Neon Vision Editor
A native editor for markdown, notes, and code across macOS, iPhone, and iPad.
Minimal by design. Quick edits, fast file access, no IDE bloat.
Download: GitHub Releases · App Store · TestFlight
Status: active release
Latest release: v0.7.2 Next release target: v0.7.3 Platform target: macOS 26 (Tahoe) compatible with macOS Sequoia Apple Silicon: tested / Intel: not tested Direct GitHub release: v0.7.2 / App Store approved: v0.6.7 / App Store review pending: v0.7.2 Last updated (README): 2026-05-28 for latest release v0.7.2
- v0.7.2 separates a focused editor visibility feature from bugfix work: indentation guides are optional and off by default, while wrap/no-wrap and Markdown editing fixes improve existing behavior.
- v0.7.1 polishes the full editor chrome with a cleaner rounded UI system for document tabs, sidebars, TOC, minimap, and Markdown preview.
- Together, the releases make everyday editing smoother across macOS, iOS, and iPadOS while keeping the app lightweight and sandbox-friendly.
- Added optional indentation guides for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS editors.
- Kept indentation guides disabled by default so existing editor appearance and behavior do not change after updating.
- Added Indentation Guides controls to appearance toolbar menus and editor settings.
- Improved wrap/no-wrap mode changes so scroll position is preserved and horizontal scrolling is restored where expected.
- Fixed no-wrap editor sizing so long lines can use horizontal scrolling on macOS and iOS/iPadOS.
- Fixed iOS editor inset synchronization to avoid drift between the text area, line numbers, and scroll indicators.
- Fixed Return handling in Markdown lists so populated list items continue with the current marker and normalized indentation.
- Refined the project sidebar, TOC sidebar, document tabs, editor edges, minimap container, and Markdown preview with more consistent rounded corners, cleaner outlines, and fewer conflicting divider lines.
- Improved translucent mode backgrounds so gaps between editor, preview, minimap, and sidebars stay readable instead of becoming overly transparent.
- Reduced iPhone/iPad spacing in TOC and project rows, removed the iOS/iPad document-tab separator line, and made tab fade behavior appear only when TOC overlap actually needs it.
- Made TOC items more distinct with stronger symbol styling, language-aware entries, line badges, and cleaner row presentation for Swift and other supported file types.
- Routed the macOS toolbar Terminal button to the existing sidebar Terminal tab instead of opening a separate terminal window, preserving the current terminal session while switching tabs.
- Removed simulated Apple Intelligence completion output so completions rely on the real Apple Foundation Models path instead of placeholder text.
- Jump: Install | Features | Contributing
- Quick install: GitHub Releases, App Store, TestFlight
- Need help quickly: Troubleshooting | FAQ | Known Issues
git clone https://github.com/h3pdesign/Neon-Vision-Editor.gitcd Neon-Vision-Editorxcodebuild -project "Neon Vision Editor.xcodeproj" -scheme "Neon Vision Editor" -destination 'platform=macOS,name=My Mac' buildopen "Neon Vision Editor.xcodeproj"and run, then useCmd+Pfor Quick Open.
| For | Not For |
|---|---|
| Fast native editing across macOS, iOS, iPadOS | Full IDE workflows with deep refactoring/debugger stacks |
| Markdown writing and script/config edits with highlighting | Teams that require complete Intel Mac validation today |
| Users who want low overhead and quick file access | Users expecting full desktop-IDE parity on iPhone |
Start Here · Release Channels · Core Workflows · Download Metrics · Project Documentation · Features
Release Spotlight · Platform Matrix · Roadmap (Near Term) · Troubleshooting · FAQ · Changelog · Contributing Quickstart · Support & Feedback
| Channel | Best for | Delivery | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct notarized builds and fastest stable updates | GitHub Releases | v0.7.2 current | |
| Apple-managed install/update flow | App Store | v0.6.7 approved; v0.7.2 pending review | |
| Early testing of upcoming changes | TestFlight | Newest beta availability may vary by review state |
Release Download + Traffic Trend
Styled line chart shows per-release totals with 14-day traffic counters for clones and views.
