Open the file.
Know the edges.

01 · Setup

Install Studio

1. Download the Apple-notarized Linelark Notepad Studio 1.0 disk image.
2. Open the DMG and drag Linelark Notepad Studio into Applications.
3. Eject the disk image, then open Linelark from Applications.

02 · Start

First run

Open a file or choose a folder. A folder adds the side panel with its tree, open files, function list, and search results. Linelark detects the language, encoding, and line endings; each remains overridable from the menus or status bar.

03 · Navigate

Essential shortcuts

04 · Preserve

Encoding and line endings

Linelark detects eleven encodings and LF, CRLF, or CR line endings. Saving preserves the detected format unless you explicitly convert it.

• If text looks wrong, use Reinterpret as before editing or saving.
• Use the encoding menu to convert a document intentionally.
• Whole filenames and shebangs participate in language detection alongside extensions.

05 · Locate

Folder search

Open a folder, show the find bar, then switch the scope from This File to In Files. Add a filter such as *.swift and click any result to open it in the focused pane.

Find in Files skips binary files and files larger than 4 MB, and caps a search at 5,000 hits. Replace in Files confirms the match and file counts before writing, preserves encoding and line endings, and skips open files with unsaved edits.

06 · Arrange

Panes and tabs

Choose a preset with View ▸ Editor Layout, then drag dividers to resize. Drag tabs between strips, or open the same document in several panes. Shared views use one buffer and undo history but keep independent selections and scroll positions.

The pane layout and its tabs return on relaunch. Reducing the number of panes folds surplus tabs into the last remaining pane.

07 · Studio

Terminal safety

The Studio terminal is a real login shell, not a simulated command box. Commands have the same access and consequences they would have in Terminal.app. Review commands before running them, keep secrets out of shared output, and avoid destructive operations unless you know their exact target.

• Each tab starts its own shell in the file’s folder and closes it with the tab.
• $LINELARK_FILE is fixed when that shell starts. Restart the shell after Save As to refresh the path and working directory.
• Clean tabs reload after terminal tools edit them; tabs with unsaved edits are protected.
• Claude Code integration is opt-in and explains the hook before writing to ~/.claude.

08 · Recover

Restore and recovery

Linelark snapshots untitled documents and unsaved edits while you type. Tabs, pane layouts, and dirty buffers return after a normal quit or crash. Recent files are pruned when their files disappear.

09 · Resolve

Troubleshooting

The file opens as garbled text.

Choose Reinterpret as and select the original encoding before saving.

A terminal starts in the old folder.

Restart that tab’s shell after Save As; its working directory is chosen at shell start.

The folder tree missed a disk change.

Use Refresh in the panel header, a folder context menu, or View ▸ Refresh Folder Tree.

An external edit did not replace my buffer.

Linelark will not silently reload a tab containing unsaved work. Save or discard your changes first.