Markdown refresher (1): Markdown Aspects

1. What is Markdown?

From a technical point of view, Markdown is a lightweight markup language . Only need to add markup symbols in the document, Markdown engine will be able to effect a variety of these symbols render text format.

From the application point of view, Markdown is a text format for structured documents written for . Markdown allows us to use easy-to-read documents written in plain text format and then converted into a standard HTML page format.

In fact, Markdown works is very simple, the engine is through predefined markup syntax is converted into the corresponding HTML tags. Markdown is a natural cross-platform, basically there will be no compatibility problems, plain text format makes it easy to do version management, as to how to render HTML browser that thing.

Markdown markup symbols by simply making plain text presents a certain format, content and style separation, cleverly avoiding the heavy typesetting, allowing users to focus on writing content, without undue distraction to the content formatting, skilled, giving an elegant immersion writing experience.

2, in which people use Markdown?

Once upon a time, Markdown is only prevalent in the population programmers writing format, such as the world's largest open source code library GitHub and the world's largest IT technology community Q & StackOverFlow default format is written in Markdown .

Today, the domestic blog parks and other IT community CSDN also provides support for Markdown. Markdown has been widely used by more and more groups of knowledge workers, writing enthusiasts have text editing needs.

For example: writers use Markdown to write a book, writing a novel; writing enthusiasts use Markdown to write a diary, write articles; researchers and students to take notes using Markdown, writing papers; teachers use Markdown to write lecture notes; Bo owners use Markdown to write blog posts, and so on.

Personally, I mainly use Markdown to write technical documentation and technology blog, such as this article is written using Markdown. Markdown estimated that most programmers are also used to write documents, write a blog, do slide like it.

3. What are the advantages of using Markdown?

The main advantage of Markdown is easy to learn, easy to read, easy to write, easy to share, and without typesetting . Markdown typesetting engine automatically as you type, so writers can effortlessly write neatly typeset articles to.

He said a written document or writing software, most people think of first is the well-known Word. Word is indeed very powerful, and Word for many years has been the world's most popular word processing tools. But Word's features piling up too much, typesetting process time-consuming, distracting; and different versions or platforms may also have compatibility issues; version management is non-existent.

Markdown almost perfect circumvent these drawbacks of Word . In general, to become a Word of people, you need to master the many skilled operating skills, learning costs are higher. The daily use Markdown only master a few simple marker symbol, learning cost is very low.

Word and PowerPoint most of the functions of most of the needs of most people who are superfluous. And Markdown only solve the problem can be expressed in plain text, no mess and flowers in fancy style layout, is very pure, very fresh, giving a feeling of minimalism.

Markdown is a natural writing HTML compatible format , it can publish Markdown document in HTML format, HTML format is easy to share, and natural HTML is cross-platform, cross-terminal. Many tools even allow the Markdown documentation is delivered in PDF, Word, and other formats picture.

Good support for Markdown program code is a highlight, it is probably also a lot of technology blog active use Markdown one of the reasons of it.

Today more and more notes and content network community provides support for Markdown, such as Evernote, notes to know, the proper way cloud notes, Jane books and other content producers can make a smaller input costs to output rich expressive content, but also brought unity to the reader, comfort, good reading experience.

4, Markdown syntax standard profiles

John Gruber and Aaron Swartz to develop a Markdown, and in the form of grammar description and Perl scripts released in 2004. John Gruber also developed for the compliance with the corresponding HTML Markdown syntax of Perl tool for plain text documents into.

In the next ten years, gradually using Markdown major software community, however Markdown only defines the title, stressed, lists, links, code blocks, references, this dividing line 7 class syntax, the function itself is extremely limited, Some specific scenarios and needs can not be met. Many people hope that the author will continue to improve Markdown, author can never provide any updates (which Aaron Swartz committed suicide in 2013).

Reddit, Stack Exchange, GitHub and other organizations have combined together, Markdown want to standardize, but release Standard Markdown later, but was renamed John Gruber requirements, and finally had changed CommonMark .

Slowly someone creates a conversion tool that can generate an HTML document with a slight difference, it was also added some features for Markdown, such as tables, lists, footnotes, and so on. Ever since generated many third-party extended syntax, and correspondingly, the original author of grammar that defined it is called standard syntax of.

The most famous and most mainstream two-party extended syntax are GFM (GitHub Flavored Markdown) and CommonMark .

5, how to use Markdown?

Because Markdown documents are in plain text format, so you can use any of your favorite text editor to write Markdown document. However, like all use the same IDE to write code than programmers, we generally will pick a conveniently Markdown editor to enhance the efficiency of writing and writing experience.

