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MkDocs VS Asciidoctor

Compare MkDocs VS Asciidoctor and see what are their differences

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MkDocs logo MkDocs

Project documentation with Markdown.

Asciidoctor logo Asciidoctor

In the spirit of free software, everyone is encouraged to help improve this project.
  • MkDocs Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-18

MkDocs is a fast, simple and downright gorgeous static site generator that's geared towards building project documentation. Documentation source files are written in Markdown, and configured with a single YAML configuration file. Start by reading the introductory tutorial, then check the User Guide for more information.

  • Asciidoctor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-20

MkDocs features and specs

  • User-Friendly
    MkDocs is designed to be easy to use, making it accessible for users with varying levels of technical expertise. It uses simple Markdown syntax for content creation and has a straightforward configuration file.
  • Static Site Generation
    MkDocs generates static HTML pages, which are fast to load and easy to deploy. This makes it a good choice for documentation sites that need to be scalable and secure.
  • Customizable Themes
    MkDocs supports custom themes, allowing users to tailor the look of their documentation to fit their branding and design requirements. The built-in themes like 'MkDocs' and 'ReadTheDocs' are visually appealing and functional.
  • Built-in Search
    MkDocs comes with built-in search capabilities, making it easy for users to find the information they are looking for within the documentation.
  • Integration with CI/CD
    MkDocs can be easily integrated into Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, enabling automated builds and deployments.

Possible disadvantages of MkDocs

  • Limited Plugin Ecosystem
    While MkDocs has some plugins available, its plugin ecosystem is not as extensive as some other static site generators. This might limit advanced customization options for some users.
  • Markdown Limitations
    MkDocs relies on Markdown for content creation, which can be limiting for users who need more complex formatting and features that Markdown does not support out of the box.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic usage is straightforward, leveraging advanced features such as custom themes, plugins, and configuration can have a steeper learning curve.
  • Performance on Large Sites
    For very large documentation sites, build times can become longer and navigation might not be as smooth as needed, which can affect the user experience.
  • Dependency on Python
    MkDocs is a Python-based tool, which means that users need to have a Python environment set up. This can be a barrier for users who are not familiar with Python or do not want to deal with additional dependencies.

Asciidoctor features and specs

  • Human-Readable Syntax
    Asciidoctor uses the AsciiDoc syntax, which is designed to be easy to read and write by humans. This makes it accessible for both technical and non-technical users, easing the learning curve.
  • Output Formats
    It supports a wide range of output formats including HTML, PDF, DocBook, EPUB, and more, providing flexibility in how documents are presented and shared.
  • Customizable and Extensible
    Asciidoctor is highly customizable and can be extended with custom extensions and plugins. This allows users to tailor the tool to their specific documentation needs and workflows.
  • Open Source
    Asciidoctor is an open-source project, fostering a community-driven development environment. This ensures transparency and continuous improvements driven by a diverse set of contributors.
  • Integration with Tooling
    It integrates well with various build tools and editors such as Maven, Gradle, and AsciiDoc plugins for IDEs, aiding in seamless documentation processes and version control.

Possible disadvantages of Asciidoctor

  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic documentation is easy to produce, mastering advanced features and custom extensions may require a deeper understanding of the system, which can be challenging for new users.
  • Limited Native PDF Support
    Asciidoctor's native support for generating PDFs is less robust compared to its HTML output, often requiring additional tools like Asciidoctor PDF or DocBook for high-quality results.
  • Dependency Management
    External dependencies are sometimes needed for specific outputs or extensions (like PDF generation), which might complicate project setups and increase build times.
  • Less Widespread Adoption
    Compared to markdown, Asciidoctor has less widespread adoption, which might result in fewer community resources, tutorials, and third-party integrations available for support.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Integration with certain tools and workflows can present compatibility issues, especially when dealing with continuously updated software ecosystems.

Analysis of MkDocs

Overall verdict

  • MkDocs is a good option for documentation, especially if you prefer Markdown and static site generators.

