Markdown vs Emacs Lisp

The lazy developer's best friend meets the lisp that turns your text editor into an os, whether you wanted one or not. Here's our take.

Markdown

Nice Pick

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

Emacs Lisp

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 Verdict

Use Markdown if: You want dead simple syntax that anyone can learn in minutes and can live with limited formatting options—good luck with tables or advanced styling.

Use Emacs Lisp if: You prioritize tight integration with emacs allows for deep editor customization over what Markdown offers.

The Bottom Line

Markdown wins

The lazy developer's best friend. Write docs without touching HTML, but good luck with complex layouts.