# Command Line Utility

The `mk` command-line tool provides easy access to Marked’s features from the terminal, enabling workflow automation and integration with shell scripts and other command-line tools.

Contents

- Installation
- Basic Usage
- Command Reference
- Examples
- Integration
- Open Source
- Version
- Related Features

## Installation

The recommended way to install `mk` is with Homebrew:

    brew tap ttscoff/thelab
    brew install ttscoff/thelab/mk

If you do not use Homebrew, download and install the signed package:

⇩ Download
Signed PKG installer for mk. Double-click to launch Installer and follow the prompts.

After downloading `mk.pkg`, double-click it and follow the installer prompts.

## Basic Usage

### Opening Files

Open a markdown file in Marked from the command line:

    mk file.md
    mk ~/Documents/notes.md
    mk --raise document.md  # Open and raise window above all others

### Streaming Content from STDIN

Stream content directly to Marked’s Streaming Preview:

    echo "# Hello World" | mk
    cat notes.md | mk
    mk -  # Explicitly use STDIN

The Streaming Preview window will open and display the content in real-time as it’s piped from other commands.

## Command Reference

### File Operations

`mk [file]` — Open a markdown file in Marked

`mk [file] --raise` — Open file and raise the window above all others

### STDIN and Streaming

`mk` or `mk -` — Read from STDIN and open Streaming Preview

`mk --stream` — Open Streaming Preview window without reading STDIN

### Preview Management

`mk --refresh` — Refresh the frontmost preview window

`mk --refresh all` — Refresh all open preview windows

`mk --refresh file.md` — Refresh the preview for a specific file (if open)

### Preferences

`mk --pref` — Open Marked preferences (General page)

`mk --pref Advanced` — Open preferences to a specific page

`mk --defaults KEY=VALUE [KEY=VALUE...]` — Set user preferences (multiple pairs allowed)

    mk --defaults syntaxHighlight=1 includeMathJax=0 processor=multimarkdown

### Style Management

`mk --style NAME` — Set preview style for open windows

`mk --add-style FILE` — Add a CSS file as a custom style to Marked

    mk --add-style ~/Styles/custom.css

### JavaScript Execution

`mk --dojs "JAVASCRIPT_COMMAND"` — Run JavaScript in frontmost window

`mk --dojs "SCRIPT" all` — Run JavaScript in all windows

`mk --dojs "SCRIPT" file.md` — Run JavaScript in specific file(s)

    mk --dojs "window.scrollTo(0,0)"
    mk --dojs "alert('Hello')" all

### Content Extraction and Import

`mk --extract URL` — Extract content from URL and open in Marked

    mk --extract https://example.com/article

`mk --importurl [URL]` — Open Import URL window (optionally with URL)

`mk --stylestealer [URL]` — Open Style Stealer HUD (optionally with URL)

### Utility Commands

`mk --paste` — Create new document from clipboard

`mk --preview TEXT` — Preview text directly in a new document

`mk --dingus` — Open Markdown Dingus for testing processors

`mk --help` or `mk -h` — Show usage information

`mk --version` or `mk -v` — Show version information

## Examples

    # Open a file
    mk document.md

    # Stream markdown from a file
    cat notes.md | mk

    # Process and preview
    grep -i "important" notes.md | mk

    # Refresh all previews
    mk --refresh all

    # Add a custom style
    mk --add-style ~/Documents/MyTheme.css

    # Set preferences
    mk --defaults syntaxHighlight=1 processor=multimarkdown

    # Run JavaScript in all windows
    mk --dojs "window.scrollTo(0,0)" all

    # Extract content from a webpage
    mk --extract https://blog.example.com/article

    # Preview text directly
    mk --preview "## Hello\n\nThis is **markdown** text!"

## Integration

### Shell Aliases

Add to your `~/.zshrc` or `~/.bash_profile`:

    alias mko='mk --raise'      # Open with raise
    alias mkr='mk --refresh all' # Refresh all

### Scripts

Use `mk` in shell scripts for automation:

    #!/bin/bash
    # Watch a file and stream changes to Marked
    fswatch -o document.md | while read; do
      cat document.md | mk
    done

### Workflows

Combine with other tools:

    # Convert clipboard to markdown and preview
    pbpaste | markdown | mk

    # Search and preview
    grep -r "TODO" . | head -20 | mk

## Open Source

The `mk` command-line tool is open source and available on GitHub:

https://github.com/ttscoff/mk

You can:

- View the source code
- Contribute improvements
- Report issues
- Build from source if needed

The tool is written in Swift and can be compiled using Xcode. See the README for build instructions.

## Version

Check your installed `mk` version with:

    mk --version

## Related Features

- See URL Handler for more information about Marked’s URL scheme
- See Streaming Preview for details on the streaming preview feature
- See Workflow Integration for automation examples

#### Next up: Workflow Integration ▶

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