features · v1.0.21

Everything Mudlark does.

Mudlark is twenty prefixes, an escape character, two inline notations for note links and embeds, and a stack of small quality-of-life features.

01 / basics

The eight basics.

#
Heading
section
Creates a section heading. Everything below it groups under that heading on the right.
# Project Notes→Project Notes
+
Task
todo item
Adds an unchecked task. Tasks float to the top of their section on the right.
+ Buy groceries→☐ Buy groceries
−
Done
action
Checks off a task by fuzzy-matching its name. Content after the space is the task name to match. Use _ to remove items of any other type.
- buy gr→☑ Buy groceries
!
Highlight
emphasis
Marks a line as important. Rendered bold and prominent on the right.
! Demo is at 3pm→Demo is at 3pm
"
Quote
block
Wraps a line in a styled blockquote with a left border.
" Simple things should be simple→“Simple things should be simple”
*
Bullet
list item
Creates a bullet point. Multiple bullets form a list under the nearest heading.
* Bring the good coffee→• Bring the good coffee
%
Numbered
ordered list
Creates a numbered list item. Auto-numbered on the right side.
% First step→1. First step
@
Media
media
Embeds an image or video from a file path, URL, or dropped file.
@ photo.jpg→[image: photo.jpg]

02 / advanced

Thirteen more.

`
Code
syntax-highlighted
A line of code. Add a language hint right after the prefix for syntax highlighting.
`js console.log("hello")→console.log("hello")
=
Math
inline eval
Evaluates a math expression inline. Unit-aware arithmetic across lengths, weights, times, and temperatures. Variables and constants (pi, e) included.
= 100 km to mi→62.14 mi
:
Timer
countdown
Starts a countdown timer. Phases separate with commas, as in 5m work, 5m rest. A mode word glued to the prefix changes the clock: :repeat starts over each time it finishes, :repeat4 stops after four cycles, :alarm 15:30 waits for a time or a date, and :since 2026-06-01 counts up from one. Mudlark can notify you when a timer ends, if you turn that on in Settings.
: 25m→25:00 ▶
&
Table
row
Creates a table row. Use | to separate columns. First row becomes the header.
& Name | Role | Status→Name | Role | Status
>
Move
relocate
Re-parents an item to the current section by type and fuzzy match. Requires a type prefix. Add @ to send to a specific section (e.g. > + fix or > + fix @ Home). Double the type prefix (> ++ name) to move a whole named block instead of one item.
> + fix bug→[moved: fix bug]
.
Write-to
write-to
Creates a new item under an @ destination heading (e.g. . + milk @ Shopping). An optional type prefix sets the item type; without one, the line is written as plain text.
. + eggs @ Shopping→[added to Shopping]
_
Remove
Removes an item or section by type and fuzzy match (e.g. _ ! ship or _ # old). The inner type prefix needs its own trailing space. Double the inner prefix (_ ++ name) to remove a whole named block. That is the only way to target composite blocks like code, tables, or math.
_ ! ship→[highlight removed]
/
Comment
private
A private note that only appears on the left side. Never rendered on the right.
/ todo: revisit this later→(hidden)
~
Rule
separator
Draws a horizontal rule. Completions and moves cannot cross it. Add a label to center text on the rule.
~ Chapter 2→——— Chapter 2 ———
,
Find
search
Searches content above. Add | replacement to replace all matches. Add @ heading to scope to a section.
, search | replace→[3 replaced]
^
Footnote
footnote
Defines a footnote. Drop a bare ^ at the end of a word (no space) to attach a sentinel. On its own line, ^ text defines the footnote. Sentinels and definitions pair by source order.
^ The cat was orange.→¹ The cat was orange.
\
Escape
literal
Makes the rest of the line plain text. Bypasses all prefix parsing.
\ + Not a task→+ Not a task
$
Metadata
metadata chip
Per-note metadata surfaced as a chip in the rendered pane. Use key=value rows like $ tags=trip, $ source=https://… or free-form notes like $ remember the shipping address.
$ tags=lisbon, trip→[tags: lisbon, trip]

capabilities

Twenty more capabilities.

Quick capture
⌥Space opens a capture bar over any app. ⌥⇧Space pre-fills it from the clipboard.
Note links
Link notes to each other. Renames keep every link in sync.
Today's note
Opens a note titled with today's date and creates it if none exists.
Inline embeds
Drop images, video, math, code, and live timers into any sentence.
Table formulas
Tables can do arithmetic. Total a column or a row. The text keeps the formula.
Media galleries
Lay photos and video out in justified rows, no cropping.
Live timers
Countdowns can repeat and tick inside any sentence.
20 themes
Ten light, ten dark. Or build your own with the theme builder.
Export
Send notes and tasks to 12+ destinations.
Automation
Control Mudlark from Apple Shortcuts and mudlark:// URLs.
Custom shortcuts
Rebind every keystroke and change the prefix characters.
Reader mode
Show only the rendered view of a note.
Window pinning
Pin above other windows to keep Mudlark visible.
Inline formatting
Italic, bold, and code styling inside any line.
Smart typography
Arrows, fractions, symbols, and smart quotes convert as you type.
Spell check
Underlines mistakes as you type and skips code.
Custom callouts
Make your own line type with a prefix, icon, and color.
Category order
Reorder or hide item categories in the rendered pane.
Note pinning
Pin notes to protect them from auto-cleanup.
Cheat sheet
Full reference for every prefix and shortcut (⌃⌘/).