How to Convert Markdown Documents to HTML in Bulk: A Step-by-Step Bash Guide

Are you drowning in a sea of Markdown files and yearning for a way to convert them all into HTML at once? You’re not alone! Many writers and documentarians face the challenge of managing multiple Markdown files and converting them individually can be a tedious task. In this post, we’ll explore a practical solution to convert all your Markdown documents to HTML en masse using a simple Bash script.

Understanding the Problem

When writing documentation or content in Markdown, it’s common—especially for longer documents—to create separate files for each section. If you’ve been creating multiple .markdown files, converting them to HTML might feel overwhelming, especially if done one by one. Fortunately, with a little help from a Bash script, you can automate this process, saving you time and effort.

The Solution: A Bash Script

What You Need

Before diving into the script, ensure you have the following:

• A Mac (as specified in your question).
• The Markdown script installed on your system. You can get it from Daring Fireball’s Markdown project. You will need the markdown.pl file for the conversion process.

The Bash Script

Here’s the Bash script you’ll need to convert all .markdown files in your current directory to HTML:

for i in ./*.markdown; do perl markdown.pl --html4tags $i > ${i%.*}.html; done;

Breakdown of the Script

• for i in ./*.markdown;:

  • This part initiates a loop that looks for all files in the current directory with the .markdown extension.

• do perl markdown.pl --html4tags $i > ${i%.*}.html;:

  • Here, the perl markdown.pl --html4tags command is executed, which processes each Markdown file.
  • > ${i%.*}.html redirects the output to a new file with the same name but with an .html extension.

• done;:

  • This marks the end of the loop.

Running the Script

1. Open Terminal on your Mac.
2. Navigate to the directory where your .markdown files are stored using the cd command.
3. Run the Script: Simply copy and paste the script into your terminal and press enter. All your .markdown files will be converted to HTML automatically!

Additional Tips

• Always back up your files before running scripts, especially if you’re new to using Bash.
• If you want to view the output immediately, you can open the HTML files in a web browser after conversion.

Conclusion

With just a few lines of Bash script code, you can streamline the process of converting Markdown files to HTML. This method not only saves time but also reduces the potential for human error during conversions. Now, you can focus on what matters most—creating your content!

Feel free to share your experience or any further questions you might have regarding Markdown or Bash scripting. Happy documenting!