WebExpress 0.0.9-alpha – A Major Step Towards Independence

With the release of WebExpress 0.0.9-alpha, we're turning an important corner: the switch from Markdig to a custom-built Markdown parser marks a pivotal evolution in WebExpress’s architectural vision.



Why the Change?

Markdig has served us well for many versions. Its stability, versatility, and performance made it the obvious choice during WebExpress’s early development. However, as the system matured, limitations in deep integration became increasingly apparent:

  • System Integration: Our own parser allows for tighter embedding within internal modules, particularly for dynamic content and layout control.

  • Flexibility: Building our own parser gives us full control over features and performance, supporting custom enhancements seamlessly.

  • Licensing Concerns: Markdig is distributed under the BSD-2-Clause license—generous, yet not entirely aligned with our philosophy. Since WebExpress is released completely under the MIT license, consistent licensing is essential for transparency and openness with the community.

The New Markdown Parser

From the ground up, our parser is tailored to the needs of WebExpress. The goal wasn’t to replicate all Markdig functionalities, but rather to create a lightweight, extensible system that interprets Markdown in an intuitive and efficient way.

Key features include:

  • Extended syntax rules for handling complex content structures and custom components

  • Optimized rendering for WebExpress components, including smart layout detection and embedded dynamic modules

  • Ongoing development of additional renderers, such as PDF export for rich formatting and media-optimized output

A Heartfelt Thank You to Markdig

We’d like to take a moment to express our gratitude to the Markdig project. Their work provided an invaluable foundation, helping WebExpress reach a level of stability and performance that would have been much harder to achieve without them.

Stay tuned – WebExpress 0.0.9 still has some development ahead, and the new Markdown parser will truly shine once all components are fully aligned and refined. We welcome your feedback and can’t wait to see how the community engages with this fresh Markdown approach.

Together, we’re shaping a modern, flexible content framework, lightweight, extensible and truly built for the open web.



Location: Cottbus, Deutschland

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