MarkView — Claude Code MCP server: what it does, how to install
Renders Markdown and Mermaid diagrams in a native macOS window while Claude Code writes. Runs on Swift and SwiftUI without Electron overhead.
claude mcp add markview -- npx -y mcp-server-markviewWhat MarkView does
MarkView pairs your AI coding agent with a native macOS rendering utility written in Swift. When Claude Code generates documentation, the server streams the output directly into a desktop window. There is no Electron overhead.
The MCP integration exposes two tools: preview_markdown for arbitrary text and open_file for local documents. Rendering handles GitHub Flavored Markdown tables alongside Mermaid diagrams. Code blocks receive syntax highlighting across 18 languages. A built-in linter checks formatting against 9 rules.
Because the viewer relies on SwiftUI, it functions strictly on macOS. Compiling manually demands macOS 14 and Swift 6.0, though Homebrew provides notarized app builds.
What it helps with
- preview AI-generated Markdown in real time without opening a browser
- display Mermaid diagrams directly from Claude Code sessions
- inspect markdown files in a native macOS window without Electron
- validate markdown formatting with built-in linter diagnostics
Example prompts for the agent
- Render the generated release notes in MarkView
- Use MarkView to open docs/index.md
- Preview this table and Mermaid workflow diagram in a native window
How to install MarkView
Platform CLI
claude mcp add markview -- npx -y mcp-server-markviewPlatform CLI
codex mcp add markview -- npx -y mcp-server-markviewConfig file
{
"mcpServers": {
"markview": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-server-markview"
]
}
}
}Config file
{
"servers": {
"markview": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-server-markview"
]
}
}
}Platform CLI
gemini mcp add markview npx -y mcp-server-markviewStep by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about MarkView
How to install MarkView in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add markview -- npx -y mcp-server-markview in your terminal. This registers the stdio server via npx for your Claude Code sessions.
Which tools does the MarkView MCP server provide?
It registers two tools: preview_markdown to stream text directly into the preview window and open_file to load existing .md files.
Can MarkView run on Windows or Linux?
No. The desktop preview application is built specifically for macOS using Swift and SwiftUI, requiring macOS 14 or later.