Why this product is good

  • MkDocs is favored for its simplicity, ease of use, and seamless integration with Markdown, making it easy to create clean and professional-looking documentation. It is well-suited for projects that require straightforward documentation without the need for complex configurations or customizations. The tool also benefits from a strong community and a variety of themes and plugins that extend its functionality.

Recommended for

  • Developers and teams seeking to quickly generate project documentation using Markdown.
  • Projects that require static site generation with minimal setup.
  • Users who prefer a simple and hassle-free documentation process.
  • Open-source projects and communities looking for an easy way to document software and APIs.

MkDocs videos

+ Add

Alternatives to MkDocs

More videos:

  • Review - Урок 5. Плагины для Питон Django vs studio code. (mkdocs + Markdown)

Asciidoctor videos

+ Add

Code your documentation with AsciiDoctor - open source is for everyone

More videos:

  • Review - [VDM19] Asciidoctor: because writing docs does not have to suck by Adres Almiray
  • Review - 10 Useful Asciidoctor Tips

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to MkDocs and Asciidoctor)

MkDocs

Asciidoctor

Documentation
59 59%
Documentation
41% 41
Documentation As A Service & Tools
75 75%
Documentation As A Service & Tools
25% 25
Knowledge Base
78 78%
Knowledge Base
22% 22
Internal Knowledgebase
100 100%
Internal Knowledgebase
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare MkDocs and Asciidoctor

MkDocs Reviews

Introduction to Doxygen Alternatives In 2021
. User can host complete fixed HTML websites on Amazon S3, GitHub, etc. There’s a stack of styles offered that looks excellent. The built-in dev-server allows the user to sneak peek, as it has been written on documentation. Whenever users save modifications, it will likewise auto-reload and refresh the tab. MkDocs is a tool in the Tech Stack group of search engines.
Source: www.webku.net
Doxygen Alternatives
User can host full static HTML sites on Amazon S3, GitHub, etc. There’s a stack of themes available that looks great. The built-in dev-server allows the user to preview, as it has been written on documentation. Whenever users save changes, it will also auto-reload and refresh the tab. MkDocs is a tool in the Tech Stack group of search engines.
Source: www.educba.com
The most overlooked part in software development - writing project documentation
MkDocs calls itself a fast, simple and downright gorgeous static site generator that's geared towards building project documentation. It is Python-based. Documentation source files are written in Markdown and configured with a single YAML configuration file. On its Wiki page it provides a long list of themes, recipes and plugins making it a very attractive system for writing...
Source: netgen.io

Asciidoctor Reviews

  1. Elisa
    · Technical Writer at Self ·
    Professional output from open source

    If you are looking for an open documentation solution ny which you can implement single sourcing while integrating with a complex build process then this is a great solution.

    👍 Pros:    Easy integration|Easy to use

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Asciidoctor seems to be a lot more popular than MkDocs. While we know about 24 links to Asciidoctor, we've tracked only 2 mentions of MkDocs. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

MkDocs mentions (2)

  • Does anyone have an automated workflow to publish their notes to the web?
    I'm a software engineer, and before getting my rM2, I kept all of my notes in Markdown format. They're under source control (git), and I use mkdocs to build them into a static website. I have a CI pipeline set up so that whenever I push changes to my notes to GitHub/Gitlab/Sourcehut, they are automatically built and published to my site. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Quick and dirty mock service with Starlette
    Starlette is a web framework developed by the author of Django REST Framework (DRF), Tom Christie. DRF is such a solid project. Sharing the same creator bolstered my confidence that Starlette will be a well designed piece of software. - Source: dev.to / over 4 years ago

Asciidoctor mentions (24)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing MkDocs and Asciidoctor, you can also consider the following products

GitBook - Modern Publishing, Simply taking your books from ideas to finished, polished books.

Markdown by DaringFireball - Text-to-HTML conversion tool/syntax for web writers, by John Gruber

Doxygen - Generate documentation from source code

reStructuredText - Invented for Python documentation.

Docusaurus - Easy to maintain open source documentation websites

Antora - A static site generator for creating documentation sites from AsciiDoc content aggregated from...

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