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Why Markdown is awesome

Markdown for those that don't know is a type of file encoding (extension .md) that can be easily converted to HTML. To use Markdown, you just need a text editor but some programs make using it easier by showing you the rendered output in HTML. For Windows there is the excellent Markdown Pad which is a great example of a small light program that does what it does best. And for Mac, I suggest Textmate but there are others like Mou. I haven't found a great one for Linux but once you get the hang of Markdown you don't need a specialized text editor for it, any will do. For the iphone/ipad I suggest NOCS, which I got for free on a sale and is great.

# Why is Markdown so awesome? #

1. It can be rendered easily into HTML, but also LaTex, and PDF. But that's a given right.
- It makes writing HTML easy. Especially lists. It makes it so easy I use it for writing my TODO list. I love that after you establish  the first number every dash get's converted to the next number without you having to keep track. If there is no initial number, then dashes at the beginning of the line get converted to bullet points.
- It makes marking up the language a piece of cake. Want something **bold** you got it and you can type it directly without having to give your hand a cramp doing `<strong> </strong>` HTML mark up.
- It is eminently readable. If you haven't noticed I've been writing this list in *Markup* already.
- It's easy to insert [links](http://www.wisd.com/nocs/ "link title") like this one for NOCS's website. And reading it is easy and typing it doesn't involve you doing some manual calisthenics looking for the "add a link button."
- And best of all it's got an easy learning curve. You don't need to know everything to start using something.

Want to see how this looks in HTML?

Why is Markdown so awesome?

  1. It can be rendered easily into HTML, but also LaTex, and PDF. But that’s a given right.
  2. It makes writing HTML easy. Especially lists. It makes it so easy I use it for writing my TODO list. I love that after you establish the first number every dash get’s converted to the next number without you having to keep track. If there is no initial number, then dashes at the beginning of the line get converted to bullet points.
  3. It makes marking up the language a piece of cake. Want something bold you got it and you can type it directly without having to give your hand a cramp doing <strong> </strong> HTML mark up.
  4. It is eminently readable. If you haven’t noticed I’ve been writing this list in Markup already.
  5. It’s easy to insert links like this one for NOCS’s website. And reading it is easy and typing it doesn’t involve you doing some manual calisthenics looking for the “add a link button.”
  6. And best of all it’s got an easy learning curve. You don’t need to know everything to start using something.
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