Generic Directive Extension List

Generic Directives are still in active discussion. But, for brainstorming purposes, here are some possible extensions to support or at least adhere to if not included.

An inline extension might look like !extensionName[](){} whereas for block (current talk page) the syntax might be:

extensionNames: argumentField 
:::
...BlockContent...
:::
{ #id .class key1=value key2=value }

---

Below is a list of extensions, their purposes, and the relevant parameters:

• extensionName : short description

  • Purpose: longer description of purpose
  • [] : contentField
  • () : argumentField
  • {} : keyValueField

• **** :

  • Purpose:
  • [] :
  • () :
  • {} :

---

• default : default extension

  • Purpose: used if no extension name is specified. Reads url, and chooses the appropriate extensions. E.g. .png will be embedded using the image extension
  • [] :
  • () : Reads the url name to determine filetype
  • {} :

• image : embed image

  • Purpose: embeds image in page
  • [] : image alt text
  • () : image url
  • {} : width="width of image", height="height of image"

• extensionName.help : display documentation

  • Purpose: displays documentations on how to use the extension
  • [] :
  • () :
  • {} : shortVersion=True/False

• extensionName.settings :

  • Purpose: allows for setting extensions if available
  • [] :
  • () :
  • {} : available settings Dependent on extension

• TOC : Table of contents

  • Purpose: Embed a table of content, based on header names.
  • [] : Title of TOC, could default to "Table of contents"
  • () :
  • {} :

This seems forced into the provided syntax. Why is this not a block element? Why is the title provided inside the syntax as opposed to just being text prior to the "TOC" tag? - nexussays

Because unless the file can be changed by processor, it's probably safer to just autogenerate the TOC everytime it is rendered. But I don't see any reason it can't be a block directive, just needs a 'generated at date tag' - mofosyne

• spoiler : Hides spoilers
  • Purpose: Informs display to hide content, unless user wants to be shown the spoilers
  • [] : Spoiler Text
  • () :
  • {} :

This usage is completely different than every other tag which wraps text (\, *, **, etc) which would make it both unconventional and very difficult for users. - nexussays I say it's pretty obvious when it say's spoiler. And syntactically [] means content. Don't want to pollute the core syntax. -mofosyne

• fig : figure
  • Purpose: create a figure instance
  • [] : <figname> name of figure
  • () :
  • {} : type="numeric/letter/figname"
  • Block Directive Content : Content of figure

How is this semantically different to a creator than an image and some text? How would it co-exist with existing syntax for images, and code blocks, both of which are mentioned in the spec as uses for the <figure> tag. What would this resolve to in non-HTML implementations? (ie - What "is" a figure?) - nexussays

It's used in academia to indicate that a group of images, codes, statistics or data to be referenced in a report. It's used often in latex, and it's bloody annoying. -mofosyne

• ref : link to figure
  • Purpose: link to figure created from 'fig'
  • [] :
  • () : figname
  • {} : type="override numeric/letter/figname"

What is this providing beyond duplicating the link syntax? - nexussays

Yea I agree we should probably think about using the []: somehow (if I'm correct that it can act as a figure) -mofosyne

• asciiArt : renders ASCII art

  • Purpose: Lets parser knows that the content is to be treated as ASCII art. Output is more flexible.
  • [] :
  • () :
  • {} : renderAs='vector/bitmap/ASCII', width="width of image", height="height of image"
  • Block: ASCII art
  • note: rendering could be via taking the average density of each character split as a grid of 3*3 pixel per character.
  • note: Do this but in reverse http://mattmik.com/articles/ascii/ascii.html

• asciiDiagram : renders technical ASCII diagram

  • Purpose: Lets parser knows that the content is to be treated as ASCII diagram. (Which unlike ASCII art, has well defined lines, and boxes, text, and should be treated like a technical drawing. E.g. no smoothing or blurring).
  • [] :
  • () :
  • {} : renderAs='vector/bitmap/ASCII', width="width of image", height="height of image"
  • Block: ASCII diagram
  • note: could use https://github.com/Frimkron/Ascidia to render it in a pretty manner.

• wiki : looks up a wiki page

  • Purpose: in a wiki context, it is a directive to jump to a wiki page. In a normal site context, it references the most popular encyclopaedia wiki site (e.g. wikipedia)
  • [] : wiki page name
  • () : optional direct link
  • {} :

• dictionary : looks up a dictionary

  • Purpose: looks up a local dictionary or user's choice
  • [] : word to reference
  • () : optional direct link to alternative dictionary service
  • {} :

• thesaurus : looks up a thesaurus

  • Purpose: looks up a local thesaurus or user's choice
  • [] : word to reference
  • () : optional direct link to alternative thesaurus service
  • {} :