FlipMD

FlipMD is a lightweight markdown viewer and editor for Windows, built to fill the gap between “open VS Code” and “open Notepad”.

The Problem

You’re working on a project and want to quickly check a README or CLAUDE.md file. Your options:

• VS Code: Opens the whole IDE, loads extensions, takes a few seconds. Overkill for just reading.
• Notepad: Instant, but you’re staring at raw markdown with no formatting. Hard to scan.
• Browser-based viewers: Need to upload or paste. Friction.

None of these are quite right for the simple case: “I just want to read this markdown file, nicely rendered, right now.”

The Solution

FlipMD opens markdown files quickly, renders them properly, and lets you make quick edits without ceremony. It’s a native Windows app that:

• Opens fast - no IDE startup time
• Renders markdown with proper formatting
• Supports quick edits when you spot a typo
• Stays out of your way

How It Works

Double-click a .md file (once you’ve set the file association), and FlipMD opens it rendered. Want to edit? Flip to edit mode, make your change, save. Done.

The “flip” in the name comes from this view-switching: rendered view for reading, source view for editing.

Design Philosophy

Do one thing well: This isn’t trying to be a markdown IDE or a note-taking app. It’s a viewer with just enough editing capability to be useful.

Native feel: It’s a Windows app, not an Electron wrapper around a web page. Opens fast, uses system conventions.

Scratching my own itch: I built this because I kept reaching for something that didn’t exist. Now it does.

Use Cases

• Reviewing README files before committing
• Checking CLAUDE.md or other project documentation
• Quick edits to markdown notes
• Reading markdown exports from other tools

A small utility for a small problem - exactly as it should be.