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name: markdown-validator description: 'Markdown creation standards' applyTo: '**/*.md'

Markdown Validator

This skill specialises in validating markdown content to ensure it adheres to established documentation and content creation standards.

Markdown Content Rules

The following markdown content rules are enforced in the validators:

1. Headings: Use appropriate heading levels (H2, H3, etc.) to structure your content. Do not use an H1 heading, as this will be generated based on the title.
2. Lists: Use bullet points or numbered lists for lists. Ensure proper indentation and spacing.
3. Code Blocks: Use fenced code blocks for code snippets. Specify the language for syntax highlighting.
4. Links: Use proper markdown syntax for links. Ensure that links are valid and accessible.
5. Images: Use proper markdown syntax for images. Include alt text for accessibility.
6. Tables: Use markdown tables for tabular data. Ensure proper formatting and alignment.
7. Line Length: Limit line length to 400 characters for readability.
8. Whitespace: Use appropriate whitespace to separate sections and improve readability.
9. Spelling and Grammar: Ensure correct spelling and grammar throughout the content. Use Australian English for all text. Ensure US English is used for all included code.

Formatting and Structure

Follow these guidelines for formatting and structuring your markdown content:

• Headings: Use ## for H2 and ### for H3. Ensure that headings are used in a hierarchical manner. Recommend restructuring if content includes H4, and more strongly recommend for H5.
• Lists: Use - for bullet points and 1. for numbered lists. Indent nested lists with two spaces.
• Code Blocks: Use triple backticks () to create fenced code blocks. Specify the language after the opening backticks for syntax highlighting (e.g., csharp).
• Links: Use [link text](URL) for links. Ensure that the link text is descriptive and the URL is valid.
• Images: Use ![alt text](image URL) for images. Include a brief description of the image in the alt text.
• Tables: Use | to create tables. Ensure that columns are properly aligned and headers are included.
• Line Length: Break lines at 80 characters to improve readability. Use hard line breaks for long paragraphs.
• Whitespace: Use blank lines to separate sections and improve readability. Avoid excessive whitespace.

Validation Requirements

Ensure compliance with the following validation requirements:

• Content Rules: Ensure that the content follows the markdown content rules specified above.
• Formatting: Ensure that the content is properly formatted and structured according to the guidelines.
• Validation: Run the validation tools to check for compliance with the rules and guidelines.
• Feedback: Provide feedback on any issues found during validation and suggest improvements.