Official tools for `.mdz`

The format is open; these tools make it practical day-to-day. Apps for everyone come first — if you build software, the developer libraries are at the end.

Apps

MDZip Studio — the desktop app

Create, edit, and package .mdz archives with a full workspace editor — no command line required. The Windows installer also registers the .mdz file type and the File Explorer preview.

Get it: download the latest release (Windows installer), or learn more about Studio first.

`mdz` — the command line

Create, inspect, and validate archives from the command line: mdz create, mdz ls, mdz validate, plus cat, assets, manifest, and workspace for deeper work. Self-contained builds for Windows, macOS, and Linux — no runtime to install.

Windows (PowerShell):

irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdzip-project/mdzip-cli/main/scripts/install.ps1 | iex

Linux / macOS:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdzip-project/mdzip-cli/main/scripts/install.sh | sh

A WinGet package (MDZip.Cli) is coming soon. Source and releases: mdzip-project/mdzip-cli.

MDZip Editor for VS Code

Read and write .mdz archives directly in VS Code, including packaged images, split preview/edit mode, and an included MCP server for agent workflows.

Install it from the VS Code Marketplace, search for MDZip in the Extensions view, or install from the terminal:

code --install-extension mdzip-project.mdzip-vscode

Source: mdzip-project/mdzip-vscode

File Explorer preview (Windows)

Native File Explorer preview for .mdz files, so recipients can inspect packaged content without extracting anything. It ships with the MDZip Studio install — nothing extra to set up. macOS and Linux are planned.

Right here, in your browser

No install at all:

The web previewer opens and renders .mdz files directly, including internal links and packaged assets.
The packager turns a local folder into an .mdz archive in the browser — drop a folder, download the archive.

Platform support

Tool	Windows	macOS	Linux	Notes
MDZip Studio	✅ Available	Planned	Planned	Installer registers `.mdz` and the File Explorer preview
`mdz` CLI	✅ Available	✅ Available	✅ Available	WinGet package coming soon
VS Code extension	✅ Available	✅ Available	✅ Available	Marketplace listing
File Explorer preview	✅ Available	Planned	Planned	Ships with the Studio install
Web previewer & packager	✅	✅	✅	Any modern browser

For developers

Everything above is built on these libraries — use them to add .mdz support to your own apps. Just want to use .mdz? You're done; everything you need is above.

JavaScript / TypeScript (npm)

@mdzip/core-js — the core: pack, unpack, validate, and resolve .mdz archives in Node or the browser.

npm install @mdzip/core-js

@mdzip/editor — the embeddable workspace editor used by Studio, the VS Code extension, and this site. Use it from vanilla JavaScript or through a first-class framework wrapper: