For decades, slide decks have been stuck in the same old paradigm: click, drag, and drop in closed, proprietary tools. But what if you could build beautiful, interactive presentations using the tools and workflows you already love as a developer? Slidev is the answer—a lightning-fast, open-source presentation platform that lets you create, style, and share slides with Markdown, Vue components, and a modern web stack. Whether you're teaching, pitching, or demoing, Slidev gives you the power and flexibility that closed-source tools simply can't match.
Website: https://sli.dev/
slidevjs
Why Choose Slidev?
In a world dominated by PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Keynote, Slidev stands out with a fundamentally different approach:
- Markdown-First Workflow
Write your slides in Markdown, focus on content, and use your favorite code editor. No more clunky GUIs or endless clicking. - Developer Friendly
Built-in code highlighting, live coding, and seamless integration with Vue components make Slidev a dream for technical presentations. - Fully Customizable
Style your slides with UnoCSS, create or use npm-based themes, and extend functionality with Vite plugins or custom Vue components. - Interactive & Dynamic
Embed live demos, interactive diagrams (Mermaid), LaTeX math, and even draw or annotate directly on your slides. - Presenter Mode & Recording
Use a second window or your phone as a remote, and record your presentations with built-in camera and screen capture. - Export Anywhere
Export your slides to PDF, PNG, or even PowerPoint (PPTX) for sharing with anyone, anywhere. - Open Source & Free Forever
MIT-licensed, with a thriving community and no feature gating or subscription fees.
Spotlight on Key Features
1. Markdown-Based Authoring
• Write slides in Markdown for speed and simplicity
• Use frontmatter for slide-level configuration
• Mix in HTML and Vue components for advanced layouts
2. Developer Superpowers
• Syntax-highlighted code blocks with Shiki
• Live coding and code runner support
• Integrated Monaco editor for in-slide editing
• Embeddable Vue components for dynamic content
3. Design & Customization
• UnoCSS utility-first styling
• Theme gallery and npm-based theme sharing
• Custom layouts, transitions, and animations
• Iconify integration for instant access to thousands of icons
4. Interactive & Visual Content
• Mermaid diagrams for flowcharts and sequence diagrams
• KaTeX for LaTeX math equations
• Drawing and annotation tools
• Presenter mode with notes and remote control
5. Export & Sharing
• Export to PDF, PNG, or PPTX
• Host online or share as a static site
• PWA support for offline access
• VSCode extension and integrated editor
Slidev vs. Closed-Source Alternatives
How does Slidev compare to the big names in presentation software? Here’s a side-by-side look:
| Feature | Slidev | PowerPoint | Google Slides | Keynote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free, open-source | $159.99 (Office) or $7/mo | Free (with Google account) | Free (Mac only) |
| Source Code | ✅ MIT License | ❌ Closed | ❌ Closed | ❌ Closed |
| Markdown Support | ✅ Native | ❌ None | ❌ None | ❌ None |
| Code Highlighting | ✅ Built-in | ⚠️ Manual only | ⚠️ Manual only | ⚠️ Manual only |
| Live Coding | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Custom Themes | ✅ npm, CSS, UnoCSS | ⚠️ Limited | ⚠️ Limited | ⚠️ Limited |
| Interactivity | ✅ Vue, JS, Mermaid | ⚠️ Limited | ⚠️ Limited | ⚠️ Limited |
| Export Options | PDF, PNG, PPTX | PPTX, PDF | PPTX, PDF | PPTX, PDF |
| Web Hosting | ✅ Static site, PWA | ⚠️ OneDrive only | ✅ Google Drive | ⚠️ iCloud only |
| Community | 37.8k+ GitHub stars | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Beyond the Feature Matrix
- For Developers, By Developers: Slidev is built for those who live in code, making technical presentations a breeze.
- No Vendor Lock-In: Your slides are just Markdown and assets—easy to version, share, and migrate.
- Hackable & Extensible: Add any npm package, Vite plugin, or Vue component to supercharge your slides.
- No Account Required: Use Slidev locally, on your own infrastructure, or host anywhere you like.
Getting Started in Minutes
Slidev is designed for effortless setup:
⚡️ Try Online
- Create and edit slides instantly at sli.dev/new
💻 Local Installation
npm init slidev
# or
yarn create slidev
- Write your slides in
slides.md - Start the dev server:
npx slidev --open - Enjoy instant hot-reloading and live preview
🌐 Export & Share
- Export to PDF:
npx slidev export - Export to PNG:
npx slidev export --format png - Export to PPTX:
npx slidev export --format pptx - Deploy as a static site or PWA for offline access
Real-World Success Stories
"Slidev is a game-changer for developer talks. I can embed live code, use my own themes, and version control everything in Git."
— Priya, Frontend Engineer
"I switched from PowerPoint to Slidev for all my technical workshops. The Markdown workflow is so much faster, and the slides look amazing."
— Alex, Tech Educator
Practical Applications
Technical Talks & Workshops
Deliver code-heavy presentations with live demos, syntax highlighting, and interactive diagrams.
Teaching & Education
Create math-rich, visually engaging lessons with LaTeX, Mermaid, and custom layouts.
Product Demos
Showcase your app with embedded live components, animations, and real-time interactivity.
Team Knowledge Sharing
Collaborate on slide decks in Git, track changes, and reuse themes across your organization.
Join the Slidev Community
With over 37,800 GitHub stars and a vibrant contributor base, Slidev is one of the fastest-growing open-source presentation projects:
- Contribute Code: Help enhance features or fix bugs via GitHub
- Share Themes & Addons: Publish your creations to the theme and addon galleries
- Join Discord: Connect with users and developers at chat.sli.dev
- Sponsor Development: Support the project via GitHub Sponsors
Final Thoughts
Presentations should empower, not constrain. Slidev represents a new era of slide creation—open, flexible, and developer-centric. Whether you're a teacher, engineer, or creative, Slidev offers a compelling alternative to closed, legacy tools, putting you in full control of your content and workflow.
Ready to build your next presentation the modern way? Explore sli.dev or dive into the code on GitHub.
