grip-mode

Table of Contents

• Prerequisite
• Install
  • Manual
  • Use-package
• Customize
• Screenshots
• Limitations
• FAQ
• Donate

Instant Github-flavored Markdown/Org preview using Grip (GitHub Readme Instant Preview) or mdopen.

Prerequisite

• Python
• Grip: pip install grip

Alternative markdown preview without accessing GitHub API

• mdopen: cargo install mdopen

Install

Manual

From melpa, M-x package-install RET grip-mode RET.

;; Make a keybinding: `C-c C-c g'
(define-key markdown-mode-command-map (kbd "g") #'grip-mode)

;; Or start grip when opening a markdown/org buffer
(add-hook 'markdown-mode-hook #'grip-mode)
(add-hook 'org-mode-hook #'grip-mode)

Use-package

;; Use keybindings
(use-package grip-mode
  :ensure t
  :config (setq grip-use-mdopen t) ;; to use `mdopen` instead of `grip`
  :bind (:map markdown-mode-command-map
         ("g" . grip-mode)))

;; Or using hooks
(use-package grip-mode
  :ensure t
  :config (setq grip-use-mdopen t) ;; to use `mdopen` instead of `grip`
  :hook ((markdown-mode org-mode) . grip-mode))

⚠️ NOTE: mdopen opens markdown preview in default browser, and doesn't support emacs webkit preview. ⚠️

Run M-x grip-mode to preview the markdown and org buffers in the embedded webkit browser if Emacs supports (built with --with-xwidgets), or in the default browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc.).

ox-gfm is optional, but it brings better rendering for org files.

Enjoy! 😄

Customize

Run M-x customize-group RET grip RET or set the variables.

;; Path to the grip binary
(setq grip-binary-path "/path/to/grip")

;; Use embedded webkit to preview
;; This requires GNU/Emacs version >= 26 and built with the `--with-xwidgets` option.
(setq grip-preview-use-webkit t)

;; You can use this variable to define another browser
;; to use when loading previews. By default this value is `nil`
;; meaning use default browser defined by your system.
;; It respects `grip-preview-use-webkit'.
(setq grip-url-browser "custom_browser")

;; If you want to pass arguements to your custom browser then use
(setq grip-url-args '("arg1" "arg2" "etc"))

;; A base URL to another GitHub API.
(setq grip-github-api-url "")

;; A GitHub username for API authentication
(setq grip-github-user "")

;; A GitHub password or auth token for API auth
(setq grip-github-password "")

;; When nil, update the preview after file saves only, instead of also
;; after every text change
(setq grip-update-after-change nil)

;; Preview hostname
(setq grip-preview-host "localhost")

;; Sleep seconds to ensure the server starts
(setq grip-sleep-time 2)

If you don't set them you may have limitation to access Github APIs. Please visit Grip Access for details.

You can get the user name and password from ~/.authinfo like this.

(require 'auth-source)
(let ((credential (auth-source-user-and-password "api.github.com")))
  (setq grip-github-user (car credential)
        grip-github-password (cadr credential)))

Screenshots

Limitations

• Need to save to preview org buffers due to the performance trade-off.

FAQ

1. How to resolve the issue: "GitHub Rate Limit Reached"?

   You need to set your GitHub username to grip-github-user, then Creating a personal access token for the command line and set the new token to grip-github-password.

Donate

If you think the it's helpful for you, please consider paying a cup of coffee for me. Thank you! 😄