A curated list of Quick Look plugins for macOS that enhance file previews for developers.
Quick Look plugins is a curated list of extensions for macOS's Quick Look feature, which allows users to preview file contents directly in Finder. It includes plugins for viewing code, Markdown, JSON, videos, archives, and other developer-relevant formats without opening dedicated applications. The project solves the problem of inefficient file inspection by providing instant previews for a wide range of file types.
macOS developers and power users who frequently work with code, configuration files, archives, and media and want to quickly inspect file contents without launching full applications.
Developers choose this collection because it centralizes high-quality, tested plugins that enhance macOS's native Quick Look functionality, saving time and streamlining file management workflows. It offers a no-fuss, practical solution curated by a trusted open-source maintainer.
List of useful Quick Look plugins for developers
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Supports over 50 code languages, Markdown with diagrams, JSON, archives, videos, and more, as evidenced by plugins like QLStephen for plain text and ProvisionQL for iOS profiles.
Most plugins can be installed via simple brew commands, such as 'brew install qlstephen', streamlining setup for macOS developers as detailed in the README.
Maintained by Sindre Sorhus, a reputable open-source contributor, ensuring a reliable and practical selection focused on developer utility.
Emphasizes solving specific pain points without bloat, with plugins like Suspicious Package for installer inspection and BetterZipQL for archive previews.
Some plugins require manual downloads and file moves, and on Catalina+, users must remove quarantine attributes with commands like 'xattr -d -r com.apple.quarantine', adding friction.
The README notes that SourceCodeSyntaxHighlight might overwrite other plugins, and multiple Markdown plugins (e.g., QLMarkdown, FluxMarkdown) can cause confusion or compatibility issues.
Includes paid plugins like Source Code Preview and Folder Preview, and Peek is described as 'abandoned and buggy,' limiting free or reliable choices for some users.