Which StackOverflow-style MarkDown (WMD) javascript editor should I use?
- by Edan Maor
Background
I'm working on an application which requires user-entered content, and I've decided to use a StackOverflow-style MarkDown editor. After researching this topic for the last few days, I realize there are numerous forks of the base WMD editor, some with a few basic enhancements and some with serious differences from the StackOverflow one.
Since this will be the heart of the application, I'd like to start with the best code base I can. I'd be happy if anyone can recommend which one of the many solutions out there best fits my needs.
Below is requirements, plus what I've managed to find already. I'm hoping this question will help me decide which version to go with, and maybe help me discover a port out there that's an even better fit for my needs.
The requirements for my project
Live Preview
Multiple editors on the same page (not know how many in advance, since the user can dynamically add another editing box).
Ability to extend with extra buttons (I'd like a button to upload a picture, instead of just adding an img url).
Ability to dynamically show/hide the edit box (and only see the preview box).
Not an absolute must, but I'd prefer to stick as close to StackOverflow's look and feel, since it's well known.
Don't know if this matters, but the backend is written in Django.
Editors I've looked at
Here are a few of the code bases I've looked at, with thoughts. Obviously, I might be missing another solution out there.
The derobins version. From what I can tell, this is the official StackOverflow version. Seems like it doesn't support multiple editors on one page.
JQuery.MarkEdit. Looks very good, but is pretty different from the StackOverflow version.
MooWMD. Looks like the winner right now, but I'm a little concerned since it looks less active/hackable than MarkEdit.
The wmd-new version. Not sure, looks like an old codebase without much use.
The SocialSite branch. Seems like it's not for public use.
