Incremental parser

[Jacob Rus]

Michel Fortin wrote:

> That's assuming you have a separate preview mode, are using a special 

> preview stylesheet, and that you actually look at the preview before 

> publishing.

> 

> I would not expect Markdown's usability to depend on such a precise 

> workflow. For instance, have you thought about the poor commenter on a 

> website who doesn't know the comment form use Markdown, writing:

> 

>     Type these three keys in sequence: [1] [2] [3]

> 

> getting this:

> 

>     <p>Type these three keys in sequence: <a href="#">1</a> [3]

> 

> and seeing that in his browser:

> 

>     Type these three keys in sequence: 1 [3]


Notice, this is why I was opposed months ago to the `[foo]` format for 
links, and am still opposed to it now.  What's the likelihood of the 
same user typing:

     Type these three keys in sequence: [1][] [2][] [3][]

I'd guess vanishingly close to none.  If `[foo]` is still allowed as a 
syntax for links, I would never suggest automatically putting links in 
for `[foo]` unless there is a corresponding reference definition, 
because square brackets are far too commonly used for other purposes 
(and note, TextMate's syntax highlighting for markdown wisely does not 
highlight [this] as a link).

-Jacob