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@iwritelike@mastodon.social

Post #842285

2026-03-28 13:31 UTC

I'm trying to figure out whether those creators who do write but don't code use Markdown. I feel like Markdown is still very niche but my perception might be distorted. You'd help a lot if you voted: #Markdown #WritingCommunity #poll

Replies (13)

  • @lina@tech.lgbt 2026-03-28 13:42

    @iwritelike i code and use markdown but i'd rather use something else (typst :neofox_pleading:) if markdown wasn't the defacto standard edit: wanted to clarify, i use markdown where it’s required (like social media, code documentation, etc). for writing i use typst and export to pdf

    Open ##2004509

  • @me@social.jlamothe.net 2026-03-28 13:48

    @iwritelike I can code, and I do occasionally use markdown, but these days I prefer org-mode.

    Open ##2004510

  • @iwritelike I don't think I'm really the target of your question. I am a creator who also writes code (though nowadays only in an informal way). I learned about markdown a really long time ago, and I am not averse to using it in particular contexts. But, in point of fact, I rarely actually do write in markdown. I generally just write plain text and then format it some other way. So none of the options really capture my circumstances.

    Open ##2004511

  • @melroy@mastodon.melroy.org 2026-03-28 13:57

    @iwritelike markdown is used a ton today. But especially in projects with a readme indeed. But also Claude code for example allows you to leverage markdown files (agents.md etc). It's just a simple way to document stuff. Or even in websites like Hugo. But yes it makes sense that those people can also code.

    Open ##2004513

  • @tarix29@tech.lgbt 2026-03-28 13:57

    @iwritelike I code and use Markdown for basically anything I type on my computer (even like notes to self, etc.) unless there's math involved, then it's LaTeX/Typst

    Open ##2004514

  • @auxonic@ottawa.place 2026-03-28 14:01

    @iwritelike back around 2013 I was able to convince a museum client to use markdown rather than WYSIWYG in a Drupal 7 website I built. I was pretty pleased and they seemed to love it.

    Open ##2004515

  • @Firlefanz@writing.exchange 2026-03-28 14:26

    @iwritelike I use Markdown in a few special cases where the site does not accept any other formatting. I would not call myself a Markdown user.

    Open ##2004516

  • @iwritelike Not a coder but I've technically been writing Markdown since before it was announced in 2004, because I was already writing plain-text emails with almost exactly that syntax and adapting to the Markdown bits took like a day. (That said I kind of hate Markdown for complex or living documents, Pandoc is amazing but it's reinventing a somehow even worse AsciiDoc by strapping a rocket to a Web 1.0 blogging tool.)

    Open ##2004517

  • @gwcoffey@mastodon.social 2026-03-28 15:33

    @iwritelike Needs an option for I can’t code, I don’t know what markdown is, and I use funny symbols like stars and stuff in my company’s fix system, publishing platform, ticketing system, etc… to add style and structure.

    Open ##2004518

  • @cstross@wandering.shop 2026-03-28 21:32

    @iwritelike It depends what you mean by "code" (implied: "write code"). I used to be a software dev. But I've been a full-time novelist for 25 years now and mostly stopped programming over a decade ago. And I use markdown, but I use other tools as well (I cut my teeth on troff). What do I count as?

    Open ##2004521

  • @ianp5a@social.vivaldi.net 2026-03-30 05:20

    @iwritelike I'm a visual creator. I code all day, despite having to do text based programming. Markdown is fine as long as there are icons for the styles. I use it all the time in wysiwyg mode only. The other mode, text mode, messes up what I'm writing.

    Open ##2004536

  • @alexandra@social.lol 2026-04-01 18:26

    @iwritelike Like many, I use Markdown because it's what some indie websites like Bear use to write posts, so I learnt enough as is necessary.

    Open ##2004537

  • @ellane@pkm.social 2026-04-04 19:06

    @iwritelike I missed the poll, but would have chosen the can’t code but use Markdown option. It’s the most portable way to format text between apps. I started with Markdown the same day I learned about the incredible, foundational power of plain text — about 10 years ago. Still can’t code, but thanks to the fellow at blot.im who can, my blog is published directly from a local folder of Markdown files.

    Open ##2004538