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
CHANGELOG.md |
Full release history and milestone issue coverage |
CONTRIBUTING.md |
Local setup, build, and contribution workflow |
PRIVACY.md |
Privacy guarantees and data-handling policy |
SECURITY.md |
Security policy and responsible disclosure |
release/ |
TestFlight, App Store, and release preflight checklists |
| Best For | Why Neon Vision Editor |
|---|---|
| Quick note takers | Fast native startup and low UI overhead for quick edits |
| Markdown-focused writers | Clean editing with quick preview workflows on Apple devices |
| Developers editing scripts/config files | Syntax highlighting + fast file navigation without full IDE complexity |
| Advantage | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Faster startup | Lower overhead for short edit sessions |
| Focused surface | Editor-first workflow without project-system bloat |
| Native Apple behavior | Consistent experience on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS |
Prebuilt binaries are available on GitHub Releases.
The direct GitHub release is currently ahead of the App Store version. The App Store version may temporarily lag while updates are in Apple review.
| Channel | Best For | Download | Release Track | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stable | Direct notarized builds and fastest stable updates | GitHub Releases | v0.7.2 | Apple Silicon tested, Intel not fully validated |
| Store | Apple-managed installs and updates | Neon Vision Editor on the App Store | v0.6.7 | Latest approved App Store version |
| Store Review | Upcoming App Store update | App Store Connect review | v0.7.2 | Pending Apple review |
| Beta | Testing upcoming changes before stable | TestFlight Invite | TestFlight | Early access builds for feedback; availability may vary by review state |
Install the latest release directly:
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/h3pdesign/Neon-Vision-Editor/main/scripts/install.sh | shInstall without admin password prompts (user-local app folder):
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/h3pdesign/Neon-Vision-Editor/main/scripts/install.sh | sh -s -- --appdir "$HOME/Applications"brew tap h3pdesign/tap
brew install --cask neon-vision-editorTap repository: h3pdesign/homebrew-tap
If Homebrew asks for an admin password, it is usually because casks install into /Applications.
Use this to avoid that:
brew install --cask --appdir="$HOME/Applications" neon-vision-editorThe macOS app bundles an optional nve helper for terminal workflows. Install it only when you want a shell command:
- Open Settings > Support.
- Copy the Command Line Helper install command.
- Run it in Terminal to link the bundled helper into
$HOME/bin.
nve README.md
nve --wait --new-window "Neon Vision Editor/UI/ContentView.swift"
nve --line 42 "Neon Vision Editor/UI/ContentView.swift"Development builds can also link the repository copy:
ln -sf "$PWD/scripts/nve" "$HOME/.local/bin/nve"Permission model: the helper is optional and user-linked. It calls macOS Launch Services through /usr/bin/open and does not read file contents itself. Neon Vision Editor handles the document-open request inside the sandbox with user-selected read/write file access and security-scoped file access. It does not require Full Disk Access, Accessibility access, administrator permission, background services, or telemetry. See docs/CommandLineHelper.md.
If macOS blocks first launch:
- Open System Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security.
- In Security, find the blocked app message.
- Click Open Anyway.
- Confirm the dialog.
Project Sidebar keeps Files, Search, Diff, and Git in one stable surface. Markdown Preview keeps style and export in one toolbar flow. Quick Open keeps file navigation immediate.
Neon Vision Editor keeps the surface minimal and focuses on fast writing/coding workflows. Platform-specific availability is tracked in the Platform Matrix section below.
Editing Core
Navigation & Preview
Platform, Output & Customization
Safety & Privacy
- Fast loading for regular and large text files with tabbed editing.
- Broad Swift 6-ready syntax highlighting (including TeX/LaTeX), inline completion with Tab-to-accept, and regex Find/Replace with Replace All.
- Invisible-character markers on iPhone and iPad render in a lightweight overlay so spaces, tabs, and newlines stay aligned while scrolling.
- Optional Vim workflow support and starter templates for common languages.
- Quick Open (
Cmd+P), project sidebar navigation, and recursive project tree rendering. - Files, Search, Diff, and Git share larger card-style sidebar tabs with visible grey inactive states and a consistent 450 pt default width.
- The macOS project sidebar includes a Terminal tab that keeps output while switching tabs, offers project/home working-directory choices, and provides clear/restart controls.
scripts/nveopens files from the terminal and supports--wait,--new-window, and--linecompatibility flags.- Find in Files keeps results visible on Mac and iPad when a match opens, while replacement targets start unselected by default.
- Project quick actions (
Expand All/Collapse All), recent project folders, supported-files-only filtering, and default ignored heavy folders (.git,.build,node_modules,DerivedData).
- Optional iCloud Appearance & Theme Sync keeps appearance, theme colors, custom theme data, formatting toggles, and Markdown preview theme behavior aligned across signed-in devices.
- Sync status includes the latest local iCloud result and timestamp. Documents, API tokens, remote sessions, and editor contents are not synced.
