Pros of Dillinger

• More active development with recent updates and contributions
• Supports cloud storage integrations (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive)
• Offers a cleaner, more modern user interface

Cons of Dillinger

• Lacks offline support, requiring an internet connection to use
• Fewer customization options compared to StackEdit
• Limited export formats (mainly HTML and PDF)

Code Comparison

StackEdit (Vue.js component):

<template>
  <div class="editor">
    <textarea v-model="content" @input="updatePreview"></textarea>
    <div v-html="preview"></div>
  </div>
</template>

Dillinger (Angular.js controller):

angular.module('diligent.preview', [])
  .controller('PreviewCtrl', function($scope) {
    $scope.updatePreview = function() {
      $scope.preview = marked($scope.content);
    };
  });

Both projects use different frameworks (Vue.js for StackEdit, Angular.js for Dillinger) but implement similar preview functionality. StackEdit's approach is more modern and concise, while Dillinger's controller-based structure reflects its older codebase.

Pros of MarkText

• Native desktop application for Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Offers a WYSIWYG editor with real-time preview
• Supports multiple themes and customizable UI

Cons of MarkText

• Lacks built-in cloud synchronization
• May have a steeper learning curve for new users

Code Comparison

MarkText (Vue.js component):

<template>
  <div class="editor-container">
    <editor-header></editor-header>
    <editor-body></editor-body>
    <editor-footer></editor-footer>
  </div>
</template>

StackEdit (JavaScript):

const editor = new Editor({
  el: '#editor',
  initialValue: 'Hello world!',
  previewStyle: 'vertical'
});

Key Differences

• StackEdit is a web-based application, while MarkText is a desktop application
• StackEdit offers built-in Google Drive and Dropbox synchronization
• MarkText provides a more native feel and potentially better performance on desktop

Use Cases

• Choose MarkText for a dedicated desktop Markdown editing experience
• Opt for StackEdit if you need a web-based solution with cloud integration

Both projects are open-source and actively maintained, catering to different user preferences and requirements in the Markdown editing space.

Pros of VNote

• Native desktop application with better performance and offline capabilities
• Supports advanced features like mind mapping and flowcharts
• Offers a more comprehensive note organization system with notebooks and tags

Cons of VNote

• Less accessible across devices compared to web-based StackEdit
• Steeper learning curve due to more complex features
• Limited real-time collaboration options

Code Comparison

VNote (C++):

void VNoteX::initComponents()
{
    m_notebookExplorer = new NotebookExplorer(this);
    m_notebookSelector = new NotebookSelector(this);
    m_fileExplorer = new FileExplorer(this);
    m_tagExplorer = new TagExplorer(this);
}

StackEdit (JavaScript):

const initWorkspace = () => {
  store.dispatch('workspace/setLight', isLight());
  store.dispatch('workspace/setZoom', getZoom());
  store.dispatch('data/setLayoutSettings', getLayoutSettings());
};

Both projects use different programming languages and architectures, reflecting their distinct approaches to note-taking applications. VNote focuses on desktop functionality, while StackEdit emphasizes web-based accessibility and simplicity.

Pros of Notable

• Offers a more comprehensive note-taking experience with support for multiple note types (Markdown, KaTeX, code snippets)
• Provides a desktop application for offline use and better system integration
• Features a more robust tagging and organization system for notes

Cons of Notable

• Less focus on real-time collaboration compared to StackEdit
• May have a steeper learning curve due to its more extensive feature set
• Lacks some of the web-based features and integrations that StackEdit offers

Code Comparison

StackEdit (JavaScript):

export function replacePairs (text, pairs) {
  let result = text
  pairs.forEach(pair => {
    result = result.replace(pair[0], pair[1])
  })
  return result
}

Notable (TypeScript):

function replaceTokens ( str: string, obj: Record<string, string> ): string {
  return str.replace ( /\{([^}]+)\}/g, ( _, token ) => obj[token] || '' );
}

Both projects use similar approaches for text replacement, but Notable's implementation is more specific to token replacement within curly braces, while StackEdit's is more general-purpose.