# **What Ulysses is (at a glance)** Ulysses is a library-based writing environment for macOS and iOS/iPadOS. It uses a lightweight syntax called **Markdown XL**, stores documents as **“sheets”** organized in groups/projects with iCloud sync and local backups, and offers opinionated export & direct publishing workflows to WordPress, Ghost, Micro.blog, and Medium.  --- ![[Ulysses.png]] # **Architecture & Core Features** ## **1) Library, Sheets, Groups & Projects** - **Library model:** Everything lives in a unified library with **sheets** (atomic documents) inside **groups**; you can also create **Projects**, which act like self-contained mini-libraries with “Content” vs. “Extras,” templates, goals, and archive tools. This design intentionally hides the filesystem to keep you in the writing environment.  - **Backups:** Automatic, local backups of the library are maintained.  ## **2) Markdown XL editor** - **Markdown XL** is Ulysses’ flavor of Markdown (28 tags) with extras like comments, annotations, and “delete” that go beyond standard Markdown. It’s optimized for keyboard-only formatting and a clean, distraction-free editor.  - **Tables, code, math:** Native tables, fenced code blocks, and LaTeX equations are supported from the editor.  - **Editor customization & themes:** You can theme the editor and tweak typography independently from export styles.  ## **3) Dashboard: attachments, goals, grammar/style** - **Dashboard** centralizes per-sheet attachments (notes, images), keywords, goals, and more.  - **Goals:** Set per-sheet or per-project goals (words, characters, deadlines) to track progress visually.  - **Grammar & Style Check:** Built-in grammar/spell/style tools are integrated into the Dashboard.  - **Apple “Writing Tools” integration:** On iOS 18.1/macOS 15.1, Ulysses plugs into Apple Intelligence Writing Tools (proofread/Rewrite/Summarize) where available.  ## **4) Export & Publishing** - **Export:** One-click export to PDF, DOCX, ePub, HTML, and more with **export styles** (you can customize or install styles separately). Live previews help you fine-tune the output.  - **Direct publishing:** Post straight to **WordPress, Ghost, Micro.blog, Medium**; platform-specific fields (tags/categories, images, etc.) are supported. Publishing status syncs across devices, and Ghost/Micro.blog updates are supported.  ## **5) External Folders (Markdown or Ulysses files)** - You can mount **External Folders** (Dropbox, Files providers, Git repos via Working Copy) as first-class groups. In Markdown mode you keep max portability; in **Ulysses file** mode you regain XL features/attachments. TextBundle/TextPack are supported for bundling assets. (Caveat: fewer attachments in pure Markdown mode; Ulysses doesn’t auto-backup external folders.)  ### **6) Quality-of-life & platform niceties** - **Split View**, **sheet merging/splitting**, keywording, smart filters, Quick Note deep links from Apple’s Notes, and improved table copy/paste with Numbers/Excel interop. Alternative app icons are now available.  --- # **Concrete Use-Cases (end-to-end)** ### **A) Blogger / Indie publisher** 1. Draft posts in sheets under a Project (Content vs. Extras for research). 2. Add images, set a word-count goal, run the grammar/style pass in the Dashboard. 3. Export for review as PDF or post directly to WordPress/Ghost/Micro.blog/Medium from Ulysses; status syncs to your other devices and you can update posts later.  ### **B) Novelist / Long-form author** 1. Organize chapters as sheets inside a Project; keep character/location notes in Extras and tag scenes via **Keywords**. 2. Track a 50k-word goal with a deadline; use split view to keep outline and draft visible. 3. Export to ePub/DOCX with a custom style for editors.  ### **C) Academic / Technical writer** 1. Use External Folders with Markdown for portability; embed **LaTeX equations** and fenced code blocks. 2. Keep citations via a reference manager workflow and export to DOCX/HTML. 3. For iPad workflows, mount a Git repo via Working Copy for version control.  ### **D) Team-adjacent solo writer** 1. Draft internally in Ulysses; export styled PDFs for stakeholders. 2. When ready, publish to the CMS without leaving the editor.  --- # **Strengths** - **Coherent, distraction-minimal UX** that scales from notes to books; the library and sheet model keeps you “in the flow.”  - **Markdown XL power** (comments, annotations, delete) while keeping standard Markdown muscle memory; plus native tables/code/math.  - **First-class Project mode** for large works (Content/Extras separation, templates, archive/duplicate, per-project goals).  - **Tight Apple ecosystem integration** (themes, Quick Note linking, Apple Writing Tools).  - **Serious export & publishing** with style system + live preview and direct CMS posting (with update round-trips).  - **Hybrid storage options:** iCloud library for simplicity; External Folders for portability/Git/Dropbox.  - **Ongoing polish:** recent improvements to tables, status syncing, and app details like alt icons.  --- # **Weaknesses / Trade-offs** - **Proprietary layer:** Markdown XL features (comments/annotations/delete) don’t travel perfectly to plain-Markdown editors; switching External Folders to pure Markdown disables some XL-specific features.  - **Opinionated library:** The virtual-library model can feel confining if you prefer raw files/folders as the primary UI. (External Folders help, but with caveats.)  - **Collaboration is indirect:** No live multi-user editing; collaboration typically happens after export or via CMS. (Ulysses focuses on solo drafting and publishing.)  - **Platform lock-in:** Apple-only; no Windows/Linux/Android. (By design.)  - **Subscription model:** Requires an ongoing subscription via the App Store (pricing varies by region). Some writers prefer one-time licenses.  --- # **What’s truly unique about Ulysses?** 1. **Markdown XL’s editorial affordances** (inline comments, annotations, revision-style “delete”) inside a Markdown-like workflow—rare among plain-text editors.  2. **Project libraries** that temporarily hide the rest of your universe so you can treat a book/site as its own workspace, including Content vs. Extras, per-project templates/goals, and archiving/duplication.  3. **Deeply integrated publish-pipeline** across popular indie/blog platforms with device-synced publishing status and update-after-publish. This reduces context switching for solo publishers.  4. **Apple-first craftsmanship**: editor theming separate from export styles, Quick Note deep links, and integration with Apple’s new Writing Tools—Ulysses tends to adopt Apple platform features quickly.  --- # **How Ulysses fits modern life** - **Focus in a noisy world:** Ulysses’ library, sheets, and “just write” UX provide a stable home base amid app sprawl and browser distraction. Its **goals** and **dashboard metrics** support habit-forming—wordcount targets, deadlines, and gentle progress indicators encourage consistent output.  - **Indie publishing without friction:** The integrated pipeline (draft → preview → publish → update) maps perfectly onto modern solo-creator workflows (blogs, newsletters on Ghost/Micro.blog, Medium syndication). Less glue code, fewer tabs.  - **Portable plain text when you want it:** If your life is cross-tool (Git, Dropbox, Deckset, Marked), External Folders let you participate without giving up Ulysses’ editor—accepting trade-offs when you choose portability.  - **Human-plus-AI editing:** With Apple’s on-device Writing Tools where available, the grammar/style pass and rewrite/summarize loops happen inline, keeping privacy and context tight while reducing tool-hopping.  --- # **Bottom line** **Ulysses is best for**: Apple-centric writers who value a calm editor, structured long-form organization, and a first-class export/publish pipeline (bloggers, authors, academics who live on iPad/Mac). **You may prefer alternatives** if you require cross-platform live collaboration, generic file-tree workflows as your primary UI, or absolute Markdown purity without proprietary extensions. - [[A Comprehensive Guide to Markdown Formatting]] - [[Advice for someone stuck with Obsidian and Omnifocus]] - [[Apple Intelligence]] - [[Apple Reminders vs Omnifocus]] - [[Apple Shortcuts]] - [[Building Your Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) and Second Brain with Obsidian- A Comprehensive Guide]] - [[Data Backup]] - [[GTD and Omnifocus]] - [[Harnessing Efficiency with Obsidian Tasks-The Complete Guide]] - [[Mastering Obsidian-Transforming Note-Taking into an Art]] - [[Note Taking in the Digital Age]] - [[Obsidian as a PKM]] - [[Obsidian Quick Add]] - [[Protecting Your Digital Realm--Best Practices for Computer Privacy in Home and Business]] - [[The Daily Note]] - [[The GTD Black Belt]] - [[The Importance of Privacy--Why Average People Should Care]] - [[The Three Biscuit Method of Management]] - [[Understanding Data Privacy]] - [[home]] ◦ [[Contact]]