Markdown is much easier to write than BBcode, being little more than structured plain text. It would be nice if we could use it to format posts.
For example, here's some BBcode:
[size=1.4em][b]Heading[/b][/size]
I like [b]bold[/b] and [i]italic[/i] and also [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1p5eNOsl7I]links[/url].
[size=1.2em][b]Subheading[/b][/size]
[list]
[li]Do you like green eggs and ham?[/li]
[li]I do not like them, Sam I Am.[/li]
[/list]
[code]
#include <stdio.h>
int main(int argc, char **argv) {
printf("Write in C\n");
}
[/code]
[tex]\mathrm{e}^{\mathrm{i\pi}} + 1 = 0[/tex]
Now here's the same thing, written in markdown using pandoc's inline LaTeX extension:
# Heading
I like **bold** and *italic* and also [links](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1p5eNOsl7I).
## Subheading
* Do you like green eggs and ham?
* I do not like them, Sam I Am.
```
#include <stdio.h>
int main(int argc, char **argv) {
printf("Write in C\n");
}
```
$\mathrm{e}^{\mathrm{i\pi}} + 1 = 0$
As you can see, the markdown version is much easier to read and edit in its raw form.
However, I don't want to switch between markdown and BBcode. BBcode can do some more complex things that don't suit the simplicity of markdown, and so they should both be available, and it should be possible to combine them. This will be tricky with SMF's awful BBcode parser, but I believe the benefits should be worthwhile.