any-edit: Edit Anytype document in external editor

any-edit exports an Anytype document (page, note, task, or other object type) to a markdown file, opens the file in an editor, waits for the editor to exit, then imports the updated document into Anytype.

A Raycast extension (script included) can be used to assign a hotkey for "edit this page in external editor".

Commands

# Authenticate with desktop app
any-edit auth login

# Check authentication status
any-edit auth status

# View commands and options
any-edit --help

# Export a page (or other object type) with markdown
any-edit get SPACE_ID OBJECT_ID -o page.md

# Update document title or body if there are changes.
any-edit update -i page.md

# Round trip: Export a document, open it in editor,
# wait for editor to close, then import changes
any-edit edit SPACE_ID OBJECT_ID

# Same as edit but uses LINK obtained from
# the app menus 'Copy Link' or 'Copy Deeplink'
any-edit edit --doc "LINK"

macos-only commands

# Ask Anytype desktop for the current document,
# export it as markdown, open in editor, and import changes.
any-edit edit-current

# Get "Deeplink" url of currently viewed document
any-edit copy-link

Install

Release binaries are on github

Macos Homebrew

brew install stevelr/tap/any-edit

Linux (arm64/x86_64)

curl -fsSL https://github.com/stevelr/anytype/releases/latest/download/any-edit-installer.sh | sh

Windows Powershell

irm https://github.com/stevelr/anytype/releases/latest/download/any-edit-installer.ps1 | iex

Cargo

cargo install -p any-edit

Build from source

Cargo

cargo install -p any-edit

Nix

nix build

Configure

Use with desktop app

1. Ensure anytype desktop app is running on the current machine. The default http api endpoint is http://127.0.0.1:31009.

2. Enter any-edit auth login to begin interactive authentication. The app displays a 4-digit code. Enter the code into any-edit, and an access token is generated and stored securely in the OS keyring or key-file.

3. Type any-edit auth status to confirm authentication status.

See scripts/README.md for Raycast setup, editor configuration, and diagnostics.

Use with headless cli

1. Generate a token with the cli, anytype auth apikey create any-edit, and store the token either:

   • in the default location: (linux) ~/.config/any-edit/api.key (mac) ~/Library/Application Support/any-edit/api.key,
   • or in custom path and pass the path to any-edit with --keyfile-path=PATH

2. Configure the url path, either

   • set as an environment variable, for example, export ANYTYPE_URL=http://127.0.0.1:31012
   • or use the url parameter: any-edit --url=http://127.0.0.1:31012

3. Check that the key is valid with any-edit auth status

The headless cli doesn't support the copy link hotkeys so --copy-url or --edit-current, but the other commands should work.

Platform compatibility

The Raycast extension and hotkey to query the desktop app for the current page only work on macos. The other operations: exporting anytype object to markdown, and updating an object from a markdown file, should work on other platforms. However, if you just need a general export/import tool for anytype objects, check out anyr.

Accessibility Permissions

any-edit needs permission to send keystrokes to the Anytype desktop application. You may see a system prompt that PROGRAM would like to control this computer using accessibility features". Depending on how it is invoked, "PROGRAM" may be any-edit, Raycast, or your terminal program (such as WezTerm or Terminal). Permissions can be enabled in System Settings -> Privacy and Security -> Accessibility.