Convert RST to ADOC
Max file size 100mb.
RST vs ADOC Format Comparison
| Aspect | RST (Source Format) | ADOC (Target Format) |
|---|---|---|
| Format Overview |
RST
reStructuredText
Lightweight markup language developed by the Python community in 2001. Primary format for Python documentation, Sphinx, and Read the Docs. Emphasizes simplicity and readability with explicit, consistent syntax for technical documentation. Python Standard Sphinx Native |
ADOC
AsciiDoc Markup Language
Powerful text document format created by Stuart Rackham in 2002. Designed for writing documentation, articles, books, and technical content. Combines simplicity of plain text with rich semantic markup capabilities. Technical Docs Publishing Ready |
| Technical Specifications |
Structure: Plain text with indentation-based syntax
Encoding: UTF-8 Format: Docutils markup language Processor: Sphinx, Docutils, Pandoc Extensions: .rst, .rest, .txt |
Structure: Plain text with semantic markup
Encoding: UTF-8 Format: AsciiDoc markup specification Processor: Asciidoctor, AsciiDoc.py, Pandoc Extensions: .adoc, .asciidoc, .asc |
| Syntax Examples |
RST syntax (Python-style): Document Title
==============
Section Header
--------------
This is **bold** and *italic*.
.. code-block:: python
def hello():
print("Hello")
.. note::
Important information here.
|
AsciiDoc syntax: = Document Title
== Section Header
This is *bold* and _italic_.
[source,python]
----
def hello():
print("Hello")
----
NOTE: Important information here.
|
| Content Support |
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| Advantages |
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| Disadvantages |
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| Version History |
Introduced: 2001 (David Goodger)
Maintained by: Docutils project Status: Stable, actively maintained Primary Tool: Sphinx (2008+) |
Introduced: 2002 (Stuart Rackham)
Modern Implementation: Asciidoctor (2013) Status: Active development Primary Tool: Asciidoctor (Ruby/JS/Java) |
| Software Support |
Sphinx: Native support
Docutils: Reference implementation Pandoc: Full support IDEs: PyCharm, VS Code (extensions) |
Asciidoctor: Primary processor
Pandoc: Full support GitHub/GitLab: Native rendering IDEs: VS Code, IntelliJ (plugins) |
Why Convert RST to ADOC?
Converting reStructuredText (RST) documents to AsciiDoc format is valuable when migrating documentation from Python-centric Sphinx projects to more flexible publishing workflows. While RST excels in the Python ecosystem, AsciiDoc offers broader publishing capabilities and a more intuitive syntax that many technical writers prefer.
AsciiDoc provides several advantages over RST for certain use cases. Its syntax is generally considered more readable and less strict about whitespace and indentation. AsciiDoc's admonition syntax (NOTE:, TIP:, WARNING:) is more concise than RST's directive-based approach. For publishing books, articles, or documentation outside the Python ecosystem, AsciiDoc's toolchain (Asciidoctor) offers excellent PDF, EPUB, and HTML output.
The conversion is particularly useful for organizations that want to unify their documentation format across multiple programming languages and platforms. While RST is tightly coupled with Python and Sphinx, AsciiDoc is language-agnostic and supported by major platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and various documentation hosting services.
AsciiDoc also excels at code documentation with features like callouts (numbered annotations in code blocks), conditional content processing (ifdef/ifndef), and better support for complex table structures. These features make it ideal for technical manuals, API documentation, and software guides.
Key Benefits of Converting RST to ADOC:
- Readable Syntax: AsciiDoc's markup is more intuitive and easier to learn
- Publishing Flexibility: Better PDF, EPUB, and book publishing support
- Platform Independence: Works across all programming ecosystems
- Code Callouts: Numbered annotations for code explanations
- Conditional Content: Include/exclude content based on attributes
- GitHub/GitLab Native: Renders directly in repositories
- Modern Tooling: Asciidoctor is fast and feature-rich
Practical Examples
Example 1: Basic Document Structure
Input RST file (document.rst):
Getting Started Guide
=====================
Introduction
------------
Welcome to the **project documentation**.
