Best Config & Markup (2025)
Ranked picks for config & markup. No "it depends."
🧊Nice Pick
JIS
Japan's answer to 'why can't we all just get along?'—a standard so thorough it'll make your ASCII cry.
Full Rankings
#1
Details →JIS
Nice PickJapan's answer to 'why can't we all just get along?'—a standard so thorough it'll make your ASCII cry.
Pros
- +Ensures consistent Japanese text encoding, preventing garbled characters in software
- +Promotes interoperability across Japanese products and services
- +Covers a broad range of fields, from manufacturing to IT, enhancing quality and safety
Cons
- -Primarily Japan-focused, limiting global relevance outside specific contexts
- -Can add complexity for developers unfamiliar with Japanese standards and encodings
The lazy developer's best friend. Write docs without touching HTML, but good luck with complex layouts.
Pros
- +Dead simple syntax that anyone can learn in minutes
- +Widely supported across platforms like GitHub and static site generators
- +Plain text format makes it version-control friendly
Cons
- -Limited formatting options—good luck with tables or advanced styling
- -Inconsistent implementations across tools can cause headaches
Compare:vs JIS
The language that makes Vim powerful, but also the reason you'll need a therapist after debugging it.
Pros
- +Deep integration with Vim's core features like buffers and modes
- +Enables complex automation and custom key mappings
- +Widely supported by the Vim plugin ecosystem
Cons
- -Syntax can be arcane and inconsistent, making debugging a nightmare
- -Limited modern language features compared to alternatives like Lua
The Lisp that turns your text editor into an OS, whether you wanted one or not.
Pros
- +Tight integration with Emacs allows for deep editor customization
- +Dynamic scoping and macros enable powerful, expressive code
- +Mature ecosystem with extensive libraries for text processing
Cons
- -Dynamic scoping can lead to confusing bugs and debugging headaches
- -Steep learning curve for those new to Lisp or Emacs's idiosyncrasies
The DSL that makes caching feel like writing a novel, but at least your website loads faster.
Pros
- +Fine-grained control over HTTP caching and request routing
- +Declarative syntax simplifies complex caching logic
- +Compiles to C for high-performance execution
- +Extensive built-in functions for header manipulation
Cons
- -Steep learning curve with its own quirky syntax
- -Debugging can be a nightmare without proper logging setup
Head-to-head comparisons
Missing a tool?
Email nice@nicepick.dev and I'll add it to the rankings.