# instant-markdown/vim-instant-markdown

Instant Markdown previews from Vim

Repository: https://github.com/instant-markdown/vim-instant-markdown
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/vim-instant-markdown
Homepage: https://instant-markdown.github.io
Language: Vim Script
License: NOASSERTION
License Family: other
Topics: vim, markdown
Last push: 2026-07-23T18:50:18+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 75/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 94, release rhythm 35, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 5318, "days_push": 41, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: no_releases, no_license
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 2752, forks 245 (observed 2026-08-28T04:07:18.089269+00:00)

## What it is
A Vim plugin that opens a browser window showing a real-time compiled preview of the markdown file currently being edited in Vim, closing when the file is closed. It supports GitHub-flavored markdown and renders with GitHub's styling, backed by a Node.js or Python mini-server.

## Use cases
- preview markdown files live while editing in vim
- see github-flavored markdown rendered as I type
- write README files with instant browser preview
- avoid switching to a browser text area to check markdown
- preview markdown notes in real time from my editor

## When to choose
- you write markdown in Vim or Neovim and want instant browser preview
- you want GitHub-style rendering including GFM features
- you prefer a lightweight editor plugin over a full markdown editor

## When to avoid
- you use Neovim and prefer the native Lua rewrite instant-markdown.nvim
- you don't want to install Node.js or a mini-server dependency
- you need offline preview without a local server or browser

## Facets
- artifact type: plugin
- maturity: active
- function: markdown, documentation, developer-tools
- domain: text-editors, documentation, developer-tools, web-development
- platform: windows, editor-plugin, browser
- tags: vim, neovim, live-preview, markdown-preview, github-flavored-markdown, editor-plugin, linux, macos, nodejs

## Member repositories
- instant-markdown/vim-instant-markdown (main) score 75

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:18.089269+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T08:18:54.975766+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/instant-markdown/vim-instant-markdown (fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:18.089269+00:00, sha 2cb1ef5e974c)
  - homepage: https://instant-markdown.github.io (fetched 2026-08-29T09:56:49.080137+00:00, sha e004b35e9215)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.