# Which Markdown?

Which markup processor should I use? My needs for one happen to be simple: it should be under active development, should make embedding $\LaTeX$ dead simple, and should be deployable with Markdown on Github Pages, since I plan to compose posts in prose.io. On offer, we have Redcarpet, RedCloth, Rdiscount, kramdown and Maruku.

• Maruku: The last commit was 4 years ago, I’ll give this a pass.
• Redcarpet: Word is that it’s wicked fast since it’s in C.
• RedCloth: This is at Textile processor.
• Rdiscount: Also written in C, supports a superset of Markdown.
• kramdown: Also supports a superset of Markdown, and plays well with embedded $\LaTeX$ math!

I’m split between kramdown and Rdiscount. They’re both actively maintained and well documented, Let’s look at the interesting features they each provide:

• kramdown:
1. Supports tables.
2. Supports custom attributes for block and span elements (very useful).
3. Supports footnotes.
6. Support block and span level embedded $\LaTeX$, rendered via MathJax.