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Facebook Extending Markdown Support for Status Updates

skilled 8y ago
Interesting update. Though, it begs the question whether Facebook's current UI can handle such styling to its full extent. That said, is posting on Facebook still a thing? I haven't used the platform in the last 3 years and get the idea that traditional status updates have evaporated.
- traek 8y ago
  Given that Workplace (the enterprise version of Facebook) has supported Markdown for a while now, I think it’s a safe assumption that they’ve built the UI to handle it.
  - skilled 8y ago
    Never heard of Workplace before. Does it have ads like normal Facebook UI?
    - mtmail 8y ago
      Based on their FAQ (I don't use Workplace myself) "There are no ads in Workplace." https://www.workplace.com/workplace/faq https://www.workplace.com/workplace/faq
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
- scarface74 8y ago
  Yes and I’m sure you haven’t owned a TV in 15 years.... https://www.theonion.com/area-man-constantly-mentioning-he-doesnt-own-a-televisi-1819565469 https://www.theonion.com/area-man-constantly-mentioning-he-d... Why do people act like such ignorance of popular trends is insightful?
underwater 8y ago
I don't understand why they would chose markdown instead of a true WYSIWYG input. The website post input already uses Draft.js, which is the editor that also powers the Notes product. All the pieces are there.
- praveenscience 8y ago
  WYSIWYG is kinda difficult for developers to control the allowed HTML part as it can generate a lot of gibberish and null characters. The same goes with contenteditable too. The good thing is, if you have Markdown, you can export it to HTML, text, doc, PDF, or any other format.
  - underwater 8y ago
    Draft.js doesn't use the native browser content editable behaviour. It ensures that only valid markup can be generated: all text exists in a single block level element (p, h1, h2, li, blockquote) and then inline text can have an number of a developer-defined formatting options applied (emphasis, bold, links). It doesn't have the compatibility problems and ambiguity that markdown suffers from.
- Shish2k 8y ago
  It is WYSIWYG. I'm not sure why the article mentions markdown in the title, because the only clue about using markdown behind the scenes is that somebody found a "markdown help" pop-up buried in the code...
forgotmyhnacc 8y ago
Surprised this is on the front page, when it's clearly not true. Markdown support for statuses is only available for Workplace accounts.
- praveenscience 8y ago
  Not exactly, it's been enabled for few folks in India. The screenshot I have posted is on Groups page on an Incognito Chrome window, where there are no extensions or plugins installed.

Interesting update. Though, it begs the question whether Facebook's current UI can handle such styling to its full extent. That said, is posting on Facebook still a thing? I haven't used the platform in the last 3 years and get the idea that traditional status updates have evaporated.

traek 8y ago
Given that Workplace (the enterprise version of Facebook) has supported Markdown for a while now, I think it’s a safe assumption that they’ve built the UI to handle it.
- skilled 8y ago
  Never heard of Workplace before. Does it have ads like normal Facebook UI?
  - mtmail 8y ago
    Based on their FAQ (I don't use Workplace myself) "There are no ads in Workplace." https://www.workplace.com/workplace/faq https://www.workplace.com/workplace/faq
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
scarface74 8y ago
Yes and I’m sure you haven’t owned a TV in 15 years.... https://www.theonion.com/area-man-constantly-mentioning-he-doesnt-own-a-televisi-1819565469 https://www.theonion.com/area-man-constantly-mentioning-he-d... Why do people act like such ignorance of popular trends is insightful?

underwater 8y ago

I don't understand why they would chose markdown instead of a true WYSIWYG input. The website post input already uses Draft.js, which is the editor that also powers the Notes product. All the pieces are there.

praveenscience 8y ago
WYSIWYG is kinda difficult for developers to control the allowed HTML part as it can generate a lot of gibberish and null characters. The same goes with contenteditable too. The good thing is, if you have Markdown, you can export it to HTML, text, doc, PDF, or any other format.
- underwater 8y ago
  Draft.js doesn't use the native browser content editable behaviour. It ensures that only valid markup can be generated: all text exists in a single block level element (p, h1, h2, li, blockquote) and then inline text can have an number of a developer-defined formatting options applied (emphasis, bold, links). It doesn't have the compatibility problems and ambiguity that markdown suffers from.
Shish2k 8y ago
It is WYSIWYG. I'm not sure why the article mentions markdown in the title, because the only clue about using markdown behind the scenes is that somebody found a "markdown help" pop-up buried in the code...

forgotmyhnacc 8y ago

Surprised this is on the front page, when it's clearly not true. Markdown support for statuses is only available for Workplace accounts.

praveenscience 8y ago
Not exactly, it's been enabled for few folks in India. The screenshot I have posted is on Groups page on an Incognito Chrome window, where there are no extensions or plugins installed.