PM Toolbox

A better markdown editing and kanban board experience for product builders.

If you have suggestions on how to improve, or find bugs, please reach out: support@makebetterproducts.com.

Overview

PM Toolbox transforms your markdown files into a beautiful visual editing experience while keeping everything in standard markdown format. No proprietary formats, no lock-in.

Features

WYSIWYG markdown editor

• Real-time rendering as you type
• Full markdown syntax support
• Automatic dark/light theme matching

Slash command menu

Type / to open a Notion-style command palette:

• Text blocks: Headings (H1-H3), paragraphs, quotes
• Lists: Bullet, numbered, checkbox
• Media: Code blocks, tables, dividers
• Diagrams: Mermaid flowcharts
• Templates: Your custom templates (if configured)

Kanban boards

Visual task management from markdown:

• H2 headings (## Column) become columns
• Checkbox items (- [ ] Task) become cards
• Drag and drop between columns
• Toggle task completion with checkboxes

Mermaid diagrams

• Insert via slash menu or write manually
• Interactive zoom and pan controls
• Theme-aware rendering

Custom templates

Create reusable content blocks:

• Load from a configured folder
• YAML frontmatter for metadata
• Template variables: {{date}}, {{time}}, {{author}}, etc.

File viewers

Preview common document formats directly in VS Code:

• PDF: Page navigation with zoom controls
• Word (.docx): Formatted document preview
• Excel (.xlsx): Spreadsheet with sheet tabs
• CSV: Sortable table view

All viewers are read-only for quick reference without leaving your editor.

Getting started

1. Open any .md file
2. Right-click and select "Open With..." then "PM Toolbox"
3. Start typing or use / to insert blocks

For kanban boards:

• .kanban files open automatically as boards (just rename a .md file)
• Or right-click any .md file and select "Kanban Board"

Setting up templates

1. Create a folder with .md template files
2. Add frontmatter to each template:

   ---
   template_name: "Meeting Notes"
   template_description: "Template for meeting notes"
   template_icon: "meeting"
   ---
   

3. Set pmtoolbox.templateFolder to your folder path
4. Templates appear in the slash menu

File types

Support PM Toolbox

PM Toolbox is free to use — no trial, no feature lockdown. Your files are standard markdown and always yours.

I build PM Toolbox solo in my spare time. If you find it useful, consider supporting with a one-time purchase to help cover costs and keep development going:

Support PM Toolbox ($24)

Supporters get a license key to remove the occasional support reminder.

Requirements

• VS Code 1.85.0 or later