# Zettlr — Open-Source Markdown Editor for Academic Writing

> Zettlr is a cross-platform Markdown editor designed for researchers and writers, combining distraction-free writing with citation management, Zettelkasten note-linking, and academic export via Pandoc.

## Install

Save in your project root:

# Zettlr — Open-Source Markdown Editor for Academic Writing

## Quick Use
```bash
# Install via package manager
brew install --cask zettlr   # macOS
winget install Zettlr.Zettlr # Windows
# Or download from https://www.zettlr.com/download
# Launch and open a folder of Markdown files
```

## Introduction
Zettlr is a free, open-source Markdown editor built for academic writing and knowledge management. It integrates citation management (BibTeX/CSL-JSON), Zettelkasten-style note linking, and Pandoc-based export to PDF, DOCX, and LaTeX, making it a complete writing environment for researchers, students, and technical writers.

## What Zettlr Does
- Provides a distraction-free WYSIWYG-style Markdown editing experience
- Manages academic citations via Zotero/JabRef integration with CSL formatting
- Supports Zettelkasten workflows with wiki-links, backlinks, and unique note IDs
- Exports to PDF, Word, LaTeX, HTML, and presentations via Pandoc
- Organizes projects across multiple folders with tagging and full-text search

## Architecture Overview
Zettlr is built with Electron, TypeScript, and CodeMirror 6 as the editor core. It uses a virtual file system that watches directories for changes, maintaining an in-memory index of files, tags, and links. Citation processing uses citeproc-js with CSL stylesheets, and export delegates to an external Pandoc installation.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Install pre-built binaries for Windows, macOS, or Linux (AppImage/deb/rpm)
- Point to a Pandoc installation for export functionality
- Configure citation library by linking a .bib or .json file in preferences
- Customize appearance with themes, fonts, and editor modes (vim, emacs)
- All data stays in plain Markdown files on your filesystem—no proprietary format

## Key Features
- First-class citation support with CSL-JSON and BibTeX integration
- Zettelkasten mode with wiki-links, backlinks panel, and graph visualization
- Pandoc export to 20+ formats including academic PDF with bibliography
- Built-in Pomodoro timer and writing goals for productivity
- Full-text search across thousands of notes with tag filtering

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Obsidian** — proprietary with plugins; Zettlr is fully open-source with built-in academic features
- **Typora** — polished WYSIWYG; Zettlr adds citation management and Zettelkasten workflows
- **Logseq** — outliner-based; Zettlr uses traditional long-form Markdown documents
- **VS Code + Foam** — developer-centric; Zettlr is purpose-built for writers and researchers
- **Scrivener** — proprietary writing tool; Zettlr is free and uses portable Markdown files

## FAQ
**Q: Does Zettlr require Pandoc?**
A: Pandoc is needed only for export. Editing and note-taking work without it.

**Q: Can I use it with Zotero?**
A: Yes, export your Zotero library as BetterBibTeX CSL-JSON and link it in Zettlr settings for cite-as-you-write.

**Q: Are my files locked into a proprietary format?**
A: No. Everything is plain Markdown stored on your filesystem. You can switch editors at any time.

**Q: Does it support real-time collaboration?**
A: Not natively. For collaboration, combine with Git or a shared filesystem.

## Sources
- https://github.com/Zettlr/Zettlr
- https://docs.zettlr.com

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-ae682a86
Author: AI Open Source