Github-style fenced code blocks

Michel Fortin
Fri, 27 Sep 2013 11:48:49 -0000

I get a lot of requests for Github-style fenced code blocks in PHP Markdown
Extra. While I despite the syntax -- it also happens to be a valid code span! --
I wonder whether I should relent on this. It seems to be bothering a lot of
people (even those who know about the tilde-based fenced code block syntax).

In Github-Flavored Markdown, a code block works like this:

	```php
	some php code
	```

Replace those backticks with tildes and you get a valid fenced code block in PHP
Markdown Extra:

	~~~php
	some php code
	~~~

Of course, now Github also supports tilde for fenced code blocks. But their
documentation only mention the backtick-based syntax.
<https://help.github.com/articles/github-flavored-markdown>

If take a look at Babelmark 2, it seems that most implementations supporting one
also support the other.
<http://johnmacfarlane.net/babelmark2/?normalize=1&text=```php%0Asome+php+code%0A```%0A>
<http://johnmacfarlane.net/babelmark2/?normalize=1&text=~~~php%0Asome+php+code%0A~~~%0A>

I wondered if some of you have any opinion to share on this.

--
Michel Fortin
michel.fortin at michelf.ca