Getting Started with Ritemark: From Download to First AI Edit
This guide takes you from zero to making your first AI-powered document edit in under 10 minutes. You will download Ritemark, create a document, install Claude Code, and use AI to edit your writing directly inside the app.
Step 1: Download and Install Ritemark
Go to the Ritemark releases page and download Ritemark.dmg for your Mac. Both Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) and Intel versions are available.
Open the downloaded DMG file and drag Ritemark to your Applications folder. That is the entire installation.
When you first launch Ritemark, macOS may show a security prompt. Click "Open" to proceed. Ritemark is signed and notarized by Apple, so your Mac has verified it is safe.
Step 2: Create Your First Document
Launch Ritemark. You will see a clean interface with three areas: a file browser on the left, a writing area in the center, and a terminal panel at the bottom.
Click "Open Folder" to choose a folder for your writing projects. If you do not have one, create a new folder called "writing" in your Documents directory.
Create a new markdown file by clicking the new file button. Name it my-first-document.md. Start typing in the editor area. You will see your text formatted in real time: headings appear larger, bold text appears bold, and lists are properly indented.
Try typing some markdown:
# My First Document
This is my first document in Ritemark. I am going to use **AI** to improve it.
## Things I Want to Write About
- Technical documentation
- Blog posts
- Project notes
Your text appears formatted as you type. The underlying file is plain markdown that works with any other editor.
Step 3: Install Claude Code
Now for the AI part. Click the terminal panel at the bottom of Ritemark to expand it. This is a real macOS terminal, the same as Terminal.app.
First, check if Node.js is installed:
node --version
If you see a version number (v18 or higher), proceed. If not, install Node.js from nodejs.org.
Install Claude Code:
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
Set up your Anthropic account by running:
claude
Follow the authentication prompts. You need an Anthropic account with API access enabled.
Step 4: Make Your First AI Edit
With Claude Code authenticated and your document open, tell Claude what to do. In the terminal, type:
claude "Read my-first-document.md and expand it into a proper article. Add an engaging introduction, develop each bullet point into a paragraph, and write a conclusion."
Claude starts an interactive session, reads your file, and proposes the expanded content. After you approve the edits, it saves the result. Your Ritemark editor updates to show the new content.
Congratulations. You just made your first AI-powered edit without copy-pasting a single character.
Step 5: Try More AI Operations
Now that everything is set up, try these common tasks:
Fix grammar and improve writing:
claude "Proofread my-first-document.md. Fix grammar, improve sentence flow, and make the writing more concise."
Translate to another language:
claude "Translate my-first-document.md to Estonian. Save as my-first-document-et.md."
Generate a new document:
claude "Create a README.md for a project called 'garden-tracker'. Include installation instructions, usage examples, and a contribution guide."
Ask questions about your writing:
claude "Read my-first-document.md and suggest 5 ways to make it more engaging for technical readers."
Essential Ritemark Features
Now that you have the basics, here are the features you will use daily:
Keyboard shortcuts speed up common actions. Press Cmd+N for a new file, Cmd+S to save, and Cmd+B to toggle bold text. View all shortcuts in the support article on keyboard shortcuts.
Document preview shows your markdown rendered as it will appear on the web. Use it to check formatting before publishing.
File browser on the left panel lets you navigate between documents quickly. Click any markdown file to open it in the editor.
Terminal panel can be resized by dragging its top edge. Collapse it when you want a full-screen writing experience and expand it when you need AI assistance.
What to Do Next
With Ritemark and Claude Code set up, explore these workflows:
- Write a blog post - Draft in Ritemark, polish with Claude Code
- Translate content - Create multilingual versions of your documents
- Document a project - Generate README files and API docs from your code
- Batch edit - Update formatting or content across multiple files at once
Check out our support articles on AI writing workflows and Claude Code integration for detailed guides on each workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Claude Code to use Ritemark?
No. Ritemark works as a standalone markdown editor without any AI tools installed. Claude Code is optional but recommended for AI-assisted writing.
What if I do not have an Anthropic account?
You can still use Ritemark for writing. When you are ready for AI features, sign up at anthropic.com and follow Step 3 above.
How much does Claude Code cost?
Claude Code uses Anthropic's API with usage-based pricing. A typical editing session (reviewing and improving one article) costs a few cents. There is no monthly subscription for Claude Code itself; you pay only for API usage.
Can I use Ritemark with other AI tools?
Yes. Ritemark's terminal works with any command-line tool. Gemini CLI, the llm library, aider, and custom scripts all work. See our guide on setting up AI agents for details on each option.
What happens if I close the terminal?
Your documents are saved independently of the terminal. Closing or collapsing the terminal panel does not affect your files. When you reopen the terminal, it starts a new session in your project folder.