Best Config & Markup (2025)
Ranked picks for config & markup. No "it depends."
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
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 web's skeleton—without it, everything's just a blob of text and broken dreams.
Pros
- +Universal browser support means it just works everywhere
- +Simple syntax that's easy to learn for beginners
- +Essential foundation for all web development
- +Semantic elements improve accessibility and SEO
Cons
- -Can get messy and unreadable without proper formatting
- -Limited interactivity on its own—needs JavaScript for anything fun
The language that turns HTML into art, but only after you've wrestled with specificity and browser quirks.
Pros
- +Enables responsive design with media queries
- +Separates content from presentation for cleaner code
- +Powerful layout tools like Flexbox and Grid
- +Wide browser support and extensive documentation
Cons
- -Specificity wars can make debugging a nightmare
- -Browser inconsistencies still require workarounds
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
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
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