Eden's notes are markdown files. That means your writing isn't locked into a proprietary format — it's plain text with simple formatting that works everywhere. You can move your work between Eden and any other tool that speaks markdown, and the AI can read, write, and edit it natively.

What is markdown?

Markdown is a lightweight way to format text using plain characters. Instead of clicking buttons to make something bold, you type **bold** and it renders as bold. Instead of selecting "Heading 1" from a dropdown, you type # Heading and it becomes a heading.

It was designed to be readable as plain text and easy to convert into formatted documents. That simplicity is why it's become the standard format for AI tools, developer documentation, and writing apps.

Why markdown matters for your work

Your work isn't trapped

Notes you create in Eden are standard markdown files. You can download them (right-click → Download) and open them in any text editor, import them into Notion, Obsidian, or any other markdown-compatible tool, or feed them into another AI. Your writing belongs to you, not to Eden.

AI speaks markdown

When you export text from ChatGPT, Claude, or most AI tools, it comes out as markdown. When you import those files into Eden (drag and drop), they work immediately — no conversion, no formatting loss. The AI agent in Eden can draft, edit, and restructure your notes because it's working in the same format it was trained on.

It's future-proof

Markdown has been around since 2004 and it's not going anywhere. It's the format used by GitHub, Reddit, Discord, Slack, and nearly every modern writing tool. As AI-native tools evolve, markdown is the common language they'll share.

What you can use notes for

Writers and creators

• Drafts and outlines for articles, scripts, or essays

• Story bibles and character notes

• Research summaries and reading notes

• Newsletter drafts

Filmmakers and video creators

• Scene breakdowns and shot lists

• Interview transcripts and logging notes

• Treatment documents

• Production notes and call sheets

Researchers

• Literature reviews and paper summaries

• Interview notes and field observations

• Research logs and methodology documentation

• Annotated bibliographies

General use

• Meeting notes and brainstorm sessions

• To-do lists and project plans

• Documentation and how-to guides

• Any long-form writing that needs structure

Working with markdown files in Eden

Creating a note

Click the + button in the top left, then select Note. You can also ask the AI agent to create a note for you — it'll draft the content and save it to your workspace.

Downloading notes

Right-click any note and select Download. The file downloads as a .md file that you can open in any text editor or markdown app.

Importing notes

Drag and drop .md files from your computer into Eden. They'll import with all formatting intact. This works for markdown files exported from other AI tools, note-taking apps, or anywhere else.

Editing notes

Open any note and start typing. You can format text using the bubble menu (appears when you highlight text) or the / menu (type / to open it).

How the AI agent works with notes

The Eden agent can create, edit, and organize your notes. You can ask it to:

• Draft a new note from scratch

• Restructure an existing note

• Summarize content from other files into a note

• Combine multiple sources into a single document

• Edit specific sections while preserving the rest

Because notes are markdown, the agent writes in the same format it was trained on. That means cleaner output, better formatting, and fewer weird artifacts.

Common questions

What's the difference between a "note" and a "markdown file" in Eden?

They're the same thing. "Note" is just the label we use in the interface. Under the hood, every note is a .md file.

Can I use HTML in my notes?

Markdown supports some inline HTML, but Eden's editor is optimized for standard markdown. Stick to markdown syntax for the best experience.

What happens if I paste formatted text from another app?

Eden will attempt to preserve basic formatting like bold, italics, headings, and lists. Results may vary depending on the source app.

Do I need to know markdown to use Eden?

No. You can format everything using the visual menus (bubble menu and / menu). But learning a few basic shortcuts makes writing faster.

Can I export notes to PDF or Word?

Currently, notes export as .md files. You can convert markdown to PDF or Word using external tools like Pandoc, or paste the content into Google Docs or Word and format it there.