- Native side-by-side diff view for Compare with Disk and Compare Open Tabs workflows, with change navigation.
- Cross-platform
Save As…and Close All Tabs with confirmation.
- Native Markdown preview templates on macOS/iOS/iPadOS plus iPhone bottom-sheet preview.
.svgfile support via XML mode and bracket helper on all platforms.- Markdown and Swift source exports declare their content types correctly on iOS.
- Unsupported-file open/import safety guards and session restore for previously opened project folder.
- Built-in theme collection: Dracula, One Dark Pro, Nord, Tokyo Night, Gruvbox, and Neon Glow.
- Grouped settings, optional StoreKit support flow, and AI Activity Log diagnostics on macOS.
- Bugfixes focus on existing editor behavior: wrap/no-wrap transitions, horizontal scrolling, iOS inset alignment, and Markdown list continuation.
- The feature scope is intentionally separate: optional indentation guides are available in the toolbar and settings, but remain off by default.
- No release behavior changes network access, token storage, sandboxing, or telemetry posture.
flowchart LR
Mac["Platform: macOS shell (SwiftUI + AppKit bridges)"]
IOS["Platform: iOS/iPadOS shell (SwiftUI + UIKit bridges)"]
ACT["App Layer: user actions (toolbar/menu/shortcuts)"]
VM["App Layer: EditorViewModel (@MainActor state owner)"]
CMD["App Layer: command reducers (Flux-style mutations)"]
IO["Core: file I/O + load/sanitize pipeline"]
HL["Core: syntax highlighting + runtime limits"]
FIND["Core: find/replace + selection engine"]
PREV["Core: markdown preview renderer"]
SAFE["Core: unsupported-file safety guards"]
STORE["Infra: tabs + session restore store"]
PREFS["Infra: settings + persistence"]
SEC["Infra: SecureTokenStore (Keychain)"]
UPD["Infra: release update manager"]
Mac --> ACT
IOS --> ACT
ACT --> VM
VM --> CMD
CMD --> STORE
VM --> IO
VM --> HL
VM --> FIND
VM --> PREV
VM --> SAFE
VM --> PREFS
VM --> UPD
PREFS --> STORE
IO --> STORE
VM --> SEC
classDef platform stroke:#2563EB,stroke-width:3px,fill:transparent,font-family:ui-monospace\, SFMono-Regular\, Menlo\, Monaco\, Consolas\, Liberation Mono\, monospace,font-size:13px;
classDef app stroke:#059669,stroke-width:3px,fill:transparent,font-family:ui-monospace\, SFMono-Regular\, Menlo\, Monaco\, Consolas\, Liberation Mono\, monospace,font-size:13px;
classDef core stroke:#EA580C,stroke-width:3px,fill:transparent,font-family:ui-monospace\, SFMono-Regular\, Menlo\, Monaco\, Consolas\, Liberation Mono\, monospace,font-size:13px;
classDef infra stroke:#9333EA,stroke-width:3px,fill:transparent,font-family:ui-monospace\, SFMono-Regular\, Menlo\, Monaco\, Consolas\, Liberation Mono\, monospace,font-size:13px;
class Mac,IOS platform;
class ACT,VM,CMD app;
class IO,HL,FIND,PREV,SAFE core;
class STORE,PREFS,SEC,UPD infra;
linkStyle 0,1 stroke:#2563EB,stroke-width:2px;
linkStyle 2,3 stroke:#059669,stroke-width:2px;
linkStyle 5,6,7,8,9,13 stroke:#EA580C,stroke-width:2px;
linkStyle 4,10,11,12,14 stroke:#9333EA,stroke-width:2px;
EditorViewModelis the single UI-facing orchestration point per window/scene.- Commands mutate editor state predictably; session/tabs persist through store services.
- File access and parsing stay off the main thread; UI state changes stay on the main thread.
- Platform shells stay thin and route interactions into shared app/core services.
- Security-sensitive credentials remain in Keychain (
SecureTokenStore), not plain prefs. - Color key in diagram: blue = platform shell, green = app orchestration, orange = core services, purple = infrastructure.
Full architecture reference: architecture.md. The reference tracks the current Swift 6 cross-platform structure, platform guards, editor rendering paths, performance rules, and release verification workflow.
- Keep UI mutations on the main thread (
@MainActor) and heavy work off the UI thread. - Keep window/scene state isolated to avoid accidental cross-window coupling.
- Keep security defaults strict: tokens in Keychain, no telemetry by default.
- Keep platform wrappers thin and push shared behavior into common services.
