[Python-markdown-discuss] Overriding Functions, etc.

[Ben W. <da...@gm...>]

I'm currently playing with a Python-based flat-file wiki that relies
on Markdown syntax (mostly). This is more for my education as I
understand MoinMoin is the premier wiki-engine for Python and it seems
to support some Markdown markup.[1] So, I've made a few observations
that I'm trying to explain here.

I would like to say the Python-Markdown class is great. I like being
able to extend it. For example, I have a different way of handling the
==== and ---- headings that encourages me to short-circuit the
headings_preprocessor. The reason for my short-circuiting is that I
order headers differently and include ++++ and ~~~~, and the
preprocessor presupposes that a section heading (====) should be
<h1>.[2] I'm able to get both lines of a heading (the title and
markup) by a regex without lookaheads, but it may not be stable.

I would also like to change the output to Tex/LaTeX format if possible.

I was thinking that _perhaps_ the pre-processors could be a dictionary
instead of an array, which would allow deleting by name. Presently, I
set all the preprocessors by copying from the class, then delete the
one preprocessor I don't want. This would also allow use of has_key(),
as the present implementation (correct me if I'm wrong) does not allow
listing or deleting a preprocessor directly.

I'm also having a bit of a problem with the documentation. I'm used to
an "undue experimentation" rule for documentation. This means that a
programmer should be able to look to the documentation alone to
explain _how_ to use the class---such as adding a preprocessor. I
ended up having to look in the class itself to see how it added a
preprocessor. Perhaps the example given could be an actual
implementation of a simple preprocessor?

FWIW, I am adding some non-Markdown syntax that is more expected in
wiki markup (e.g. [[free links]]

Anyway, thanks for a great Markdown class. It moved my development of
my wiki up by about three weekends.

-- 
Ben Wilson
"Words are the only thing which will last forever" Churchill

[1]: Why Python? I am already a strong Perl and PHP programmer, and
I'm trying to extend my language skills.

[2]: The only <h1> I have on the page is the page title. This means
section headings (====) are <h2>; sub-sections (----) <h3>; paragraph
headings (~~~~) is <h4> and sub-paragraph headings (++++) are <h5>. I
never use <h6>. The use of <h1> as a page is based on some older web
standard that's been around for a while that I am never able to find
when I want to cite to it.