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Comment by gritzko | Hacker News Reader

The author is here, AMA.

Why are headers limited to four levels? Do they have to be always padded with spaces?

Why are references limited to one symbol? It can just be more mnemonic to have `java_doc` than `j

Why only full reference links are allowed? It would be handy to have a shortcut for links without reference, and it's not like we're running out of symbols: `?[]` could be used for links without reference while being consistent with `![]`, which is used for transclusion

Why is it impossible to put backticks inside a code span?

What is there a `` in an example in the Lists section?

I really like the spirit of this markdown alternative

Thanks. It makes all block level formatting aligned to 4 char indents. Hence, paddings. Hence the one letter limitation.

The terrible HTML comment hack is straight from the CommonMark spec... it solved a Markdown syntax issue... hope to kill it somehow.

How fundamental is the requirement that all the "block stuff" be exactly four characters wide?

The parts that were the strangest for me are that link references can only contain a single unicode character and that block quotes are ">" plus three spaces, instead of ">" plus one space.

It's odd for a second, then seemed fine to me. Think if hexadecimal just kept going…

> no arbitrary nesting

What are the restrictions? For example, I care about these (off the top of my head):

1. Can I nest a block quote in another block quote? 2. Can I nest a block quote in an (ordered or unordered) list? (And vice versa?) 3. Can I emphasize some text inside a strong? (and vice versa?)

Thanks for the question. "No arbitrary nesting" applies to inline formatting. Higher precedence formatting can be nested within lower. So, nothing can be nested within a code span, for example, as it is the highest. Just a way to order things.

Container blocks are nested arbitrarily, up to 16 levels. Quote > list > quote > code, for example, is OK.

What problem were you hoping to solve with this?

A reliable format for my docs, which is already well supported (and I want a Ragel parser because requirements).

In the long run, I am a Decentralized Web guy, so making Markdown a proper language has its own value.

Your theoretical and well contexted overview of the Web, your mininal formatting overhead (no googles and 5000 cubicles), (single person in charge of content and formatting) view is essential not trivial.

I had to increase the line-height to read it, was too cramped at 1.2.

Can I put backticks in inline code now? :)

What about making some of my code bold?

did I miss link or is there a parsing script yet?

There is a C++ version which should be separated from a code base first... But the parser is Ragel-based, so contact me if you plan to make an implementation in any language Ragel supports.

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