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Release History

Changelog

Detailed notes on features, refinements, and bug fixes in every Lucid release.

v1.1.2

Stable
Download v1.1.2

Lucid 1.1.2 fixes two problems found in 1.1.1: theme switches that briefly showed light and dark together, and a jolt when opening or closing the sidebar in Reader.

Key Highlights
  • Theme switches no longer mix light and dark: the window holds the old theme while it redraws, then fades to the new one.
  • Opening and closing the sidebar in Reader slides the text alongside it, without jumping or re-wrapping.

Fixes

  • fixedSwitching themes briefly showed the sidebar in the new theme and the page in the old one. The window now keeps the old theme while everything redraws, then fades to the new one; with Reduce Motion on, the switch is a cut.
  • improvedLong documents with many diagrams switch themes faster.
  • fixedOpening or closing the sidebar in Reader made the page jump and re-wrap. The text now keeps its width and slides alongside the sidebar. In narrow windows the reading column is a little narrower while the sidebar is closed.
SHA-256 for Lucid-1.1.2.dmg:
dff0c56c9ee1ae505af3b484ca78ffce186d8f63500d2bb1f1f27bbfb3676825

v1.1.1

Stable

Lucid 1.1.1 fixes three problems found in 1.1.0: unreadable chrome in light themes, uneven theme switching, and files from earlier sessions reopening when you open a file.

Key Highlights
  • Light themes are readable with macOS in Dark Mode: the sidebar, outline filter, status bar and toolbar follow the theme.
  • Theme switches crossfade the whole window, and diagrams on screen are redrawn first.
  • Opening a file opens just that file; tabs with unsaved changes are still recovered.

Fixes

  • fixedAfter switching to a light theme with macOS in Dark Mode, the sidebar headings, outline filter, status bar and toolbar buttons kept dark-mode colours and were hard to read.
  • improvedSwitching themes crossfades the whole window instead of changing in steps; with Reduce Motion on, the switch is instant.
  • improvedAfter a theme switch, diagrams on screen are redrawn before the ones further down the document.
  • fixedOpening a file from Finder after quitting no longer reopens every file of earlier sessions. Tabs with unsaved changes are still recovered, and launching Lucid from the Dock or Spotlight restores the last session.

v1.1.0

Stable

Lucid 1.1.0 is the first stable release. It adds ten themes and Markdown colouring in the editor, makes typing, scrolling and the sidebar smooth in long documents, and fixes the 70 issues found in a full pre-release review.

Key Highlights
  • Thirteen themes: System Dynamic, six light and six dark, each with its own code and diagram colours.
  • Markdown colouring in the editor, in the colours of your theme.
  • Typing costs the same in a 20,000-line document as in a short one; the sidebar opens and closes without re-wrapping on every frame.
  • Updates install from inside the app, and downloads now come from the public lucid-releases page.

New

  • newTen new themes: Sage Paper, Glacier, Rosewater, Lavender, Midnight Ink, Espresso, Aubergine, Evergreen and Bordeaux join System Dynamic, Editorial Light, Warm Book Sepia and Studio Dark.
  • newMarkdown colouring in the editor: headings, markers, links, inline code, math, fenced code, quotes, lists and tables.
  • newThemes follow Increase Contrast and Reduce Transparency, and System Dynamic follows macOS light and dark again.
  • improvedTable Density and Mermaid Scale settings take effect; the Shortcuts tab lists every file, tab and window shortcut.

Smoother & Faster

  • improvedTyping cost no longer grows with document length (0.15 ms per keystroke from 1,000 to 20,000 lines).
  • improvedOpening and closing the sidebar re-wraps the document once instead of on every animation frame.
  • improvedScrolling, caret moves and settings changes no longer re-render every open window.
  • improvedThe first render of a document without diagrams is about twice as fast; Mermaid loads with the first diagram.

Fixes

  • fixedWith two or more tabs, the first lines of a document are no longer hidden under the toolbar.
  • fixedA file is one document across windows, Finder opens and session restore; saves keep Finder tags, extended attributes and the creation date.
  • fixedUnsaved drafts are kept in a private file in Application Support instead of preferences.
  • fixedThe command palette shows the commands that match the query, and arrow keys move through it predictably.
  • fixedFind returns focus to the pane it was opened over; heading links resolve like GitHub's.
  • fixedPasting rich text that also carries an image keeps the text.
  • fixedPrinted PDFs keep diagrams and math whole and use light code colours.
  • fixedLucid asks before checking for updates and tells you before installing one.

v1.0.8

Beta

Lucid 1.0.8 Public Beta delivers enhanced document safety, improved session recovery across tabs and windows, reliable relative image refreshing, and smoother sidebar interactions.

