Head-to-Head: Micromark vs Showdown Analysis

micromark

v4.0.1(about 1 month ago)

This package is actively maintained.Types definitions are bundled with the npm packageNumber of direct dependencies: 17Monthly npm downloads

Micromark is a fast and efficient JavaScript library for parsing and transforming markdown content into HTML. It is designed to be lightweight and modular, allowing developers to customize the parsing process according to their needs. Micromark supports the CommonMark specification and provides a simple and intuitive API for working with markdown content.

Alternatives:
markdown-it+
remark+
marked+
showdown+
markdown-js+
turndown+
commonmark+
snarkdown+
markdown-it-emoji+
markdown-it-anchor+

Tags: javascriptmarkdownparsingtransformationhtml

showdown

v2.1.0(over 2 years ago)

This package was last published over a year ago. It may not be actively maintained.Types definitions are provided via a separate npm package: @types/showdownNumber of direct dependencies: 1Monthly npm downloads

Showdown is a JavaScript library that converts Markdown syntax to HTML, allowing users to easily write and display formatted text on web pages. It supports a wide range of Markdown features, including headings, lists, code blocks, and tables, making it a versatile tool for rendering Markdown content.

Alternatives:
marked+
markdown-it+
remark+
turndown+
markdown-js+
mdast+
snarkdown+
commonmark+
markdown-it-emoji+
markdown-it-anchor+

Tags: javascriptmarkdownhtmltext-formattingconversion

Fight!

Popularity

Both Micromark and Showdown are popular npm packages for Markdown parsing and conversion. Showdown has been around for longer and has a larger community and user base. Micromark, on the other hand, has gained popularity more recently due to its focus on performance and extensibility.

Size

Micromark is designed to be a small and lightweight library with a focus on performance. It is known for its minimal footprint, making it a great choice for projects where size is a concern. Showdown, while not overly large, has a slightly larger file size due to its broader feature set.

Features

Showdown is a feature-rich library that supports a wide range of Markdown extensions and customization options. It offers advanced features like table parsing, syntax highlighting, and support for various output formats. Micromark takes a more minimalistic approach and focuses on providing a core Markdown parsing functionality, but it is highly extensible and customizable through plugins.

Performance

Micromark is known for its emphasis on performance and efficiency. It is designed to be fast and lightweight, offering speedy Markdown parsing. Showdown is also performant, but may not have the same level of optimization as Micromark in terms of speed and memory usage.

Usage and Integration

Showdown is widely used and has a larger user base, which means it has more community support and resources available. It is easy to integrate with various frameworks and build pipelines. Micromark is gaining popularity and adoption, but it may have a smaller ecosystem and fewer integrations compared to Showdown.

Documentation

Both Micromark and Showdown have good documentation, providing extensive guides, examples, and API references. Showdown's documentation may be more extensive due to its longer history and larger community.