Me and markdown
In my blog a long time ago, I mentioned that markdown is a very important skill in writing, because most users who have a need for writing have this need: they need to focus on writing content, and they also need a certain format support.
So there are polarized writing software on the market: the first is similar to notepad software, they do not support the format, or a document only supports the same format, their format settings are just like making up the number; One is software similar to Word, which supports formatting particularly powerfully, so powerful that you need to study this software specifically.
Before getting into markdown, my world was polarized as mentioned above. Sometimes I just want to record what I want, but I forgot what I want to write during the process of "open word-save file-set file name".
Start with blogging
Later, I had a need to write a blog. Before that, the blog was a Qzone log for me, recording trivial things from time to time. For me, the needs of blogs are more precise. I need a technical blog to record my technological learning process. As a PHPer, I naturally chose Typecho as my first blog. On the night I decided to set up a blog, I spent a few hours buying a server and deploying Typecho to the server. When I visited my Typecho homepage using the public network ip, I decided to update my blog frequently and become a tech expert as soon as possible.
Typecho's built-in markdown support gave me a very comfortable writing experience. One # represents the first-level heading, and two #s represent the second-level heading. Use the small corners to frame the code block... Just remember some simple syntax, and the markdown engine can process it into a beautiful document page. Typecho accompanied me for the first two years of blogging.
Later, I used npm in my work, and it appeared in my world with Gitbook, another document building tool. Gitbook is even more convenient than Typecho. It does not require database support, nor does it need to deploy the entire system to the server. You only need to write the md document locally and upload it to the server to execute the build, and it will become a static website page. Even PHP does not deal with pseudo-static, but it is really static.
At this time, you need to use an editor that supports markdown locally. On the recommendation of a friend, I started to use Typora to write md documents. The corresponding style will be displayed immediately after writing the symbols representing the format. The silky experience made me fall in love with this writing experience. At the same time I came into contact with Hexo, my blog system was officially finalized, and this set of tools has accompanied me to the present.
markdown a writing tool
In the process of writing a blog, I found that markdown is a separate knowledge system that can be extracted. As long as you understand the grammar of markdown, you can use it to write in any place that supports markdown. Not only that, different tools or websites will process the same markdown document into pages of different styles. For example, the presentation style of Github's README page and my own blog page are different. This makes me very happy.
After learning about markdown, I started to look for the use of markdown in other scenes where I needed to write. I quickly focused on the most commonly used writing scene—notes. Whether it is notes during study or meeting minutes at work, I can show higher efficiency with the blessing of markdown.
From markdown to notes
In the process of using markdown to take notes, I have experienced many markdown-based note-taking software, such as the very common Jianshu, Xiongzhangji, Yuque, I come and so on. Most of the markdown in this kind of software is a subset of markdown, that is, some complicated writing formats are reduced on the basis of markdown. After all, it is for ordinary users who do not know how to write code. It is the same as writing code, allowing users to write complex Markdown is also unreasonable. The common way to compensate is to make complex table-like functions into clickable buttons, so that you can use simple markdown syntax with simple graphical interface operations, and you can write good-looking notes while focusing on writing.
Meet Effie
At this time, the protagonist Effie will be mentioned. Unlike the other tools mentioned above, Effie is a client software, but she is not a "file editor" like Typora; at the same time, Effie is an online documentation tool, but she is not as capable as Yuque and Jianshu. Operate on the web. Effie has the advantages of both client software and web tools. She has the advantages of saving documents online for web pages, as well as the beauty and fluency of client software.
Simple Effie
Effie is very simple, so simple that her official website does not require any instructions. After any user registers and enters the program, the Effie Getting Started and Effie shortcut list will be added to the library by default. Effie supports the title, font, list and other syntax in markdown. You can use # to quickly type a first-level title, or use + or-to create an unordered list.
In Effie, you can even experience the same writing as Typora is what you get. Enter three minus signs in a blank line to quickly create a dividing line.
For programmers or professionals in the field, you can use a pair of ``` to create code blocks, which are very useful for marking codes, formulas, or other scenarios.
After creating the list, you can also click on the symbol on the left to create a mind map. This is the fastest way to create a mind map I have used so far. The Mindnode in my hand is no longer fragrant in an instant.
After everything is written, if there is no special requirement, you can save the document to the cloud, so that you only need to log in to your Effie account in another location to achieve document roaming. If you need to export a document to a file, Effie also provides file export support in multiple formats.
Calm Effie
Effie is very calm. She doesn't add random additions to herself. On the contrary, looking at Effie's interface, there are almost no buttons. She doesn't need more operating points to trigger many functions. She just shows you the required functional components when you need it-for example, when you need to write-for example, an editing area, which is enough.
Calmness is a rare point in functional design. Most products start endless additions in the design phase. Product managers can’t wait to pile up all their life’s learning into one function. This makes it difficult for most products to escape. "Bloated" is a big disadvantage.
In fact, for a good product, users only need to take out the necessary parts when needed. As for the other parts that are not shown, there are always places where they are needed. If some parts of a piece of software have no place to be displayed in the entire software, then it is even necessary to discuss whether this part needs to be kept.
There is almost no need to consider these issues in Effie. With enough calmness, any extra button will break this beautiful mood.
Elegant Effie
In the several documents that came with Effie App after registering, the development team mentioned:
Effie is a writing software for thinkers.
He also explained that
even a good idea can only be known by being written. This is the fate of a thinker.
Effie is committed to turning ideas into words and ultimately values.
As a developer, but also a content creator, this sentence directly hit my heart. For a good writing software, she should not focus on reflecting how many functions or how large it is. On the contrary, huge means bloated. A good writing software should allow people who use it to indulge in writing itself, and it should be "senseless".
For "thinkers", the development team made the following interpretation:
thinkers have no distractions-"I don't realize that spring is deep, and things and I are forgotten".
Thinkers pay attention to logic-"The eight rhymes of Tonghua poems, how deep is the thought"
Thinkers are agile and efficient-"infinite as heaven and earth, inexhaustible as rivers and seas"
programmers should not be clumsy and dull, on the contrary, programmers should be the most elegant group in the world. They use their inner Zen to create products that change others, and use their own ideas to subtly change the world. This is a matter of duality and passion.
Effie is the same as the creators of Effie, the whole product reveals elegance and Zen. The creators use their hearts to pour Effie, making Effie as elegant and confident.
As the creator of Effie wrote in the document, the writing work should have been deliberately written by Jiang Tian for your endless life.