We just benchmarked @m2d/react-markdown against the popular react-markdown โ and the results are in:
โ Competitive speed,
โ Cleaner architecture,
โ Purpose-built for MDAST-first workflows likemdast2docx
๐ Why Another Markdown Renderer?
Most renderers are great at one thing: rendering. But if youโre working on docx/pdf export, hybrid output (MDX/HTML/JSX), or unified pipelines, you need something:
- Fast ๐
- Extensible ๐ก
- MDAST-respecting ๐ง
- SSR/Streaming/Edge-ready ๐ช
That's exactly what @m2d/react-markdown is for.
๐ Real Benchmarks โ No Hype
We ran thorough benchmarks with various markdown types: simple notes, complex nested GFM, large tutorials, and even full-site markdown dumps.
Key Takeaways:
- ๐ข
@m2d/react-markdownoutperformed or matchedreact-markdownin several medium/complex files - ๐ Bulk rendering (all files in one go) saw better JSX tree handling
- ๐ Slightly slower in very short/simple cases (which don't matter much in real apps)
Check out the full results here:
๐ benchmark.md
Includes tables, deltas, and even visual charts!
๐ Perfect Companion for mdast2docx & Export Tooling
If you're building tools like:
-
mdast2docx(Markdown โ Word) - Hybrid export systems (PDF/HTML from a single source)
- Local-first writing tools with output control
Then @m2d/react-markdown is your new best friend.
It retains the full MDAST, supports plugin injection, and gives you full control over rendering + export paths.
๐ฌ Join the Discussion โ Shape the Future
Weโre actively planning support for:
- Inline JSX support in markdown
- Better handling of reusable ASTs
- Declarative hydration markers for SSR/Edge use
๐ฌ Engage, vote, or suggest improvements here:
๐ https://github.com/md2docx/react-markdown/discussions/3
๐ Build Your Own Library Like This
This library was scaffolded using react18-tools/turborepo-template โ a production-grade template for building and publishing modern React libraries.
If you want to:
- Build & test across Next.js/Vite
- Auto-generate docs & examples
- Publish fast and right
๐ก Use this template to create your own library in minutes.
๐ค Call for Contributors
If you:
- Love performance and clean architecture
- Use React with Markdown in any serious way
- Care about maintainable DX and OSS karma
โฆthen jump in!
Star, fork, or file issues here โ https://github.com/md2docx/react-markdown
Or explore mdast2docx to see how this library integrates into real export workflows.
๐งโโ๏ธ Built with Care
This isnโt just a library โ itโs a piece in a larger mission to simplify dev workflows and bridge content with output in meaningful ways.
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