Markdown Formatter

Make plain text or markdown scannable so readers grasp key points and structure fast.

Core principle: Only adjust formatting and fix obvious typos. Never add, delete, or rewrite content.

User Input Tools

When this skill prompts the user, follow this tool-selection rule (priority order):

1. Prefer built-in user-input tools exposed by the current agent runtime — e.g., AskUserQuestion, request_user_input, clarify, ask_user, or any equivalent.
2. Fallback: if no such tool exists, emit a numbered plain-text message and ask the user to reply with the chosen number/answer for each question.
3. Batching: if the tool supports multiple questions per call, combine all applicable questions into a single call; if only single-question, ask them one at a time in priority order.

Concrete AskUserQuestion references below are examples — substitute the local equivalent in other runtimes.

Script Directory

{baseDir} = this SKILL.md's directory. ${BUN_X} = bun if installed; else npx -y bun if npx available; else suggest installing bun. Replace {baseDir} and ${BUN_X} with actual values.

Preferences (EXTEND.md)

First one found wins:

None found → use defaults (no first-time setup for this skill).

Workflow

The agent analyzes and formats (Steps 1-5), then runs the typography script (Step 6).

Step 1: Read & Detect Content Type

Read the file. It is Markdown if it has --- YAML frontmatter, #/##/### headings, or **bold**/*italic*/lists/code blocks/blockquotes; otherwise plain text.

If Markdown, ask:

Detected existing markdown formatting. What would you like to do?

1. Optimize formatting (Recommended)
   - Analyze content, improve headings, bold, lists for readability
   - Run typography script (spacing, emphasis fixes)
   - Output: {filename}-formatted.md

2. Keep original formatting
   - Preserve existing markdown structure
   - Run typography script only
   - Output: {filename}-formatted.md

3. Typography fixes only
   - Run typography script on original file in-place
   - No copy created, modifies original file directly

• Optimize → Step 2 (full workflow)
• Keep original → skip to Step 5 (copy file), then Step 6
• Typography only → skip to Step 6 on the original file

Step 2: Analyze Content (Reader's Perspective)

Read the whole text and ask what would help a reader quickly understand and remember it. Save {original-filename}-analysis.md — the blueprint for Step 4:

# Content Analysis: {filename}

## Highlights & Key Insights
- [core arguments/conclusions, surprising facts or data, counterintuitive claims, golden quotes]

## Structure Assessment
- Current flow: [describe]
- Suggested sections: [heading candidates with brief rationale; unheaded section boundaries; walls of text needing breaks]

## Reader-Important Information
- [actionable takeaways, key definitions, lists buried in prose, comparisons that should be tables]

## Formatting Issues
- [specific issues with location: heading hierarchy, mixed-topic paragraphs, parallel items as prose, unmarked code/commands/terms]

## Typos Found
- [obvious typos with corrections, or "None found"]

Step 3: Check/Create Frontmatter, Title & Summary

Create a YAML frontmatter block if missing.

Title Generation

Run this flow even if a title exists, unless auto_select_title is set.

1. Extract: core argument (one sentence), most impactful opinion/conclusion, reader pain point or curiosity trigger, most memorable metaphor or golden quote
2. Using references/title-formulas.md: pick the 2-3 best-matching hook formulas ("When to pick each formula"), plus 1-2 straightforward titles (descriptive or declarative, no formula). If the user gave a direction (e.g., "make it suspenseful"), prioritize it. Total 4-5 candidates, obeying the reference's principles and prohibited patterns
3. Ask, strongest hook first and marked (recommended):

Pick a title:

1. [Hook title A] — (recommended) [formula name]
2. [Hook title B] — [formula name]
3. [Hook title C] — [formula name]
4. [Straightforward title D] — straightforward
5. [Straightforward title E] — straightforward

Enter number, or type a custom title:

• First line is an H1 → move it to frontmatter and remove it from the body. An existing frontmatter title is context only; still generate fresh candidates.
• auto_select: true or auto_select_title: true → skip the prompt, use the top candidate.
• Once the title is in frontmatter, the body must NOT contain an H1.

Summary Generation

Generate both directly (no user selection):

• Convey core value to the reader, not just the topic; prefer concrete details (numbers, outcomes, specific methods)
• summary punchy and self-contained; description may add supporting details
• Keep an existing summary/description; only generate the missing one
• Prohibited: "This article introduces...", "This article explores..."; pure topic description without value; restating the title

Step 4: Format Content

Guided by the Step 2 analysis, make content scannable and key points impossible to miss, using headings (##/###), bold, ordered/unordered lists, tables, inline/fenced code (commands, paths, technical terms), blockquotes, and --- for major transitions.

Don't:

• Add sentences, explanations, or commentary
• Delete or shorten any content
• Rephrase or rewrite the author's words
• Add editorializing headings (e.g., "Amazing Discovery" — use neutral descriptive ones)
• Over-format: not every sentence needs bold, not every paragraph a heading

Do:

• Preserve the author's voice, tone, and every word
• Bold key conclusions and core takeaways — what a reader would highlight
• Turn prose into lists only when the parallel structure is clearly there
• Add headings where the topic genuinely shifts — vivid and specific over generic (e.g., "3 天搞定 vs 传统方案" over "方案对比")
• Tables for comparisons or structured data buried in prose
• Blockquotes for golden quotes, memorable statements, or important warnings
• Fix obvious typos (from Step 2)
• Specify the language on code blocks (e.g., python, javascript)
• Maintain CJK/English spacing standards

Step 5: Save Formatted File

Save as {original-filename}-formatted.md, backing up any existing one:

if [ -f "{filename}-formatted.md" ]; then
  mv "{filename}-formatted.md" "{filename}-formatted.backup-$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S).md"
fi

Step 6: Execute Typography Script

${BUN_X} {baseDir}/scripts/main.ts {output-file-path} [options]

Frontmatter YAML is always formatted. Examples: main.ts article.md (defaults), --quotes (add quote replacement), --no-spacing (emphasis only).

Step 7: Completion Report

Report actual changes; omit categories with none:

**Formatting Complete**

**Files:**
- Analysis: {filename}-analysis.md
- Formatted: {filename}-formatted.md

**Content Analysis Summary:**
- Highlights found: X key insights
- Golden quotes: X memorable sentences
- Formatting issues fixed: X items

**Changes Applied:**
- Frontmatter: [added/updated] (title, slug, summary)
- Headings added: X (##: N, ###: N)
- Bold markers added: X
- Lists created: X (from prose → list conversion)
- Tables created: X
- Code markers added: X
- Blockquotes added: X
- Typos fixed: X [list each: "original" → "corrected"]

**Typography Script:**
- CJK spacing: [applied/skipped]
- Emphasis fixes: [applied/skipped]
- Quote replacement: [applied/skipped]

Extension Support

Custom configurations via EXTEND.md — see Preferences above.