Jottings•me

Dashboard →

Mastering the Jottings Markdown Parser

• 7 min read • Customization

One of my favorite parts about building Jottings has been keeping the writing experience simple. No complex editors, no distracting toolbars — just clean markdown that lets you focus on what you're saying.

If you've never used markdown before, don't worry. It's incredibly simple — I'll walk you through every feature we support. By the end, you'll be formatting your jots like a pro.

What is Markdown?

Markdown is a plain-text format that lets you add formatting (bold, italic, headings, links) using simple symbols. Instead of clicking buttons in a word processor, you type a character or two before and after your text.

The beautiful part? If markdown is broken, your text still reads perfectly fine. It's just text with extra symbols.

Here's what a markdown paragraph looks like:

I love **bold text** and *italic text*. Check out [this link](https://jottings.me) for more info.

And here's how it appears on your site:

I love bold text and italic text. Check out this link for more info.

That's essentially it. Let's dive into each feature we support.

Headings

Markdown headings use hash symbols (#). More hashes = smaller headings.

# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3
#### Heading 4
##### Heading 5
###### Heading 6

Use them like:

  • # H1 for main titles
  • ## H2 for section breaks (like the ones in this guide)
  • ### H3 for subsections
  • Avoid too many heading levels — it confuses readers

Pro tip: Use headings to structure your longer jots. They make content scannable.

Bold & Italic

Make text bold and italic with asterisks or underscores.

Bold:

**bold text**  or  __bold text__

Italic:

*italic text*  or  _italic text_

Both bold and italic:

***bold and italic***  or  ___bold and italic___

Examples:

  • **Don't forget**: Read this carefully. → Don't forget: Read this carefully.
  • I *really* like this. → I really like this.
  • This is ***important***. → This is important.

Links

This is where Jottings is a little different from other platforms.

We've intentionally removed the typical blue, underlined link styling. Instead, links appear in a subtle color with bold weight. We did this because blue links are distracting — they interrupt your flow when you're trying to read.

Syntax:

[link text](https://example.com)

Examples:

[Read my blog](https://vishalvshekkar.com)
[Jottings Home](https://jottings.me)
[My Project on GitHub](https://github.com/username/repo)

The link text can be anything you want. The URL in parentheses must start with http:// or https://.

What we also support: If you paste a raw URL into your jot, we automatically turn it into a clickable link. No special syntax needed.

Check out https://example.com for more details.

→ The URL becomes automatically clickable, even without the bracket syntax.

This works for www. URLs too:

Visit www.example.com

→ Automatically linked to https://www.example.com

Code

Perfect for sharing code snippets, commands, or technical text.

Inline code (for single words or short phrases):

Use the `npm install` command to get started.

→ Use the npm install command to get started.

Code blocks (for multi-line snippets):

function hello() { console.log("Hello, world!"); }

Display multiple lines with formatting preserved. Use code blocks for:

  • Programming code
  • Terminal commands
  • Configuration files
  • Any text where spacing/formatting matters

We don't auto-detect language syntax highlighting yet, but we preserve your exact formatting — spaces, indentation, line breaks, everything.

Lists

Organize information with ordered and unordered lists.

Unordered lists (bullets):

* Item one
* Item two
* Item three

Or use hyphens:

- First point
- Second point
- Third point

Ordered lists (numbered):

1. First step
2. Second step
3. Third step

Example: My favorite features of Jottings:

  • Simple writing interface
  • No algorithms or algorithms
  • Full control over your content
  • RSS feeds built-in

Works great for:

  • Process instructions
  • Feature lists
  • Todo items
  • Comparisons

Blockquotes

Quote someone else or emphasize important text with blockquotes.

Syntax:

> This is a quote
> It can span multiple lines

Rendered as:

This is a quote It can span multiple lines

Use blockquotes for:

  • Sharing someone else's words
  • Highlighting important passages
  • Adding emphasis
  • Creating visual breaks in your jot

Great when you're commenting on something and want to reference the original text.

Strikethrough

Show that text has been removed or is no longer valid.

Syntax:

This is ~~deleted text~~.

→ This is deleted text.

Useful for:

  • Correcting previous statements
  • Showing what you've changed your mind about
  • Marking completed items
  • Adding humor (sometimes)

Horizontal Rules

Sometimes you want a visual separator between sections.

Syntax:

---

Creates a simple horizontal line. Use it to separate different topics or create visual breathing room.

What We Don't Support (And Why)

I designed Jottings' markdown parser to be intentionally minimal. Here's what we don't support and why:

Tables – They're complex to parse, hard to write in plain text, and most content doesn't need them. If you need tabular data, it usually belongs in a separate app or dedicated tool.

Footnotes – They add complexity without much practical benefit for short-form writing. If you need to reference something, use a link instead.

HTML – For security reasons, we don't allow raw HTML in jots. Markdown gives you everything you need.

Images via markdown – Images are handled differently in Jottings. You upload them directly when creating a jot, and they get embedded as beautiful media objects.

Nested lists – We keep lists flat and simple. If you need complex hierarchies, structure usually works better with headings and separate list items.

The philosophy here is simplicity. Every feature we add increases the surface area for bugs and confusion. The features we do support handle 95% of what you'd want to write in a microblog.

Practical Examples

Let me show you a few real jots using these features:

Example 1: Simple Thought

This morning I realized something: **Simplicity is a feature.**

Most software tries to do everything. The best software does one thing incredibly well.

Example 2: Link Share with Commentary

## Interesting Read

Found this essay on [the death of web forums](https://example.com/article).

The author argues that algorithmic feeds destroyed the serendipity of forum browsing. I think they're onto something.

Example 3: Quick Tip

### Productivity Hack

When you're stuck on a problem:

1. Stop trying to solve it
2. Take a 20-minute walk
3. Come back with fresh eyes

Works more often than you'd think.

Example 4: Code Snippet

Quick tip: Use backticks for inline code like `const x = 5;` in your prose.

For longer snippets:

function fibonacci(n) { if (n <= 1) return n; return fibonacci(n - 1) + fibonacci(n - 2); }

Tips for Writing Better Jots

Use headings for structure. Even short jots benefit from a heading. It helps readers scan quickly.

Keep code blocks short. Long code snippets might be better on GitHub or a pastebin. Link to them instead.

Be sparing with bold. Bold loses its punch if you use it everywhere. Reserve it for truly important words.

Links over raw URLs. [Read this](https://example.com) is better than pasting the full URL. Descriptive link text tells readers what they'll find.

Blockquotes for emphasis. When you want something to stand out, a blockquote works great.

Markdown + Your Style

The parser gets out of your way. Your voice is what matters.

Whether you write with lots of headings and lists, or long flowing paragraphs, markdown gives you the tools to express yourself without distraction.

Start simple. Use bold and links. Add headings once you're comfortable. You don't need every feature at once.

Ready to start writing? Create your Jottings site and start experimenting with these features. The best way to learn markdown is to use it.

Write something today.

← Back to Blog