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Markdown

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16.3K
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960
Org Mode

35
39
+ 1
10
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Markdown vs Org Mode: What are the differences?

Introduction

Markdown is a lightweight markup language used for formatting text on websites, while Org Mode is a document organization mode in Emacs. Although both Markdown and Org Mode are used for text formatting, they have several key differences.

  1. Syntax Complexity: Markdown has a simpler and more intuitive syntax compared to Org Mode. Markdown uses simple symbols like hashtags for headings, asterisks for bold and italics, and hyphens for lists. On the other hand, Org Mode uses a complex syntax that includes various special characters, keywords, and indentation for structuring documents, scheduling deadlines, and adding timestamps.

  2. Features and Functionality: Markdown is primarily designed for text formatting and basic document structuring. It focuses on simplicity and ease of use, making it ideal for writing simple blog posts, documentation, and web content. Org Mode, on the other hand, offers advanced features such as task management, note-taking, agenda generation, spreadsheet integration, and much more. It is widely used by Emacs users for organizing their personal and professional lives.

  3. Exportability: Markdown is widely supported and can be easily exported to various output formats like HTML, PDF, and Word documents using different tools and converters. It provides flexibility for publishing and sharing documents across different platforms and devices. Org Mode, on the other hand, is primarily used within Emacs, although it can also be exported to different formats. However, exporting Org Mode files may require more configuration and customization compared to Markdown.

  4. Workflow Integration: Markdown is commonly used with static site generators, content management systems, and blogging platforms. It seamlessly integrates with tools like Jekyll, Hugo, and WordPress, making it easier to create and manage website content. Org Mode, on the other hand, is mainly used within the Emacs environment and provides a powerful and extensible ecosystem for writing, organizing, and automating various tasks. It enables users to have a holistic workflow within a single application.

  5. Collaboration and Version Control: Markdown files are plain text files that can be easily shared and collaborated on via version control systems like Git. This makes it easier for multiple users to collaborate on the same document, track changes, and manage different versions. Org Mode files, on the other hand, are typically stored as Emacs Org files, which may require additional setup and knowledge of Emacs for collaborative editing and version control.

  6. Ease of Learning: Markdown is relatively easy to learn and use, even for those who are new to markup languages. Its minimalistic syntax makes it accessible to a wide range of users, including non-technical writers and bloggers. Org Mode, on the other hand, has a steeper learning curve due to its more complex syntax and extensive features. It is primarily used by Emacs power users, programmers, and users who require advanced document organization and workflow management capabilities.

In summary, Markdown is a simple and widely supported markup language for text formatting, ideal for basic document structuring and web content. Org Mode, on the other hand, is a feature-rich document organization mode within Emacs, providing advanced functionality and customization options for users with more complex document management needs.

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Pros of Markdown
Pros of Org Mode
  • 345
    Easy formatting
  • 246
    Widely adopted
  • 194
    Intuitive
  • 132
    Github integration
  • 41
    Great for note taking
  • 2
    Defacto GitHub lingo
  • 1
    Agenda and Calendar
  • 1
    Suitable for long documents
  • 1
    Portable across platforms
  • 1
    Works in CLI via Emacs
  • 1
    Export to md, html, odt, LaTeX etc
  • 1
    GTD Concept
  • 1
    To-Do-Lists/Organiser
  • 1
    Note-taking
  • 1
    Intuitive
  • 1
    Easy formatting

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Cons of Markdown
Cons of Org Mode
  • 2
    Cannot centralise (HTML code needed)
  • 1
    Inconsistend flavours eg github, reddit, mmd etc
  • 1
    Limited syntax
  • 1
    Not suitable for longer documents
  • 1
    Non-extensible
  • 1
    No right indentation
  • 1
    No underline
  • 1
    Unable to indent tables
  • 1
    Not many editors have org mode support other then Emacs

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What is Markdown?

Markdown is two things: (1) a plain text formatting syntax; and (2) a software tool, written in Perl, that converts the plain text formatting to HTML.

What is Org Mode?

It is used for keeping notes, maintaining TODO lists, planning projects, and authoring documents with a fast and effective plain-text system

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What companies use Markdown?
What companies use Org Mode?
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What tools integrate with Markdown?
What tools integrate with Org Mode?

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What are some alternatives to Markdown and Org Mode?
MarkUp
It allows you to turn your website into a dynamic canvas ready for feedback and collaboration. Streamline your feedback with a quicker, easier, and clearer process.
JavaScript
JavaScript is most known as the scripting language for Web pages, but used in many non-browser environments as well such as node.js or Apache CouchDB. It is a prototype-based, multi-paradigm scripting language that is dynamic,and supports object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles.
Python
Python is a general purpose programming language created by Guido Van Rossum. Python is most praised for its elegant syntax and readable code, if you are just beginning your programming career python suits you best.
Node.js
Node.js uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model that makes it lightweight and efficient, perfect for data-intensive real-time applications that run across distributed devices.
HTML5
HTML5 is a core technology markup language of the Internet used for structuring and presenting content for the World Wide Web. As of October 2014 this is the final and complete fifth revision of the HTML standard of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The previous version, HTML 4, was standardised in 1997.
See all alternatives