Looking for feedback: Chat Transcripts in Markdown
I write short stories, and I vastly prefer writing in Markdown to a word processor. I’ve got one series with a lot of texting/group chat, and I’d love to represent this better both in the Markdown and the resulting HTML.
Requirements
- Optional title
- Optional speaker handles/names
- Difference between incoming/outgoing messages (as if we’re looking at someone’s phone)
Working draft
] #chat name
]
] [@Other](https://micro.blog/Other) Person:
] Hey, have you written that novel yet?
]
] [@Me](https://micro.blog/Me):
] I came here to have a good time and
] I'm honestly feeling so attacked right
] now...
]
] (that's a no, BTW)
]
] (and now a third message for comedic
] effect)
]
] [@Other](https://micro.blog/Other) Person:
] I kinda figured :)
(Ignore any Markdown-style links in the examples; Micro.blog thinks I’m trying to mention people. Maybe that’s a point against this?)
- Denoted with
](like block quote except not>) - Chat name starts with
#(like an IRC or Slack room) - Speaker name starts with
@and ends with:(to avoid a normal message that starts with a mention and allow spaces in names) - POV character indented by 2 spaces (mimicking placement in most SMS/chat apps)
Examples
Group chat:
] # A Perfectly Normal Group Chat
]
] @EternalSneptember:
] (pw change logs out all other devices/browsers)
]
] Ideally remote wipe but IDK if that's an option.
]
] @EarthStars:
] Thanks for the reminder, Snep. Remote wipe is an
] option but would cross a line.
]
] @BuckTheWorld:
] Ugh, this sucks. How bad, @EarthStars?
DM/SMS:
] # Mom
]
] You're up late!
]
] No judgement, of course. 😜
]
] I'll judge for you LOL Working late?
]
] Binging a new show. I'm a bad example.
Problems/feedback needed
- Without speaker names, it’s not as obvious that it’s two different people speaking (see second example).
- Could increase the indentation, but that makes it even more awkward to type
- Even the current indentation is awkward to type since macOS/iOS typically adds a period instead of two spaces
- Not completely sold on a blockquote-style syntax, open to other options
Anyway, wall of text over, thanks for reading, honestly I just want to talk through this with other Markdown users. I’m not making this for everyone, but I want to make something good enough for someone other than me to use it.