Key Highlights
  • Editing and Undo/Redo stay strictly isolated to the displayed tab, even during rapid tab switching.
  • Multi-tab and window session recovery retains unsaved edits in named files and separate windows, including drafts whose original file disappeared.
  • Cancelling close or quit keeps every tab available; failed saves preserve unsaved text.
  • Save follows same-volume file moves instead of recreating an abandoned filename, and prompts for a destination when the file cannot be identified.
  • Local relative images refresh when switching documents, returning to replaced assets, or revealing the preview pane.
  • Smoother sidebar toggles and resizing preserve filter text, editor focus, reading position, and find matches.

Session Recovery & Document Safety

  • improvedRecovery retains unsaved edits in named files and separate windows, including drafts whose original file disappeared.
  • fixedOpening another file at launch preserves pending recovery windows and documents without data loss.
  • fixedCancelling close or quit keeps every tab available; failed saves preserve unsaved text without losing edits.
  • improvedSave follows same-volume file moves instead of recreating an abandoned filename, asking you to choose a destination when unresolved.
  • fixedSaving and immediately continuing to type no longer triggers a false external-change alert.

Editing & Preview Fidelity

  • improvedEditing and Undo/Redo remain strictly isolated to the displayed tab, including during rapid tab switching.
  • fixedLocal relative images refresh accurately when switching tabs, returning to replaced assets, or revealing the preview pane.
  • improvedSmoother sidebar toggles and resizing preserve filter text, editor focus, reading position, and find matches.
  • improvedMultiple open windows resize their sidebars independently.

v1.0.7

Beta

Lucid 1.0.7 Public Beta delivers everyday productivity enhancements: an intuitive new tab empty-state card, direct file drag-and-drop, persistent toolbar and tab bar open affordances, safe multi-document application termination, and clean window closing.

Key Highlights
  • New Tab Empty State: Opening a new tab (⌘T or +) presents an intuitive, welcoming card with 'Open File… (⌘O)', 'Start Writing', recent documents, and file drag-and-drop.
  • File Drag & Drop: Drag Markdown files directly from Finder onto empty tabs or the window to open them immediately.
  • Direct Open Affordances: Quickly access your files with persistent Open File (arrow.up.doc) and New Tab (+) buttons directly on the window toolbar and tab strip, with contextual tab menus.
  • Safe Application Termination: Quitting Lucid (⌘Q) sequentially reviews and prompts to save each modified document tab by its actual file name, preventing data loss across multi-window and multi-tab workflows.

Productivity

  • newNew tab empty-state card: opening a new tab (⌘T or +) presents an intuitive, welcoming card with 'Open File… (⌘O)', 'Start Writing', recent documents, and file drag-and-drop.
  • newDrag-and-drop file opening: dragging Markdown files directly from Finder onto empty tabs or the window immediately opens them.
  • newDirect toolbar and tab bar open affordances: added persistent Open File (arrow.up.doc) and New Tab (+) buttons on the main window toolbar and tab strip, alongside contextual tab menus.
  • newSafe application termination (⌘Q): sequentially prompts to save each modified document tab by its actual file name, preventing data loss across multi-window and multi-tab workflows.

Fixes & Stability

  • fixedFixed spurious 'save Untitled' prompts when closing clean windows or switching files by clearing change counts on clean tabs.
  • fixedFixed AppKit editor layering so the new tab empty-state view is fully interactive and responsive to clicks and typing.
  • fixedFixed empty untitled window persistence when opening files at launch or from Finder.
  • fixedFixed key window notification routing ensuring single-window setups never drop menu or shortcut actions.

v1.0.6

Beta

Lucid 1.0.6 Public Beta introduces everyday productivity features: keep multiple Markdown documents open in lightweight tabs, quickly reopen recent documents, restore your open session across relaunches, and paste or drag images directly into your documents.

Key Highlights
  • Lightweight Tabs: Keep multiple Markdown documents open in one window with keyboard navigation and single-preview rendering efficiency.
  • Recent Files: Quickly reopen documents you've recently worked on from File → Open Recent.
  • Session Restoration: Return to your open documents and active reading state when you relaunch Lucid.
  • Paste & Drag Images: Paste screenshots or drag supported images directly into your Markdown documents with automatic local asset storage.