This guide will help you get started.
Installation
------------
Install using pip::
pip install myproject
.. note::
Requires Python 3.8 or higher.
Output ADOC file (document.adoc):
= Getting Started Guide == Introduction Welcome to the *project documentation*. This guide will help you get started. == Installation Install using pip: [source,bash] ---- pip install myproject ---- NOTE: Requires Python 3.8 or higher.
Example 2: Code Blocks with Syntax Highlighting
Input RST file (code_example.rst):
API Reference
=============
.. code-block:: python
:linenos:
def calculate_total(items):
"""Calculate the total price."""
return sum(item.price for item in items)
.. warning::
This function does not handle empty lists.
Output ADOC file (code_example.adoc):
= API Reference
[source,python,linenums]
----
def calculate_total(items):
"""Calculate the total price."""
return sum(item.price for item in items)
----
WARNING: This function does not handle empty lists.
Example 3: Tables and Cross-References
Input RST file (reference.rst):
Configuration Options ===================== .. _config-table: +---------------+----------+------------------+ | Option | Default | Description | +===============+==========+==================+ | debug | false | Enable debugging | +---------------+----------+------------------+ | timeout | 30 | Request timeout | +---------------+----------+------------------+ See :ref:`config-table` for all options.
Output ADOC file (reference.adoc):
= Configuration Options [[config-table]] [cols="1,1,2"] |=== | Option | Default | Description | debug | false | Enable debugging | timeout | 30 | Request timeout |=== See <<config-table>> for all options.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is reStructuredText (RST)?
A: reStructuredText is a lightweight markup language developed by the Python community. It's the standard format for Python documentation and is used by Sphinx, the documentation generator behind Read the Docs. RST uses explicit directives and underline-based headers to structure documents.
Q: What is AsciiDoc?
A: AsciiDoc is a text document format for writing technical documentation, articles, books, and more. It was created in 2002 and gained popularity through the Asciidoctor project. AsciiDoc is used by O'Reilly Media for book publishing and is natively rendered by GitHub and GitLab.
Q: Will my RST directives be converted properly?
A: Most common RST directives have AsciiDoc equivalents. Code blocks become source blocks, notes/warnings become admonitions (NOTE:, WARNING:), tables are converted to AsciiDoc table syntax, and cross-references become anchors. Some Sphinx-specific directives may need manual adjustment.
Q: Can I still use Sphinx after converting to AsciiDoc?
A: Sphinx primarily works with RST files. If you convert to AsciiDoc, you'd typically switch to Asciidoctor for processing. However, there are Sphinx extensions that can process AsciiDoc files, though they're not as mature as native RST support.
Q: Which format is better for technical documentation?
A: Both are excellent for technical docs. Choose RST if you're in the Python ecosystem, use Sphinx, or need autodoc for Python APIs. Choose AsciiDoc for book publishing, cross-platform documentation, better PDF output, or if you prefer more readable markup syntax.
Q: Does GitHub render AsciiDoc files?
A: Yes! GitHub and GitLab both natively render .adoc files in repositories. You can use AsciiDoc for README files, documentation, and wikis. The rendering supports most AsciiDoc features including tables, code blocks, admonitions, and images.
Q: How do I process AsciiDoc files?
A: The primary tool is Asciidoctor, available in Ruby, JavaScript (asciidoctor.js), and Java. It can generate HTML, PDF (via asciidoctor-pdf), EPUB, and other formats. You can also use Pandoc for conversion to various formats, or VS Code extensions for live preview.
Q: Can I convert AsciiDoc back to RST?
A: Yes, conversion works both ways. Use Pandoc to convert AsciiDoc to RST: `pandoc -f asciidoc -t rst input.adoc -o output.rst`. This is useful if you need to integrate with Sphinx projects or contribute to Python documentation.