Convert ORG to MD

Why Convert ORG to MD?

Converting Org-mode documents to Markdown is one of the most common conversions for Emacs users who need to share content with the broader developer community. Markdown is the de facto standard for documentation on GitHub, GitLab, and most modern development platforms.

If you've written documentation, tutorials, or notes in Org-mode, converting to Markdown makes them accessible to anyone without requiring Emacs. Markdown files render beautifully on GitHub, GitLab, and countless other platforms, making your content immediately viewable to collaborators.

The conversion is essential for contributing to open-source projects. Most projects use Markdown for README files, CONTRIBUTING guides, and documentation. By converting your Org-mode drafts to Markdown, you can seamlessly contribute to any project.

Markdown also integrates with static site generators like Jekyll, Hugo, and Gatsby. Converting your Org-mode content to Markdown opens up possibilities for publishing blogs, documentation sites, and wikis using these popular tools.

Key Benefits of Converting ORG to MD:

• Universal Compatibility: Works on GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and more
• Team Collaboration: Everyone can read and edit Markdown
• Static Sites: Use with Jekyll, Hugo, Gatsby, MkDocs
• Blog Publishing: Compatible with most blogging platforms
• Simple Syntax: Easy to learn and remember
• Editor Support: Excellent support in all code editors
• Web Integration: Easily converts to HTML

Practical Examples

Example 1: README Documentation

Input ORG file (README.org):

#+TITLE: MyProject
#+AUTHOR: Developer Team

* Overview

MyProject is a /powerful/ library for *data processing*.

* Installation

#+BEGIN_SRC bash
pip install myproject
#+END_SRC

* Usage

#+BEGIN_SRC python
from myproject import process
result = process(data)
#+END_SRC

* Features

- Fast processing
- Easy configuration
- Extensible plugins

Output MD file (README.md):

# MyProject
*Developer Team*

## Overview

MyProject is a *powerful* library for **data processing**.

## Installation

```bash
pip install myproject
```

## Usage

```python
from myproject import process
result = process(data)
```

## Features

- Fast processing
- Easy configuration
- Extensible plugins

Example 2: Blog Post

Input ORG file (post.org):

#+TITLE: Getting Started with Python
#+DATE: 2024-01-15

* Introduction

Python is a versatile programming language.

#+BEGIN_QUOTE
"Code is read more often than it is written."
— Guido van Rossum
#+END_QUOTE

* Basic Syntax

Here's a simple example:

#+BEGIN_SRC python
print("Hello, World!")
#+END_SRC

See [[https://python.org][Python.org]] for more.

Output MD file (post.md):

---
title: Getting Started with Python
date: 2024-01-15
---

# Introduction

Python is a versatile programming language.

> "Code is read more often than it is written."
> — Guido van Rossum

# Basic Syntax

Here's a simple example:

```python
print("Hello, World!")
```

See [Python.org](https://python.org) for more.

Example 3: Tables and Lists

Input ORG file (comparison.org):

* Feature Comparison

| Feature    | Basic | Pro   | Enterprise |
|------------+-------+-------+------------|
| Users      | 5     | 25    | Unlimited  |
| Storage    | 1GB   | 10GB  | 100GB      |
| Support    | Email | Phone | 24/7       |

* TODO Checklist
- [X] Complete documentation
- [ ] Add tests
- [ ] Deploy to production

Output MD file (comparison.md):

# Feature Comparison

| Feature    | Basic | Pro   | Enterprise |
|------------|-------|-------|------------|
| Users      | 5     | 25    | Unlimited  |
| Storage    | 1GB   | 10GB  | 100GB      |
| Support    | Email | Phone | 24/7       |

# Checklist
- [x] Complete documentation
- [ ] Add tests
- [ ] Deploy to production

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is Markdown?

A: Markdown is a lightweight markup language created by John Gruber in 2004. It's designed to be easy to read and write in plain text while converting cleanly to HTML. Markdown has become the standard for documentation on platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Stack Overflow.

Q: Will my Org-mode TODO items be preserved?

A: TODO items with checkboxes are converted to GitHub-Flavored Markdown task lists (- [ ] and - [x]). However, custom TODO states (DONE, IN-PROGRESS, etc.) are converted to plain text labels since Markdown only supports two states.

Q: How are Org-mode code blocks converted?

A: Org-mode code blocks (#+BEGIN_SRC language ... #+END_SRC) are converted to Markdown fenced code blocks (```language ... ```). The language specification is preserved for syntax highlighting on platforms like GitHub.

Q: What about Org-mode tables?

A: Org-mode tables are converted to GitHub-Flavored Markdown tables. The structure and alignment are preserved. However, spreadsheet formulas are Org-specific and won't be functional in Markdown.

Q: Can I convert Markdown back to Org-mode?

A: Yes, Pandoc supports bidirectional conversion. Use: `pandoc -f markdown -t org input.md -o output.org`. This is useful for importing Markdown documentation into your Org-mode workflow.

Q: Which Markdown flavor is used?

A: The conversion produces GitHub-Flavored Markdown (GFM), which includes support for tables, task lists, fenced code blocks, and autolinks. This is compatible with GitHub, GitLab, and most modern Markdown processors.

Q: Are hyperlinks preserved correctly?

A: Yes, Org-mode links like [[url][description]] are converted to Markdown links [description](url). Internal links may need adjustment depending on your documentation structure.

Q: What about Org-mode metadata?

A: Document metadata (#+TITLE, #+AUTHOR, #+DATE) can be converted to YAML front matter, which is used by static site generators like Jekyll and Hugo. This makes the converted files ready for blog publishing.