Convert RST to BBCode

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RST vs BBCode Format Comparison

Aspect	RST (Source Format)	BBCode (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	BBCode Bulletin Board Code Lightweight markup language used on web forums and bulletin boards since 1998. Uses square bracket tags similar to HTML. Designed for safe user-generated content without exposing raw HTML capabilities. Forum Standard User Safe
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 bracket tags Encoding: UTF-8 or ASCII Format: Tag-based markup (no formal spec) Processor: Forum software (phpBB, vBulletin, etc.) Extensions: .txt, .bbcode (typically inline)
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.	BBCode syntax: [size=150][b]Document Title[/b][/size] [b]Section Header[/b] This is [b]bold[/b] and [i]italic[/i]. [code=python] def hello(): print("Hello") [/code] [quote] Important information here. [/quote]
Content Support	Headers with underline characters Inline markup (bold, italic, code) Directives (code-block, note, warning) Cross-references and citations Tables (grid and simple) Autodoc for Python code Math formulas (LaTeX) Sphinx extensions ecosystem	Bold, italic, underline text Font size and color Code blocks with syntax highlighting Quotes and citations Lists (ordered and unordered) Images and links Tables (some forums) Spoiler tags User mentions
Advantages	Python documentation standard Sphinx integration (Read the Docs) Autodoc for API documentation Large Python ecosystem Consistent, strict syntax Mature tooling	Universal forum support Safe from XSS attacks Easy to learn No HTML knowledge required Preview before posting Human-readable source
Disadvantages	Strict indentation requirements Complex directive syntax Limited outside Python ecosystem Steeper learning curve Less intuitive syntax	No formal specification Implementation varies by forum Limited formatting options No semantic markup Tables poorly supported
Common Uses	Python documentation Sphinx projects Read the Docs hosting API documentation Technical specifications	Forum posts Community discussions Game forums Support forums Message boards Private messages
Best For	Python projects Sphinx-based documentation API reference docs Read the Docs publishing	Forum discussions Community announcements Technical support posts Sharing code snippets
Version History	Introduced: 2001 (David Goodger) Maintained by: Docutils project Status: Stable, actively maintained Primary Tool: Sphinx (2008+)	Introduced: 1998 (Ultimate Bulletin Board) Popularized by: phpBB, vBulletin Status: Widely used, informal standard Primary Tool: Forum software
Software Support	Sphinx: Native support Docutils: Reference implementation Pandoc: Full support IDEs: PyCharm, VS Code (extensions)	phpBB: Full support vBulletin: Full support Discourse: Partial (Markdown preferred) XenForo: Full support

Why Convert RST to BBCode?

Converting reStructuredText (RST) documents to BBCode format enables you to share Python documentation and technical content on web forums and bulletin boards. This is essential for developers who want to post tutorials, share code snippets, or discuss technical topics in community forums.

BBCode is the universal language of web forums. Platforms like phpBB, vBulletin, XenForo, and countless gaming and tech forums all support BBCode. By converting your RST documentation to BBCode, you can post properly formatted content with code highlighting, bold text, and structured sections.

The conversion is particularly valuable when sharing Python tutorials, API examples, or troubleshooting guides on community support forums. Your RST notes and warnings become properly formatted quote blocks, and your code examples maintain their syntax highlighting for easy reading.

For open-source project maintainers, this conversion helps repurpose existing Sphinx documentation for forum announcements, release notes, and community discussions without manually reformatting everything. Keep your documentation in RST and automatically generate forum-ready versions when needed.

Key Benefits of Converting RST to BBCode:

Forum Compatible: Works on phpBB, vBulletin, XenForo, and more
Code Highlighting: Preserve syntax highlighting in code blocks
Structured Content: Headers, lists, and quotes converted properly
Easy Sharing: Copy-paste ready for forum posts
Safe Formatting: No HTML/XSS concerns
Human Readable: BBCode source is easy to edit
Community Reach: Share documentation on popular forums

Practical Examples

Example 1: Tutorial Post

Input RST file (tutorial.rst):

Getting Started with Python
===========================

Introduction
------------

Welcome to this **Python tutorial** for beginners.
You'll learn the *basics* of Python programming.

