Markdown Ate the World
19 hours ago
- #Word Processing
- #File Formats
- #Markdown
- The author reminisces about the joy of using word processors, highlighting their superiority over typewriters.
- Early word processors like WordPerfect used simple binary files with proprietary formatting codes.
- Microsoft Word's .doc format introduced complexity with features like layout, images, and revision tracking.
- .doc files are based on the Compound File Binary Format, acting as a mini filesystem within a file.
- Despite their advantages, .doc files were prone to corruption due to their complex structure and non-atomic operations.
- Users were advised to frequently save and use 'Save As' to mitigate corruption risks.
- The transition to .docx in 2007 brought XML-based files, theoretically easier to recover but overly complex in practice.
- Microsoft's OOXML standard was criticized for being unnecessarily complicated, hindering third-party implementations.
- The rise of web-based tools and Markdown reduced reliance on traditional word processors like Microsoft Word.
- Markdown's simplicity, universality, and resilience made it the preferred format for many, especially in tech communities.
- Unlike .doc or .docx, Markdown files are plain text, ensuring longevity and resistance to corruption.