markdown is original defined by John Gruber, and soon become widely used. (More detail on markdown-wiki).

markdown-github add some awesome rules to enhance the original definitions.

When i'm using markdown, i feel it lacks some features i want. (Maybe you also have same feelings).
But you know, it is widely used and you can not create another tool and make it as a standard.(Needless to say i don't know how to)

That's why i put it here, to collect ideas to enhance markdown standard. And it is free to add more from others who would like to join.

And i think it is also good to those who are developing markdown engines.

Here are the ideas (from me for now):

• markdown options
• markdown chart

For more details and explanations, see below.

Markdown options is a way to extend markdown by external markdown engine. Let's make an example to clarify my idea.

For example, sometimes i want the markdown engine could output index version of the html for long article; but sometimes, i dont want it. So there should be an option to indicate it. My idea is using something like reference link grammar, but begin with @.

For example:

@index: true

That means i wish the external tool could create an index version pdf/html for me. But whether it can do or can not is only based on the external tool. For those don't support @index, just ignore it.

And also, it may good for adding colors on elements. For example:

@color-red: red
@color-red: #900

Then you can reference an element as red color.

Some Title@color-red
----

Well, this title may have red color. (whether it is background or font also based on the external engine)

If you really want to write down @ and not a reference, you could escape it just like "\ ` * ..." defined in original markdown grammar.

All charts are defined just like you are writting normal code. For example:

```js
document.write('hi');
```

This is how we write markdown chart. (For now i just want simple uml charts)

```uml-<chart type>
…details based on different chart definitions...
```

Here are the blueprint for the uml charts:

• usecase
• activity
• class
• object

Explanation visit usecase in wikimedia.

The syntax is as following:

```uml-usecase "a simple cms"
admin | user | manage news, manage user
user | guest | read news, sign out
guest | | sign up, sign in
```

should generate:

Grammar:

role | parent role | actions...

Enhanced ideas:

• add option color, for example, if i want user role have an red color, i could do user@color-red | login@color-red | read news ...
• the chart could be in data url format, something like data:image/gif;base64,... (can it be used in pdf? Not sure)

Explanation visit activity in wikimedia.

To make things simple, there's no decisions in activity chart.

```uml-activity "search user then send message"
search a special user | edit message | send message both in sms and email
search a special user | if not found, make edit message button disabled    
```

should generate:

Grammar:

activity | activity | activity...

class definition here is not exactly the same as in class in wikimedia. It only describes generalization.

```uml-class
person | admin,user,guest
```

Grammar:

parent | son,son,son...

object only contains attributes you want to use. (then it can also describe table).

```uml-object
person | id,name,roles
user | id,name,roles,ctime
```

should result:

Grammar:

object | attribute,attribute...

But attribute here can also be written as method. Just change it to method() or even more add method() to indicate it is a static method.

You may want to contact me through [email protected] according to the ideas. Programming related topics are also welcomed.

timezone: GMT 0800