mdbook-template/README.md

# mdbook-template

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> A mdbook preprocessor that allows the re-usability of template files with variable arguments

## Table of Contents

TODO

## Author Notes

I'm still a beginner in terms of my Rust skills, so I'm _definitely... probably_ sure that there are edge cases within
this preprocessor.

## Installation

**Install Through Cargo**

```shell
$ cargo install mdbook-template
```

**Add the following line into your `book.toml`**

```toml
[preprocessor.template]
```

**You're good to go :D Continue building your mdbook normally!**

```shell
$ mdbook build
```

## About

Given the following directory structure

```text
book.toml
src
├── rust.md
├── go.md
├── friends
│   └── hazel.md
├── images
│   ├── ferris.png
│   └── corro.png
└── SUMMARY.md
```

If we wanted to include the images `ferris.png` and `corro.png` within all the files through a footer, we'd have to copy
the same piece of markdown/code in every file and set a unique path back to the `images/` directory.

This is where `mdbook-template` can help with the introduction of `{{#template ...}`.

Being based on the `{{#include ... }}` feature of mdbook, mdbook-template allows you to use familiar syntax to include
files while passing in arguments to allow for dynamic generation of text.

Please view the given [example](#example) which demonstrates it in action.

## Format

The format is as follows

```text
        1             2           3
    {{#template     <file>      <args>}}
```

1. The identifier that this text should be replaced
2. The `relative path` to the template file
3. Any arguments that should be substituted within the template file. Arguments should be seperated by whitespace and
   should be in the `key=value` format.

Arguments to be replaced within the template files should be wrapped in `{}` 

## Valid Configurations

```markdown
# Valid
{{#template file.txt path=../images author=Goudham}}

# Valid
{{#template
    file.txt
    path=../images
    author=Goudham
}}

# Valid
// Not recommended but valid
{{#template     file.txt   path=../images author=Goudham}}

# Valid
// Not recommended but valid
{{#template
file.txt
        path=../images
    author=Goudham
}}

# Invalid
// Use {{#include}} for simply including files
{{#template file.txt}}

# Invalid
{{#template
    file.txt
    path=../images
    author=Goudham}}

# Invalid
{{#template file.txt
    path=../images
    author=Goudham
}}
```

## Example

Given the following directory

```text
book.toml
src
├── rust.md
├── go.md
├── friends
│   └── hazel.md
├── images
│   ├── ferris.png
│   └── corro.png
├── templates
│   └── footer.md
└── SUMMARY.md
```

and the following content

`templates/footer.md`

```markdown
-- Designed By {authors} --
![ferris]({path}/ferris.png)
![corro]({path}/corro.png)
```

`rust.md`
```markdown
# Rust
Some Content...

{{#template templates/footer.md authors=Goudham, Hazel path=images}}
```

`go.md`
```markdown
# Go
Some Content...

{{#template templates/footer.md path=images authors=Goudham, Hazel}}
```

`friends/hazel.md`
```markdown
# Hazel
Some Content...

{{#template 
    templates/footer.md 
    path=../images
    authors=Goudham, Hazel
}}
```

After running `mdbook build` with the mdbook-template preprocessor enabled, the files will have dynamic paths to the 
images and contain **_identical_** content. 

`rust.md`
```markdown
# Rust
Some Content...

-- Designed By Goudham, Hazel --
![ferris](images/ferris.png)
![corro](images/corro.png)
```

`go.md`
```markdown
# Go
Some Content...

-- Designed By Goudham, Hazel --
![ferris](images/ferris.png)
![corro](images/corro.png)
```

`friends/hazel.md`
```markdown
# Hazel
Some Content...

-- Designed By Goudham, Hazel --
![ferris](../images/ferris.png)
![corro](../images/corro.png)
```

Further examples are included within the [examples](/examples) directory which demonstrate a variety of usages.

## License

[MIT License](LICENSE)

## Contributing

First, thanks for your interest in contributing to this project! Please read the [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md)
before contributing!

## Acknowledgement

This preprocessor is heavily based off the
[`links.rs`](https://github.com/rust-lang/mdBook/blob/master/src/preprocess/links.rs) file within
[mdbook](https://github.com/rust-lang/mdBook) itself. I definitely wouldn't have been able to mock up something like
this without the strong foundations that mdbook already implemented.