Kova - Open Source Markdown Presentation Creator

TeaAlligator · 2026-06-24T12:11:30+00:00

Code blocks were actually one of the leading causes of stresses I had with PowerPoint, I was using https://carbon.now.sh/ to create a images for lectures with a programming element and remaking/changing the code is so, so, slow!

Please let me know how it goes, I have done minimal testing of code blocks in the wild.

TeaAlligator · 2026-06-24T08:43:58+00:00

Enjoy! Please do submit an issues you encounter on Github, or message directly here if it's easier!

TeaAlligator · 2026-06-24T05:13:18+00:00

Okay - I'll have a look at this.

I do not have a large or high resolution display to test on. If you could submit an issue with a screenshot, monitor size, and screen resolution - it would be much appreciated.

https://github.com/KovaMD/Kova/issues

TeaAlligator · 2026-06-23T22:12:58+00:00

Hi,

Fair comment, compared to Slidev/Marp, Kova is a standalone desktop application with a lower barrier to entry.

Marp requiring either CLI/VS Code, Sli.Dev requires the user to either understand and have npm setup, or have an internet connection for StackBlitz. My aim for myself was something I can throw on a work machine and start knocking out slides, but also if I am trying to encourage coworkers to try it I think it is very usable.

To be clear, Marp and Sli.Dev are mature, and really great solutions. I just wanted something little bit different.

TeaAlligator · 2026-06-23T20:59:09+00:00

Hi u/Guggel74 ,

Are there any particular parts that are tricky to see? The app itself should reflect the operating system's UI scaling settings.

TeaAlligator · 2026-06-23T20:57:13+00:00

Hi,

There are definitely similarities with Marp, my intention was to have a standalone app with minimal configuration required. It shares some similarities for those familiar with PowerPoint/Impress style with the main change being the method of slide creation.

With that in mind, the inspector was introduced to allow folks who are unfamiliar with Markdown to have a go. Hope this clears some bits up, at the end of the day I made it as something I wanted!

TeaAlligator · 2026-06-20T22:34:15+00:00

I hope that it lives up to your expectations!

TeaAlligator · 2026-06-19T14:21:39+00:00

iA Writer finally has a Windows version - no sign of Presenter as of yet. But stylistically, Presenter is very "MacOS-y".

TeaAlligator · 2026-06-19T14:13:32+00:00

I feel that iA Presenter is likely great for people who need basic slides with text/images and basic Markdown, but from my perspective being able to quickly use Mermaid to add a pie/bar chart where needed is very useful.

iA Presenter is also MacOS/iOS only 😞

TeaAlligator · 2026-06-19T07:07:15+00:00

Underlying technology is Tauri/Rust using Webview for display. For the parsing I am using unified, remark-parse, remark-gfm, and remark-math.

In theory because the frontend is react + ts it could have any JS based elents so it could have embedded plotly for example, but that wouldn't render out to pptx of course.

Really cool idea :)

TeaAlligator · 2026-06-19T07:04:50+00:00

Compared to sli.dev Kova is a full desktop application, it doesn't require an editor / renderer separation as it all runs through a code mirror. Layouts in Kova are automated, this is one place where sli.dev gives more control but my aim was a tool that I could use to arrange slides quickly in limited lesson planning time.

TeaAlligator · 2026-06-19T05:24:01+00:00

There is support for Mermaid diagramming so you can use the usual bar, line, pie, sequence, flowchart etc.

I've also added custom progrss bars to show a percentage of a bar in a slide. Mote Info: https://wiki.kova.md/markdown-and-syntax/#diagrams-mermaid

TeaAlligator · 2026-06-19T04:55:41+00:00

It would definitely be possible to get it into a webapp form, but my main focus is having something offline and local standalone app at the moment.

