On 14 March 2012 09:48, Russell Dickenson <[email protected]> wrote: > Although I have some familiarity with AsciiDoc, having used it for > some simple documentation, I don't know it well. A discussion came up > at work recently about the possible advantages of markup languages > such as AsciiDoc and wiki syntaxes over DocBook, which is what we use > here at work. > > I couldn't think of much at all, I'm afraid. From my POV before > working with DocBook, the only points which I could think of were: > > (1) It's easier to be sure you're working with a valid AsciiDoc > document because the structural elements don't have to be explicitly > set - e.g. there's no need for <para> tags etc. Changing a paragraph > in AsciiDoc into a section is a simple matter of adding the > appropriate markup (e.g. ========== ). > (2) AsciiDoc requires only a very low level of entry knowledge; > (3) AsciiDoc has very few dependencies in converting docs from its > native format into ePub, HTML, PDF etc. > > Are the other points that I am missing? Note that I'm not looking to > change the method by which I work now since there are many more people > than myself involved. I also have no interest in starting a flame war. > I am simply curious to know what advantages others see in AsciiDoc. > > I was prompted to write this both by the discussion at work, also the > posting by O'Reilly about their use of AsciiDoc in producing some > books. >
Hi Russel, >From my point of view the main advantages of lightweight markup languages (LML) over any XML based markup are: 1. As you say it has a low writer cost of entry, training to use LMLs is much faster. 2. Writers like it better. You are in the position where docbook is the norm, mostly I was transitioning organisations from word processors to the joys of single source multiple output format documenting, and the push-back against XML was significant. 2. Most LMLs are less intrusive, more readable so the writer and reviewers can concentrate more on the content. Though without doing any scientific studies this seemed to be a real productivity difference. 3. Also don't underestimate the productivity advantages of simply having less to type, especially where writers are not professional typists (mine were usually engineers or programmers). And less to type and simpler to type means less markup errors more content. My AUD0.02 Cheers Lex > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "asciidoc" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/asciidoc?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "asciidoc" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/asciidoc?hl=en.
