What is mdview?
mdview is a Claude Code mod by xuanji86 that click a .md path in the Claude Code conversation to read it rendered as markdown beside the session, pictures included, and point at any block to have Claude edit it. It is listed under Interface and has 6 GitHub stars.
| Type | Claude code mod |
|---|---|
| Author | xuanji86 |
| Repository | xuanji86/claude-mdview |
| Popularity | 6 GitHub stars |
| Category | Interface |
| Security | Review before installing (60/100) |
| Rank | #678 of 5,272 Claude Code mods; #255 in Interface |
| License | MIT |
| Last commit | 2026-10-15 |
| Hooks | 8 events |
| Sees | classic hooks, every tool call, mcp__mdview__show calls |
| Draws on | AssistantMessage, ToolUse, UserMessage, Pane |
Is mdview safe to install?
mdview scores 60/100 on the MCPMods security check: Review before installing. Things to review: starts processes outside the sandbox; writes files or config; reads environment variables. It passed 4 of 8 checks.
Mod footprints come from claude plugin validate, which lists every event a mod hooks and every API call it makes without running it.
| Check | Result |
|---|---|
| No network access | Pass |
| Starts processes outside the sandbox | Review |
| Writes files or config | Review |
| Reads environment variables | Review |
| Only sees the events it hooks | Pass |
| Drives Claude (model calls, prompts) | Note |
| Passes claude plugin validate | Pass |
| Has an open-source license | Pass |
API calls in its code
| Call | What it means |
|---|---|
$.clock.every | |
$.clock.now | |
$.clock.sleep | |
$.command.register | |
$.config.set | changes config |
$.env.get | reads env vars |
$.fs.read | reads files |
$.fs.stat | reads files |
$.process.run | runs processes |
$.prompt.submit | drives Claude |
$.session.cwd | |
$.state.get | |
$.state.set | |
$.tool.register | drives Claude |
$.ui.close | draws interface |
$.ui.invalidate | draws interface |
$.ui.open | draws interface |
$.ui.resolve | draws interface |
$.ui.scroll | draws interface |
$.ui.toast | draws interface |
How do I install mdview?
- Check your Claude Code version. Mods need Claude Code 2.1.287 or later and are on by default.
claude --version
- Read its footprint. This lists every event it hooks and every API call it makes, without running it.
git clone https://github.com/xuanji86/claude-mdview claude plugin validate ./claude-mdview/.
- Install it. Run this in your terminal, then /reload-plugins in an open session.
claude plugin marketplace add xuanji86/claude-mdview && claude plugin install mdview@claude-mdview
Or ask Claude to set it up
Paste this into Claude Code and it installs mdview for you:
Install the "mdview" Claude Code mod from https://github.com/xuanji86/claude-mdview. Run claude plugin validate on it first and show me what it can access before you enable it.