Re: [HELP] Fwd: Org format as a new standard source format for GNU manuals

[Max Nikulin]

On 01/10/2022 11:08, Ihor Radchenko wrote:
> Tim Cross writes:
>
> I do not think that we need to add all the variety of Texinfo-specific
> constructs to the Org specification. Instead, we should add generic
> configurable syntax elements to Org. (The Texinfo-specific part will
> come as a separate library, similar to ol-*.el)
>
> In particular, I suggest to (1) extend the existing special block elements
> with Elisp-configurable :export settings; (2) add special block
> equivalent object.

While I do not mind to have flexible generic inline objects, I feel some 
doubts.

Export is already customizable through creation of derived backend. For 
links :export property is merely an alternative way supposed to be more 
convenient. In some sense it is a way to dispatch proper handler, a kind 
of virtual function table, etc. I see a couple of limitations with link 
export implementation.

1. Interface is rather different from the derived backend property. 
Instead of org-element object only selected properties (and backend 
communication channel is available).

2. Unsure if there is a robust way to extend implementation of the 
backend handler without replacing it completely. I mean a function that 
modifies or sets some attributes and delegate real export to the default 
handler.

Mentioned in this thread texinfo commands are not convincing reason for 
special blocks from my point of view. They are different flavors of 
verbatim (or code) object. If they are verbatim objects with some 
additional property then they may be just exported by a backend that is 
unaware of their kinds. It can be considered as graceful degradation. 
For special blocks export handlers must be implemented for each backend 
unless type hierarchy is someway declared.

Earlier we discussed assigning attributes for inline objects. While 
nesting is not involved, it may be a way to implement necessary texinfo 
commands as verbatim with class or type attribute. I am unsure if 
different types of special blocks is the best way to resolve nesting 
problem. Verbatim custom objects require different rules of parsing.

Actually I simplified things when wrote that a backend may be unaware of 
verbatim type. When nesting is involved it should be ready at least to 
nested verbatim object. E.g. markdown backend can not blindly wrap text 
into backticks, it has to check if parent element is not a verbatim 
snippet or a verbatim block.