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Markdown

Markdown background

Markdown is a lightweight markup language that was created in 2004 by John Gruber and Aaron Swartz. It was designed to be an easy-to-use, human-readable syntax for formatting plain text documents.

Markdown was inspired by earlier markup languages such as Setext and Structured Text, but it was designed to be simpler and easier to learn. It uses a set of special characters and symbols to indicate formatting, such as headings, bold and italic text, and bullet lists.

Markdown was initially used as a way to format text on internet forums, but it has since gained widespread adoption as a way to write and format documentation, blog posts, and other types of content. It is supported by many software tools, including text editors, content management systems, and static site generators.

Markdown has been successful because it strikes a balance between simplicity and expressive power. It is easy to learn and use, but it can also be extended and customized with additional syntax and features. Markdown has become a popular choice for technical documentation, as well as for general-purpose writing and publishing on the web.

Markdown pros and cons

Some benefits of using Markdown for writing and formatting text include:

  • Simplicity: Markdown is designed to be easy to learn and use, with a simple, readable syntax. It requires minimal setup and can be used with any text editor.

  • Portability: Markdown files are plain text, which means they can be easily transferred between different systems and devices. This makes it a good choice for collaborative writing and version control.

  • Flexibility: Markdown can be used for a wide range of writing and formatting tasks, from simple documents to more complex layouts. It can also be extended with additional syntax and features.

  • Wide adoption: Markdown is supported by a wide range of software tools and platforms, including text editors, content management systems, and static site generators.

There are also some potential drawbacks to using Markdown:

  • Limited formatting options: Markdown has a limited set of formatting options compared to more powerful markup languages like HTML or LaTeX. This can be a limitation if you need to create more complex layouts or use specialized formatting.

  • Lack of standardization: There are a number of different dialects of Markdown, each with its own set of syntax rules and conventions. This can cause confusion and compatibility issues when working with different tools and platforms.

  • Dependence on tooling: While Markdown is easy to use with a simple text editor, more advanced features may require the use of specialized software tools. This can add complexity and cost for some users.

  • Limited accessibility: Markdown does not include many of the accessibility features that are built into more powerful markup languages like HTML. This can be a limitation if you need to create documents that are accessible to users with disabilities.