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Command line

Usage: marginal [OPTIONS] [FILE|FOLDER]...
Arguments:
[FILE|FOLDER]... Markdown files to open; a folder opens as the workspace.
Windows/Linux: a lone file opens as a reader preview
(like a double-click; Esc exits, Settings ▸ General
disables)
Options:
--reader <FILE> Preview-only window for FILE (no
sidebar, tabs, or toolbar; Esc exits)
--appearance <system|light|dark> Appearance for this launch only; the
saved setting is untouched
--timing Append this launch's startup phases
to startup-timing.log in the config
directory
-h, --help Print this help and exit

On macOS the executable is inside the app bundle. An alias makes it handy:

Terminal window
alias marginal='/Applications/Marginal.app/Contents/MacOS/marginal'

On Windows and Linux the installer puts marginal where the system finds it.

  • Paths are relative to the current directory. Paths that do not exist are ignored, as are unknown options.
  • A single file opens the editor on macOS and the reading view on Windows and Linux, where a terminal launch is indistinguishable from a double-click.
  • If Marginal is already running, the arguments are handed to the running copy, which comes to the front.
  • --appearance is for this launch only. Picking an appearance in Settings ▸ Appearance ends the override.
  • --timing is a diagnostic. It appends the launch’s startup phases to startup-timing.log in the config directory.