Kern - Live Markdown

Attach Design

About this app

Kern is a focused Markdown editor and reader for Android, designed for writing, reviewing, and organizing local documents.

Write with live preview as Markdown formatting appears while you type. Tap into any passage to work directly with the underlying syntax, without switching between separate editing and preview screens.

With Kern you can:

• Read and edit Markdown files on your Android device
• Open and manage local folders through Android’s file picker
• Navigate documents with a project file tree and breadcrumbs
• Use live preview for headings, emphasis, lists, links, code, and other Markdown formatting
• Apply formatting with the selection toolbar
• Check readability metrics, reading grade level, word count, and sentence complexity
• Choose rendered, syntax-focused, or raw editing views
• Adjust themes, editor typography, and text size
• Share, rename, duplicate, move, and delete documents
• Use a spacious split-pane workspace on tablets and larger Android screens

Kern is local-first. It does not require a Kern account or a Kern-hosted document cloud. Files remain in the storage location you choose through Android’s file access system.

The interface is built around readable typography, clear document structure, and minimal distractions—whether you are writing notes, drafting articles, reviewing documentation, or working with a Markdown-based project.

Kern is open source and built for Android.

What’s new

Initial release.
Kern is focused on being as simple and easy a markdown editor as possible with live preview of the formatting. Looking forward to any and all feedback.