If you've been using Claude Code for a while, you've noticed something: it generates a lot of markdown files. CLAUDE.md. README.md. CHANGELOG.md. Architecture docs, technical specs, API references, migration guides. Markdown is Claude Code's native output format.

Most developers read these files in VS Code or the terminal. That works — but it's not the best experience. Here's why a dedicated markdown viewer changes things, and how to set one up.

The Files Claude Code Generates

Let's start with what you're actually dealing with.

CLAUDE.md is the most distinctive one. It's a configuration file that Claude Code reads at the start of every session — project context, coding conventions, architectural decisions, commands to know. Claude Code creates it, updates it, and reads it automatically. If your project has a CLAUDE.md, Claude Code understands your project structure before you type a single message.

A well-maintained CLAUDE.md is a structured document: headings for sections (Tech Stack, Project Structure, Commands, Critical Rules), code blocks for commands and examples, possibly tables for configuration options. In raw form it looks like:

## Tech Stack

| Layer | Tool |
|-------|------|
| Framework | Next.js 15 |
| Styling | Tailwind CSS v4 |

Rendered in a markdown editor, that table looks like a proper table. The headings are clear. The structure is readable.

Documentation files — Claude Code is excellent at generating documentation. Ask it to document an API, explain an architecture, or write a technical spec, and it will produce a well-structured .md file. These often include:

Tables of parameters, options, or endpoints
Mermaid diagrams of architecture or data flow
Code blocks with examples
LaTeX formulas for algorithmic documentation

README.md — Claude Code will happily write or update your project's README.md, including badges, installation instructions, usage examples, and contribution guidelines.

Changelogs — following the Keep a Changelog format, Claude Code generates well-structured CHANGELOG.md files when asked to document changes between versions.

The Problem with Reading Them in the Terminal

cat CLAUDE.md works. You can read the content. But you see the raw markdown — ## instead of visual headings, |---|---| table separators as text, raw asterisks around bold words.

For a short file, this is fine. For a 200-line architecture document with multiple sections, tables, and code blocks, it's hard work. Your brain has to parse the syntax and reconstruct the formatting mentally.

Same story in the terminal with less or bat — you get syntax highlighting of the markdown source, but not rendered output.

The Problem with Reading Them in VS Code

VS Code is where most developers spend their time, so it's natural to open these files there. The built-in markdown preview (⌘K V) works and renders correctly.

But there's friction:

You're in code mode. VS Code's UI is built for writing code. File tree on the left, terminal panel below, status bar with Git info. When you want to read a documentation file, this context creates noise.

The split layout halves your screen. The editor/preview split cuts your reading area. On a 13" or 14" laptop, this matters.

It's a 400MB app for reading a text file. If you're switching from your browser or another app just to read a documentation file, loading VS Code is heavy for the task.

A Better Approach: Dedicated Markdown Editor

A dedicated markdown editor opens the file and immediately shows you the rendered output. No split pane, no configuration, no extensions needed. The document fills the window. You toggle to edit mode when you need to change something.

OpenMark is a native macOS markdown editor built specifically for this. Open a .md file from Finder, from the command line with open -a OpenMark CLAUDE.md, or by setting OpenMark as the default app for .md files.

What you get that VS Code doesn't give you easily:

Full-width rendering — the document fills the window, formatted and readable
Mermaid diagrams rendered — Claude Code often generates architecture diagrams in Mermaid format; OpenMark renders them as actual diagrams
LaTeX math rendered — algorithmic documentation with formulas displays properly
Instant toggle — move between reading view and edit view with a click
Native macOS performance — opens instantly, uses minimal memory

Setting OpenMark as Default for .md Files

To open any .md file in OpenMark from Finder:

Right-click any .md file → Get Info
In Open With, select OpenMark
Click Change All…

From the terminal, you can open any file directly:

open -a OpenMark CLAUDE.md
open -a OpenMark docs/architecture.md

Or navigate to a file in Finder and double-click — it opens in OpenMark and renders immediately.

Mermaid Diagrams in Claude-Generated Docs

One thing worth calling out: Claude Code regularly generates Mermaid diagrams in its documentation output. When asked to document a system architecture, a data flow, or a state machine, it will produce something like:

```mermaid
graph LR
  Client --> API
  API --> DB[(Database)]
  API --> Cache[(Redis)]
```

In VS Code's default markdown preview, this renders as a code block — you see the raw Mermaid syntax, not a diagram. You need the Mermaid Preview extension to see the actual diagram.

In OpenMark, Mermaid rendering is built in. The diagram renders automatically — no extensions, no configuration.

For more on Mermaid diagrams in markdown, see How to Render Mermaid Diagrams in Markdown on Mac.

If You're New to Markdown Entirely

If Claude Code is generating files with all these # and ** symbols and you're not sure what any of it means, see What Is a Markdown File? A Simple Guide for Non-Developers. It explains the format in plain language.

And if you want a broader comparison of tools for reading and editing AI-generated markdown, see The Best Markdown Editor for AI-Generated Content.

Download OpenMark → — $9.99, one-time, native macOS. The best companion for Claude Code users who want to read and edit documentation properly.