Productivity

  • newLightweight document tabs: keep multiple Markdown documents open in one window with keyboard shortcuts (⌘T to open a new tab, ⌘W to close, and ⌘} / ⌘{ to switch tabs).
  • newSame-document deduplication: opening an already open document activates its existing tab rather than creating duplicates.
  • newDirty tab protection: confirms before closing tabs with unsaved edits to prevent accidental data loss.
  • newRecent Files: quickly reopen documents you've recently worked on from File → Open Recent, with deduplicated history and a Clear Menu option.
  • newSession restoration: return to your open documents and reading state when you relaunch Lucid.
  • newPaste & drag images: paste screenshots or drag image files directly into the Markdown editor; Lucid organizes them in a local assets folder and inserts relative Markdown links.
  • newSupports PNG, JPEG, GIF, WebP, SVG, TIFF, and BMP image formats.

Architecture & Performance

  • improvedLightweight tab architecture: inactive tabs avoid separate WebKit preview pipelines, saving memory and keeping editing responsive.
  • improvedLazy session restoration: restores tab lists and document metadata cleanly on launch without blocking the UI.

Fixes

  • fixedFixed an application startup crash when initializing recent documents on launch.
  • fixedFixed document-relative image resolution in preview so relative images load reliably from any folder structure.

v1.0.5

Beta

Lucid 1.0.5 Public Beta delivers persistent reading positions across view modes, independent multi-window state, enhanced vector PDF and HTML export, Markdown footnotes, and major preview rendering and theme-switch performance optimizations.

Key Highlights
  • Persistent Reading Position & Pane State: Switching between Reader, Editor, and Split view modes preserves your exact reading anchor and cursor position.
  • Independent Multi-Window Controls: Each window maintains its own view mode, sidebar visibility, and Focus Mode independently.
  • Enhanced Export Capabilities: Export beautifully paginated vector PDFs and self-contained HTML directly from any view mode.
  • Markdown Footnotes Support: Render linked footnote references and an organized footnotes section automatically.
  • Block-Level Preview Performance: Live preview updates only re-render modified blocks with capped typing debounce, eliminating editor restyling lag.

Navigation & View Modes

  • newPreserved reading position and pane state across Reader, Editor, and Split view switches without jumping to the top.
  • newIndependent multi-window states: each document window maintains its own view mode, sidebar toggle state, and Focus Mode.
  • improvedSmoother sidebar transitions with directional hysteresis and sub-pixel deadband to eliminate outline flickering while scrolling.
  • improvedNative macOS View menu integration with synchronized checkmarks for display modes and layout options.
  • fixedFixed Split mode editor starting at the top of the document when opened.

Markdown & Rendering Engine

  • newMarkdown footnotes: render linked footnote numbers and an organized footnotes section at the bottom of the document.
  • improvedBlock-level incremental preview rendering: typing now only re-renders modified blocks, eliminating editor lag.
  • improvedSerialized Mermaid diagram theme rendering with WebKit yielding and theme-cached SVGs for smooth theme switches.
  • improvedMermaid syntax error presentation: unrecoverable syntax errors cleanly display reader-facing error cards without breaking the document.
  • fixedFixed outline navigation and heading ID parity for Unicode and duplicate headings.
  • fixedIn-page Find now avoids highlighting hidden markup inside Mermaid diagrams and KaTeX formulas.
  • fixedFixed long unbroken words overflowing preview margins.

Editor & Workflows

  • newFocus Mode and Typewriter Mode support within the Editor view.
  • newPaginated vector PDF and self-contained offline HTML export directly from any view mode (Reader, Editor, or Split).
  • improvedSupport for opening UTF-16 and legacy 8-bit encoded text files alongside UTF-8.
  • improvedResponsive Settings Editor tab layout with compact font pickers and single-window reuse.
  • fixedCommand Palette immediately focuses the search field on open and returns focus upon dismissal.
  • fixedToolbar depth: document content scrolled beneath the floating glass toolbar is properly clipped.

Security & Quality

  • improvedEnforced strict Content-Security-Policy (CSP) on the Markdown preview and removed inline event handlers.
  • improvedLocal image paths are sandboxed through the custom lucid-asset: URL scheme.
  • improvedSTEM features (KaTeX, Mermaid, syntax highlighting, mhchem) are strictly gated by user preferences.
  • improvedAdded descriptive accessibility labels for theme, accent, and workflow preset controls in Settings.

v1.0.4

Beta

Lucid 1.0.4 Public Beta improves Mermaid diagram rendering compatibility for flowcharts containing mathematical notation and delivers the first in-app update via Sparkle.

Key Highlights
  • Mermaid flowchart compatibility: diagrams with parenthesized math labels such as r(t), R(s), and G(s) now render seamlessly without manual syntax modifications.
  • Graceful error handling: genuine Mermaid syntax errors are cleanly formatted as reader-facing cards rather than broken SVG charts.
  • In-app update delivery: Lucid 1.0.3 users can update directly via Lucid → Check for Updates… without manual re-installation.

Mermaid Rendering

  • fixedFixed Mermaid flowchart diagrams containing parenthesized mathematical notation (e.g. r(t), R(s), G(s), θ(t), ω(t)) in node labels that previously caused syntax errors.
  • improvedImproved presentation of unrecoverable Mermaid diagram syntax errors with formatted reader-facing notification cards.

In-App Updates

  • improvedDelivered through the native Sparkle in-app updater introduced in v1.0.3.

v1.0.3

Beta

First updater-bearing release introducing native Sparkle 2 in-app update checking, EdDSA cryptographic archive verification, and dedicated update preferences in Settings.

Key Highlights
  • Built-in in-app updates: check for updates directly from the Lucid application menu or Settings
  • Cryptographic EdDSA verification: all update packages are cryptographically signed and authenticated before installation
  • User-controlled update preferences: configure automatic background checks and automatic downloading in Settings → Updates
  • One-time manual migration: v1.0.2 and earlier must install v1.0.3 manually once; once verified, subsequent releases can update in-app
  • Production HTTPS feed: securely hosted on Vercel with strict staged-vs-published gating to eliminate broken download links

In-App Updates

  • newNative Check for Updates… command added to the Lucid application menu.
  • newDedicated Updates tab in Settings (⌘,) with current version display, last checked timestamp, and automatic check/download toggles.
  • newSparkle 2 integration with EdDSA archive signing and HTTPS feed delivery.
  • improvedDisk image detection displays a quiet notification if Lucid is launched from a read-only DMG volume, prompting to move to Applications.

Migration Notice

  • improvedLucid 1.0.3 is the first release containing updater infrastructure. Users on 1.0.2 or earlier must manually install 1.0.3 once; subsequent releases will be delivered through the built-in updater once verified.

v1.0.2

Beta

Quality, UX hardening, and Mermaid technical layout release delivering expandable scrollbars, zero-jitter sidebar transitions, adaptive tall flowchart presentation, and Lucid Blue-Tint diagrams.

Key Highlights
  • Expandable Reader scrollbar: subtle 4px resting thumb, easy-to-grab 8px hover, 10px active drag, and zero layout shift
  • Zero-jitter sidebar: smooth native transition, preserved WKWebView identity, preserved scroll, and stored width memory
  • Tall Mermaid flowchart inline layout: adaptively expands up to 2400px so complex technical diagrams are readable without pressing Expand
  • Lucid Blue-Tint theme: cohesive technical visual language across Dark, Light, and Sepia themes while preserving custom diagram styles
  • Renderer conformance: verified 100% pass rate across all 13 core mathematical and structural rendering invariants

Reader & UX Hardening

  • improvedExpandable scrollbar thumb: subtle 4px rest, 8px hover hit area, and 10px active drag contrast inside a constant 12px gutter.
  • fixedCompletely eliminated left outline sidebar open/close jitter with a native SwiftUI transition and stored sidebar width memory.
  • fixedWKWebView lifecycle and document scroll position remain completely uninterrupted across sidebar toggles and window resizing.

Mermaid Technical Diagrams

  • improvedAdaptive inline diagram presentation: tall technical flowcharts (e.g. ESP32 control flow) now expand inline up to 2400px so all labels remain readable at standard text size.
  • improvedReadability floor: enforces a minimum scale targeting ≥ 13.5px effective font size for labels on initial display.
  • newLucid Blue-Tint technical styling: curated node surfaces, crisp blue borders, and clear arrowheads across Dark, Light, and Sepia themes.
  • improvedUser-interaction state preservation: user zoom and pan adjustments are preserved across window resizing.

v1.0.1

Beta

Patch release delivering smart adaptive Mermaid diagram fitting, smooth 1:1 diagram panning with visible grab/grabbing feedback, and stable Reader outline sidebar toggling without blank flashes.

