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Curious why the special `[[wiki style links]]` syntax? E.g., why not just use Markdown's existing syntax, like `[A File](a-file.md)`? (Cool looking project by

Curious why the special `[[wiki style links]]` syntax? E.g., why not just use Markdown's existing syntax, like `[A File](a-file.md)`? (Cool looking project by the way, all the values are right up my alley.)

ericax 7y ago
Thanks! There are 3 main reasons: 1) At least to me, "[Topic](Topic.md)" is the most typical case, where the name of the link is the same as the file name without the ".md", so I feel like not repeating the title twice is better. Markdown supports "[](Topic.md)" but IMO the syntax doesn't look as nice. 2) Easier to distinguish between internal links and external links. 3) Personally, I think "[[note]]" blends into the sentence better. [[wiki style links]] are not as portable as standard Markdown links, I have to admit that. We will support "[A File](a-file.md)" as well for maximum portability, and possibility provide conversion utilities if you decide to move away from the wiki style link syntax.
- awake 7y ago
  curious. how you deal with slugging topics with "Punctuation!". Also do both types of links provide the same affordances? If I write [[Topic]] vs [Topic](topic.md) is there any semantic difference?
  - ericax 7y ago
    Not sure I understand the first question, but if the topic itself contains "!", that's fine by the app, as long as it doesn't use the characters that the OS doesn't allow (like slashes). The vertical bar syntax is also supported, so you can write [[Topic|display name]] and "display name" will show. I usually leave punctuation out of the link, like `[[name]]'s`. > Also do both types of links provide the same affordances? If I write [[Topic]] vs [Topic](topic.md) is there any semantic difference? No semantic different. UX-wise, right now [[ auto-completes from the list of files in your folder, whereas [Topic]( doesn't.
    - awake 7y ago
      You answered both my questions! Also saw you created dynalist. Look forward to seeing this new project!
patcon 7y ago
Roam does the same thing, so they may have just copied what was already established. I'm sure there's solid rationale on Roam's side fwiw, just don't know it :)
- ericax 7y ago
  Yeah, I wonder why they decided on that as well. The first time I learned about this syntax is from MediaWiki's internal link syntax [1], I wonder if there are any predecessors before them. [1]: https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Links https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Links

ericax 7y ago

Thanks! There are 3 main reasons: 1) At least to me, "[Topic](Topic.md)" is the most typical case, where the name of the link is the same as the file name without the ".md", so I feel like not repeating the title twice is better. Markdown supports "[](Topic.md)" but IMO the syntax doesn't look as nice. 2) Easier to distinguish between internal links and external links. 3) Personally, I think "[[note]]" blends into the sentence better. [[wiki style links]] are not as portable as standard Markdown links, I have to admit that. We will support "[A File](a-file.md)" as well for maximum portability, and possibility provide conversion utilities if you decide to move away from the wiki style link syntax.

awake 7y ago
curious. how you deal with slugging topics with "Punctuation!". Also do both types of links provide the same affordances? If I write [[Topic]] vs [Topic](topic.md) is there any semantic difference?
- ericax 7y ago
  Not sure I understand the first question, but if the topic itself contains "!", that's fine by the app, as long as it doesn't use the characters that the OS doesn't allow (like slashes). The vertical bar syntax is also supported, so you can write [[Topic|display name]] and "display name" will show. I usually leave punctuation out of the link, like `[[name]]'s`. > Also do both types of links provide the same affordances? If I write [[Topic]] vs [Topic](topic.md) is there any semantic difference? No semantic different. UX-wise, right now [[ auto-completes from the list of files in your folder, whereas [Topic]( doesn't.
  - awake 7y ago
    You answered both my questions! Also saw you created dynalist. Look forward to seeing this new project!

patcon 7y ago

Roam does the same thing, so they may have just copied what was already established. I'm sure there's solid rationale on Roam's side fwiw, just don't know it :)

ericax 7y ago
Yeah, I wonder why they decided on that as well. The first time I learned about this syntax is from MediaWiki's internal link syntax [1], I wonder if there are any predecessors before them. [1]: https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Links https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Links