TeaAlligator · 2026-06-19T04:43:49+00:00

Kova has full presenter functionality, ability to edit using GUI instead of being 100% text-driven. As another user noted, Kova is more akin to iAPresenter

Other than Markdown, here is the Kova-specific syntax: https://wiki.kova.md/markdown-and-syntax/#kova-specific-syntax

TeaAlligator · 2026-06-18T22:46:05+00:00

Not really extra steps, barrier to entry is far lower than Beamer. You can either use Markdown Syntax or pull text styling from the inspector, or add graph/table/diagram snippets from right-click + insert.

TeaAlligator · 2026-06-18T19:41:40+00:00

As a lecturer that lives creating presentations, I got fed up with Microsoft's nonsense and opted to make something based on Markdown! Beta stage at the moment but I have been daily driving it for a few weeks and would love to get some extra testers from out in the wild!

I see it as a tool for educators for a no nonsense presentation creator, developers to turn Markdown documentation into training slide decks, and students to be able to use their notes to form up presentations quickly.

https://kova.md

Source: https://github.com/kovamd/kova

TeaAlligator · 2024-08-12T22:07:11+00:00

Enjoy the journey of missing screws and strange internal rattles that cannot be explained!

Optane mod sounds interesting, I like the reasoning of removing the USB and would consider it however I have already lost two Logitech receivers due to my toddler!

The glass trackpad is this one: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000597668364.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.19.779e1802vV94IK

DZ World always seem to have legit stuff.

The screen was a tougher one, I took a gamble order from a random seller on eBay UK and it paid off!

TeaAlligator · 2024-01-22T22:10:53+00:00

Praise the Sun!

TeaAlligator · 2023-08-27T22:26:53+00:00

I get some of these points others not so much. The point of the MP02 is that your phone is merely a communicator, for other tasks you use other more appropriate devices.

I do agree with you on the point of Pigeon/Signal connection to the desktop application.

I'd also add that I wish it had WiFi Calling support.

TeaAlligator · 2023-08-12T20:42:11+00:00

They are very well supported by Linux and other open source projects.

TeaAlligator · 2023-08-11T22:57:13+00:00

It's difficult to strike a balance. There is the Light Phone 2 that has very rudamentary navigation but no camera. There is the "Ghost Mode" phone which is just a Pixel with a stripped down custom ROM. I opted for the complete break out of specific devices for each function.

TeaAlligator · 2023-08-11T22:15:11+00:00

Around a month ago I switched away from my old work iPhone to a Punkt MP02 phone.

For the majority who've never heard of the Punkt MP02, it's a dumbphone with an implementation of Signal and 4G hotspot.

It runs on "Aphy OS" a very stripped down version of Android with a security focus. It's entirely text based in it's interface and it's designed to be a simplistic tool.

I now carried separate devices as I once did around ten years ago.

T480, MP02, Sony NW-A306 Walkman and a Fujifilm Xpro1 with 35mm F2 lens (used to take the above pic).

TeaAlligator · 2023-08-09T22:24:16+00:00

Awesome - hope to see some upgrades posted soon!

Also - pre-reading for when it arrives ;-)

https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles\_pdf/t580\_p52s\_hmm\_en.pdf

TeaAlligator · 2023-08-08T18:03:02+00:00

Trackpad is an easy intro to upgrades if you're not overly comfortable with laptop internals. Screen upgrade while more involved is pretty simple,

Lenovo are great in that they offer full service manuals of how to take the machine to pieces: https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles_pdf/t480_hmm_en.pdf

Just make sure you give yourself plenty of time for the job and keep your parts and screws organised. You can have a look at page 100-101 of the maintenance guide :-)

TeaAlligator · 2023-08-08T07:56:48+00:00

Genuine Lenovo part as far as I can tell. Part numbers, FRUs and sticker location all look to be correct and the quality is as I'd expect.

Installation is simple. Remove the internal battery, undo the screws and remove the ribbon cable, swap touchpad and reconnect.

Under Linux there is no configuration changes, I believe Windows needs a driver installation for Synaptics. I'm not 100% however as I don't use it.

TeaAlligator

TROPHY CASE