Key Highlights
  • Smart adaptive initial Mermaid layout: normal and medium diagrams display completely on first render when readable
  • Mermaid Hand/Pan interaction: visible grab/grabbing cursor feedback, Pointer Events, and smooth 1:1 panning
  • Sidebar stability: opening/closing the left outline sidebar preserves WKWebView identity with zero blank flash
  • Huge diagrams retain readable typography with pan navigation, while Fit provides full-diagram overview and Reset restores smart initial view

Mermaid Improvements

  • improvedSmart adaptive initial diagram fitting: normal and medium diagrams now fit completely within the available viewing area on first render when doing so preserves readable typography (targeting ≥ 13.5px effective size).
  • improvedDynamic bounded viewport height: diagram viewing area dynamically adapts up to min(840px, 80vh), eliminating vertical cropping of tall/normal diagrams while keeping huge diagrams comfortably bounded.
  • improvedSmooth Hand/Pan tool: visible grab cursor on hover, grabbing cursor during drag, Pointer Events with pointer capture, stable drag origin, and requestAnimationFrame transform coalescing.
  • improvedSmall diagrams remain at natural 1.0x scale without blurry upscaling, while Reset reliably restores the exact smart initial view.

Reader Fixes

  • fixedFixed brief Reader content flash when opening/closing the outline sidebar by preserving the permanent AppKit HSplitView and WKWebView lifecycle.
  • fixedDocument scroll position, active heading spy, and Mermaid diagram transform states remain completely intact across sidebar toggles.

v1.0.0

Beta

Initial public beta of Lucid for macOS — a quiet, native Markdown reader and editor built specifically for technical documents.

Key Highlights
  • Native Swift & AppKit/WebKit architecture with floating glass toolbar
  • Reader, Split, and Editor modes with synchronized document scrolling
  • Offline KaTeX math, mhchem chemistry, and interactive Mermaid diagrams
  • Heading outline sidebar with scroll-spy, in-document find, and Command Palette
  • Export to vector PDF, standalone HTML, formatted rich text, and Mermaid SVG

New Features

  • newReader / Split / Editor modes (⌘1 / ⌘2 / ⌘3) providing focused consumption, live side-by-side editing, or distraction-free source writing.
  • newFloating glass toolbar (NSVisualEffectView) that content scrolls beneath, with scroll-responsive depth and subtle translucency.
  • newOffline KaTeX engine supporting both inline ($...$) and block ($$...$$) mathematical expressions.
  • newEmbedded mhchem engine for complex chemical reactions, battery electrochemistry, and stoichiometry (\ce{...}).
  • newInteractive Mermaid diagrams with Pan, Zoom (+ / −), Fit to viewport, Reset view, and Fullscreen Expand.
  • newMermaid SVG export and one-click SVG clipboard copy.
  • newFenced code blocks with syntax highlighting, language identifier badges, and one-click copy buttons.
  • newTechnical table rendering with alternating row contrast, readable headers, and horizontal scroll preservation.
  • newGitHub and Obsidian style callout alerts: [!NOTE], [!TIP], [!IMPORTANT], [!WARNING], and [!CAUTION].
  • newLive heading outline sidebar (⌃⌘S) with hierarchical indentation, active section scroll-spy, and real-time heading filter.
  • newFloating Find in Document bar (⌘F) with next (⌘G) and previous (⇧⌘G) match navigation.
  • newCommand Palette (⌘K) for rapid fuzzy search across actions, themes, presets, and export options.
  • newFocus Mode (⌘⇧D) to dim inactive paragraphs and concentrate on the active block.
  • newTypewriter Mode to keep the active editing line vertically centered on the screen.
  • newCurated themes: Lucid Studio Dark, Editorial Light, Warm Book Sepia, and System Dynamic.
  • newDocument export: vector PDF generation via native WebKit, standalone HTML export, and formatted rich-text clipboard copy.

Improvements & Polish

  • improvedRefined content top inset so the document's first heading clears the toolbar at rest and passes beneath it smoothly on scroll.
  • improvedUnified motion vocabulary across the application with disciplined transition durations and spring curves.
  • improvedFull accessibility awareness honoring system Reduce Motion, Reduce Transparency, and Increased Contrast preferences.
  • improvedLocal-first security model: all rendering parsers, fonts, and engines are bundled locally with zero external network tracking.

Need help setting up Lucid or learning Markdown syntax? Read the Getting Started Guide →