Most editor features are shared across macOS, iOS, and iPadOS.
- Fast text editing with syntax highlighting.
- Markdown preview templates (Default, Docs, Article, Compact).
- Project sidebar with supported-files filter and larger card-style Files/Search/Diff/Git tabs.
- Unsupported-file safety alerts.
- SVG (
.svg) support via XML mode. - Close All Tabs with confirmation.
- Bracket helper and grouped Settings cards.
- Cross-platform release gate covers macOS, iOS Simulator, and iPad Simulator builds.
- Notarized release pipeline: release-notarized.yml
- Pre-release verification gate: pre-release-ci.yml
- Security scanning: CodeQL workflow
- Homebrew cask sync: update-cask.yml
More release integrity details: Release Integrity
- macOS
- iPad
- iPhone
- Source image index for docs:
docs/images/README.md - App Store gallery: Neon Vision Editor on App Store
- Latest release assets: GitHub Releases
General editing workflow on macOS |
Wide editing workspace with tabs and status bar context |
Project navigation and editing workflow on iPad |
Markdown preview workflow in the editor context |
Click to open full-size SVG and zoom. In full view, each card links to release notes or the roadmap hub.
ships editor bugfixes separately from the optional indentation guides feature. Tracking: Release v0.7.2
next release planning starts after the v0.7.2 notarized release and App Store rollout checks are complete. Tracking: Milestones
- Open known issues (live filter): label:known-issue
- App blocked on first launch: use Gatekeeper steps above in
Privacy & Security. - Markdown preview not visible: ensure you are on macOS or iPadOS (not available on iPhone).
- Shortcut not working on iOS: connect a hardware keyboard for shortcut-based flows like
Cmd+P. - Sidebar/layout feels cramped on iPad: switch orientation or close side panels before preview.
- Settings feel off after updates: quit/relaunch app and verify current release version in Settings.
- Theme and appearance:
Settings > Designs - Appearance/theme iCloud sync:
Settings > Allgemein/General > Window - Editor behavior (font, line height, wrapping, snippets):
Settings > Editor - Startup/session behavior:
Settings > Allgemein/General - Support and purchase options:
Settings > Mehr/More(platform-dependent)
- Does Neon Vision Editor support Intel Macs?
Intel is currently not fully validated. If you can help test, see Help wanted: Intel Mac test coverage. - Can I use it offline?
Yes for core editing; network is only needed for optional external services (for example selected AI providers). - Do I need AI enabled to use the editor?
No. Core editing, navigation, and preview features work without AI. - Where are tokens stored?
In Keychain viaSecureTokenStore, not inUserDefaults.
All shortcuts use Cmd (⌘). iPad/iOS require a hardware keyboard.
Latest stable: v0.7.2 (2026-05-26)
| Version | Date | Highlights | Fixes | Breaking changes | Migration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
v0.7.2 |
2026-05-26 | optional indentation guides with toolbar and settings controls while keeping the default editor appearance unchanged; wrap/no-wrap mode changes so scroll position is preserved and horizontal scrolling is restored where expected; iOS editor inset handling so line numbers, content, and scroll indicators stay aligned after layout changes; Markdown list continuation for unordered and numbered list markers using the configured indentation style | wrap mode updates so toggling line wrap no longer leaves stale text container sizing or loses the visible scroll position; no-wrap editor sizing so long lines can use horizontal scrolling on macOS and iOS/iPadOS; iOS editor inset synchronization to avoid drift between the text area, line numbers, and scroll indicators | None noted | None required |
v0.7.1 |
2026-05-20 | Refined the project/sidebar visual system with more pronounced rounded containers, cleaner tab cards, stronger outlines, clearer project path presentation, and tighter iPhone/iPad row spacing; TOC presentation with more distinct symbols, markers, line badges, language-aware items, rounded sidebar chrome, and cleaner spacing across macOS, iOS, and iPadOS; Polished Markdown preview and document tab transitions with rounded preview chrome, softer split transitions, and tab fades only where the UI actually needs them; Cleaned up minimap/editor/sidebar edges by removing conflicting divider lines, reducing visual noise, and improving translucent pane backgrounds | the macOS toolbar Terminal button so it selects the existing sidebar Terminal tab and preserves that sidebar terminal session while switching tabs; Removed the old integrated terminal sheet path that opened a separate terminal window; Removed simulated Apple Intelligence completion output and stopped returning unavailable-message text as a completion | None noted | None required |
v0.7.0 |
2026-05-19 | optional code minimap support with section, declaration, import, property, control-flow, comment, and code markers; an in-app command-line helper section and optional bundled nve helper flow that remains user-initiated and sandbox-friendly; sidebar terminal integration, markdown preview theme refinements, project tree ignored-folder handling, and more reusable ContentView/sidebar structure |
minimap scroll sync by deriving viewport fractions from the actual editor viewport and shared minimap offset math; minimap readability by widening the strip and avoiding an all-blue accent block; Reduced repeated large-file work in folder compare, diff filtering, markdown export, theme resolution, and project-tree refresh paths | None noted | None required |
- Full release history:
CHANGELOG.md - Latest release: v0.7.2
- Compare recent changes: v0.7.1...v0.7.2
- Intel Mac support is not fully validated yet.