Why use Markdown editor do? First of all, Markdown editor typically provides a menu bar, toolbars, and shortcut support, allows us to easily and quickly input content; secondly, there will be good Markdown editor WYSIWYG real-time preview feature that allows us to Real-time preview of the current editing effects. In addition, there are some Markdown editor, such as print, export, upload and other powerful and useful features that make our writing more powerful.

6, how to choose Markdown editor?

Today optional Markdown editor on the market there are many, desktop software, there are online tools, there are many support Markdown the blog platform and network notes, there is a fee, but also free. In general, all editors support the standard syntax, but each have their own extended syntax is different. I often search the Internet to see if there is no better editor available. Listed below are some of the Markdown tool I have come across:

  • MarkdownPad
    This is what I usually use up a Markdown editor, it is a versatile Markdown editor for Windows. It was hailed as a Markdown editor lot of friends on the best use of the Windows platform. MarkdownPad supports real-time preview, customizable editor, customizable style sheets, supports multiple Markdown processing engines, some of the features built-in image upload feature, editors and other general support. Most was my heart is a good shortcut support, looks like other editors do not pay attention to the user experience in this area.

  • Typora
    This is a full platform (Mac, Windows, Linux) support the editor, the main advantage is the extended support for syntax is very wide, functional details can be configured to a larger room, but a lot of the default configuration is not reasonable, to make their own change for demanding users. I tried for some time on Windows, finally gave up. The main operation is not used, such as watching a preview have to switch the editor mode, people feel strange, do not know do not pay attention to Windows sake.

  • Make Fei like
    this one is for Evernote to create a Markdown editor, provides a desktop client, Web terminal, offline Chrome App.

  • Evernote
    known network notes, not only supports GFM and CommonMark two mainstream extension, expansion and supports advanced mathematical formulas, flow charts, timing diagrams, Gantt charts, diagrams, etc., these features are also preset to the toolbar can be a key generation.

  • Carpenter little book
    which is a designed for writing Markdown editor designed. Full platform support, and have a Web version, very powerful, very comprehensive support, but the charges.

  • Cmd Markdown
    work produced tribe, the whole platform support, and have a Web version, also supporting a blog platform.

  • Markdown Editor
    minimalism, supports only the most basic grammar, the novice would recommend using this practice.

  • Notes to know
    the well-known network notes, many years ago to support the Markdown.

  • Ethics cloud notes
    manufacturers produced the network notes, also supports Markdown.

  • Simply book
    a Markdown support of blog platforms, you must be a member to use.

  • FarBox
    a support for Markdown's blog platform that supports micro letter and Dropbox, you can create a personal website, but FarBox fee is based on the ladder. Actually free of the official client editor, I feel pretty good with them.

  • MdEditor
    an open source online Markdown editor.

  • StackEdit
    abroad an open source online Markdown editor.

  • Dillinger
    community, there are a lot of people recommend this, but I found after the trial is not stable enough.

  • MaHua
    interface is a bit shabby, but conflict with Sogou input method, children use almost impossible.

If you are a programmer, you can also try the VS Code, Notepad ++, Sublime Text editors and other professional playing Markdown editor to use.

7, how to quickly get started Markdown?

In order to make those friends never come into contact Markdown can also be relatively easy and quick to use Markdown, here's a step I started thinking and learning summed up based on personal experience:

  • The first step: Imagine if you write an article, you will first what to write? Is the title, right? In Markdown, you only need to add one before the title text #and spaces, it will become a big title, plus two #will become a smaller title, and so on.
  • Step two: finish the title, it's time to write a paragraph, the paragraph mark itself does not require any direct write it wants. If you want to highlight some text in a paragraph, then you can write this text before and after each plus two *for bold stressed, or each added *italics to emphasize.
  • The third step: in the actual writing, often need to refer to certain words elsewhere. In Markdown, you only need at the beginning of a paragraph add >to representation references and spaces.
  • Step Four: When you want to elaborate a set of parallel or related to multiple viewpoints, using the list often more clearly express what you mean, just all together in front of each point of view -and spaces can be.
  • Step five: If you are a programmer, then you definitely have to show the code requirements, in Markdown, you only need to add four spaces in front of the code.

This operation of the above steps, the following exemplary screenshots (cut from MarkdownPad2):

Completion of the above steps, you would be able to write a nice little article up. Then you try to add a link in the article, insert pictures, draw a table, it can be used as a presentation. I believe you will fall in love with a high probability last Markdown this unique way of writing.

8, summary

This article describes the main aspects of this Markdown formatting language. Markdown is designed to be easy to read and easy to write as much as possible, so if you are often people who write articles, or is there more people text editing needs, then learning to use Markdown is definitely a wise choice.

This link : http://www.cnblogs.com/hanzongze/p/markdown-aspects.html
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