Markdown support

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Basslint
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Markdown support

Post by Basslint »

So, I was writing a message with a ordered list in it and I realized how verbose the whole thing is. This is an ordered list in BBcode

Code: Select all

[list=1]
[*] First
[*] Second
[*] Third
[/list]
Note that the

Code: Select all

[list=1]
thing is not obvious, you have to figure it out even if you click on the toolbar button. Meanwhile, this is the equivalent in Markdown:

Code: Select all

1. First
2. Second
3. Third
(the same could be said for unordered lists)

In other words, what one would write naturally, without even know what Markdown is! Markdown is actually a very popular markup language used by most (my own estimate) FLOSS projects as the format for README files.

For this reason, I propose that opt-in Markdown support is enabled. It should be disabled by default (at least for now) so that users are not affected unless they want to.

This very popular phpBB plugin implements Markdown support: https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/extension/markdown/

I think Markdown would improve the average formatting of posts by making posters more efficient because:
  • For keyboard-heavy users, it reduces the number of characters that have to be typed. Bold: from 7 characters, 3 of which distinct (b,[,],/) to 4 of the same (*); Italic, from 7 characters, 3 of which distinct (i,[,],/) to 2 of the same (*); urls, from 12 characters, 7 of which distinct (u,r,l,[,=,],/) to 4 characters, 4 of which distinct ([,],(,)); inline code blocks, from 13 characters, 7 of which distinct (c,o,d,e,[,],/) to 6 characters of the same (`); and what I said about lists also applies (you can count the characters for it :lol:)
  • For people who use the mouse to click on the toolbar buttons, it eliminates the need to do it (since it takes less to just use Markdown). Not moving one hand away from the keyboard obviously increases average typing speed!
  • Many people here are used to writing Markdown already
  • The extension allows BBcode and Markdown to coexist, in any case!
I hope this can convince @raboof to add Markdown support. Thank you!
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Michael Willis
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Re: Markdown support

Post by Michael Willis »

Yes please!
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d.healey
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Re: Markdown support

Post by d.healey »

+1
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Re: Markdown support

Post by finotti »

It would be nice indeed.... (If it doesn't break anything.)
Basslint
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Re: Markdown support

Post by Basslint »

Any updates on this? At least if it's possible or not @raboof. I think making things easier to format can only improve the quality of the posts. Thanks!
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raboof
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Re: Markdown support

Post by raboof »

done ;)

Basslint
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Re: Markdown support

Post by Basslint »

raboof wrote: Mon Oct 24, 2022 6:06 pm

done ;)

This is cool spectacular! Thank you, @raboof :D

The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. [Acts 4:32]

Please donate time (even bug reports) or money to libre software 🎁

Jam on openSUSE + GeekosDAW!
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