First Steps
-----------

Install Python from https://python.org

Create your first script::

    print("Hello, World!")

Output BBCode file (tutorial.bbcode):

[size=200][b]Getting Started with Python[/b][/size]

[size=150][b]Introduction[/b][/size]

Welcome to this [b]Python tutorial[/b] for beginners.
You'll learn the [i]basics[/i] of Python programming.

[size=150][b]First Steps[/b][/size]

Install Python from [url]https://python.org[/url]

Create your first script:
[code=python]
print("Hello, World!")
[/code]

Example 2: Bug Report Template

Input RST file (bug_report.rst):

Bug Report: Login Issue
=======================

.. warning::
   This affects all users on v2.5.0

Steps to Reproduce
------------------

1. Go to login page
2. Enter valid credentials
3. Click "Sign In"

Expected: Dashboard loads
Actual: Error 500 displayed

.. code-block:: python

   # Error in logs:
   AuthError: Token validation failed

Output BBCode file (bug_report.bbcode):

[size=200][b]Bug Report: Login Issue[/b][/size]

[quote][color=red][b]Warning:[/b][/color] This affects all users on v2.5.0[/quote]

[size=150][b]Steps to Reproduce[/b][/size]

[list=1]
[*]Go to login page
[*]Enter valid credentials
[*]Click "Sign In"
[/list]

[b]Expected:[/b] Dashboard loads
[b]Actual:[/b] Error 500 displayed

[code=python]
# Error in logs:
AuthError: Token validation failed
[/code]

Example 3: Release Announcement

Input RST file (release.rst):

MyProject v3.0 Released!
========================

We're excited to announce **MyProject v3.0**!

What's New
----------

* New dashboard interface
* Performance improvements
* Bug fixes

.. note::
   Upgrade instructions in the documentation.

Download: https://example.com/download

Output BBCode file (release.bbcode):

[size=200][b]MyProject v3.0 Released![/b][/size]

We're excited to announce [b]MyProject v3.0[/b]!

[size=150][b]What's New[/b][/size]

[list]
[*]New dashboard interface
[*]Performance improvements
[*]Bug fixes
[/list]

[quote][b]Note:[/b] Upgrade instructions in the documentation.[/quote]

[b]Download:[/b] [url]https://example.com/download[/url]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is BBCode?

A: BBCode (Bulletin Board Code) is a lightweight markup language used on web forums. It uses square brackets for tags like [b]bold[/b] and [i]italic[/i]. It's designed to be safe for user-generated content while providing formatting options.

Q: Will BBCode work on all forums?

A: Most traditional forum software (phpBB, vBulletin, XenForo, SMF) supports BBCode. However, modern platforms like Discourse prefer Markdown. Always check your target forum's formatting options before posting.

Q: Are RST tables converted to BBCode?

A: BBCode has limited table support that varies by forum. Simple tables may convert to formatted text with spacing, or use [table] tags if supported. Complex RST tables may need manual adjustment for specific forums.

Q: How are RST code blocks handled?

A: RST code blocks convert to BBCode [code] or [code=language] tags. Most forums support syntax highlighting for common languages like Python, JavaScript, and PHP. The language specified in RST is preserved.

Q: Can I preview BBCode before posting?

A: Most forum software includes a preview button when composing posts. After converting your RST to BBCode, paste it into the forum's editor and use preview to verify formatting before submitting.

Q: What happens to RST directives like notes and warnings?

A: RST admonitions (note, warning, tip) are converted to BBCode quote blocks with appropriate labels. Some forums have custom tags for alerts, which you can manually adjust after conversion.

Q: Are images and links preserved?

A: Yes, RST image references become [img] tags and hyperlinks become [url] tags. Note that many forums require a minimum post count before allowing images or links for spam prevention.

Q: Why use BBCode instead of HTML on forums?

A: Forums disable raw HTML to prevent security issues like XSS attacks and layout breaking. BBCode provides safe formatting that the forum software controls, ensuring consistent appearance and security.