- Vim mode is intentionally lightweight, not full Vim emulation.
- iPhone and iPad workflows still offer a smaller feature set than macOS.
- Privacy policy:
PRIVACY.md. - API keys are stored in Keychain (
SecureTokenStore), notUserDefaults. - Network traffic uses HTTPS.
- No telemetry.
- External AI requests only occur when code completion is enabled and a provider is selected.
- Security policy and reporting details:
SECURITY.md. - New repository commits are SSH-signed; older historical commits may still predate commit signing.
- Local SSH-signature verification in this clone can use the repo-scoped
.git_allowed_signersfile.
- Tag:
v0.7.2 - Tagged commit: release tag target
- Verify local tag target:
git rev-parse --verify v0.7.2- Verify downloaded artifact checksum locally:
shasum -a 256 <downloaded-file>- Verify local SSH commit signatures in this clone:
git config --local gpg.ssh.allowedSignersFile .git_allowed_signers
git log --show-signature -1Stable: tagged GitHub releases intended for daily use.Beta: TestFlight builds may include in-progress UX and platform polish.- Cadence: fixes/polish can ship between minor tags, with summary notes mirrored in README and
CHANGELOG.md.
- macOS 26 (Tahoe)
- Apple Silicon recommended
- Xcode with the macOS 26 toolchain
- iOS and iPadOS simulator runtimes installed in Xcode for cross-platform verification
If you already completed the Start in 60s (Source Build), you can open and run directly from Xcode.
git clone https://github.com/h3pdesign/Neon-Vision-Editor.git
cd Neon-Vision-Editor
open "Neon Vision Editor.xcodeproj"Contributor guide: CONTRIBUTING.md
- Fork the repo and create a focused branch.
- Implement the smallest safe diff for your change.
- Build on macOS first.
- Run cross-platform verification script.
- Open a PR with screenshots for UI changes and a short risk note.
- Link to related issue/milestone and call out user-visible impact.
git clone https://github.com/h3pdesign/Neon-Vision-Editor.git
cd Neon-Vision-Editor
xcodebuild -project "Neon Vision Editor.xcodeproj" -scheme "Neon Vision Editor" -destination 'platform=macOS,name=My Mac' buildLock-safe cross-platform verification (sequential macOS + iOS Simulator + iPad Simulator):
scripts/ci/build_platform_matrix.shShare what works well and what should improve for both the app and the README.
Share positive feedback · Share negative feedback
- Questions and ideas: GitHub Discussions
- Project board (Now / Next / Later): Neon Vision Editor Roadmap
- Known issues: Known Issues Hub #50
- Contributor entry points: good first issue | help wanted
- Issue filters: enhancement | known-issue | regression
Keep it free, sustainable, and improving.
-
Neon Vision Editor will always stay free to use.
-
No subscriptions and no paywalls.
-
Keeping the app alive still has real costs: Apple Developer Program fee, maintenance, updates, and long-term support.
-
Optional Support Tip (Consumable): $4.99 and can be purchased multiple times.
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Your support helps cover Apple developer fees, bug fixes and updates, future improvements and features, and long-term support.
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Thank you for helping keep Neon Vision Editor free for everyone.
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In-app support tip:
Settings > Mehr/More(platform-dependent) -
External support: Buy Me a Coffee
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External support: Patreon
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h3p apps portal for docs, setup guides, and release workflows: >h3p apps
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External support: PayPal
To auto-increment Xcode CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION on every commit:
scripts/install_git_hooks.shNeon Vision Editor is licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0.
See LICENSE.
The project moved to Apache-2.0 because it keeps the same permissive open-source model while adding an explicit patent grant and patent-termination protection for contributors and downstream users. This better matches a developer tool that may receive contributions, integrations, and commercial redistribution over time.