it cost you to run" — permissions, credentials, and how much of your context its toolset consumes. MCP's toolset — Finder, Programmatic — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by GitHub Actions; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

This entry was verified against MCP's own documentation before publication; SyncDev keeps the directory reviewed rather than auto-generated.

Things to watch

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
FinderRight-click any .md, .markdown, .mdown, .mkd file > **Open With** > **MarkView**
ProgrammaticThe Programmatic tool exposed by this server.

How to install the MCP MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "markview": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-server-markview"]
    }
  }
}

Add to claude_desktop_config.json, then restart Claude Desktop.

Example prompts to try

  • Use MCP to Finder.
  • Use MCP to Programmatic.

Frequently asked questions

It connects MCP to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 2 tools (Finder, Programmatic) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with MCP directly.