The original is Swift + AppKit + SwiftUI (macOS-only). This is a from-scratch Claude code rewrite in Python with GTK4 + GtkSourceView 5 + WebKitGTK 6, packaged as a
.deb.Screenshot
What's new in this build
- Window manager native decorations. No client-side header bar. Your WM (KWin, Mutter, Sway, i3, Xfwm, etc.) draws the title bar and frame, so the app respects your panel/theme/keybindings/tiling rules. Toolbar lives below the WM titlebar.
- libadwaita is now optional. Demoted to
Suggests. The app uses it only as a hint for dark-mode detection and falls back to GNOME'sorg.gnome.desktop.interface color-schemesetting. - Friendly error dialog if GTK/GtkSource/WebKit
GIR bindings are missing, uses
zenity/kdialogif available, falls back to stderr. - Plain
Gtk.MessageDialogfor unsaved-changes prompts (works without libadwaita).
Download & Install
sudo apt install ./clearly_1.1.2-linux1_all.deb
Important: the leading ./ is required,
without it, apt thinks clearly_1.1.2-linux1_all.deb
is a package name in the repos.
apt will pull in the GTK4, GtkSourceView 5, WebKitGTK 6, and Python markdown deps automatically. Tested target: Debian 12+ / 13 (trixie) / testing, Ubuntu 24.04+.
Run
clearly # empty buffer clearly README.md # open a file
Or launch from your application menu.
Features
Carried over from upstream:
- Markdown syntax highlighting
- Instant GFM preview, toggle with Ctrl+2
- Format shortcuts: Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I, Ctrl+K
- Light/dark theme follows system
Linux-specific:
- WM-native window frame (no CSD)
.mdfile association via shared-mime-info- AppStream metainfo for software centers
Not ported:
- QuickLook (no Linux equivalent, we register as the
default
.mdhandler instead) - Sparkle auto-updater (apt handles updates)
Uninstall
sudo apt remove clearly
License
MIT, same as upstream.