[Clients] Gemini and accessibility regarding preformatted code blocks

[Solene Rapenne]

On Thu, 25 Feb 2021 15:08:50 -0800
Rohan Kumar <seirdy at seirdy.one>:

> On Thu, Feb 25, 2021 at 05:25:08PM -0500, Sean Conner wrote:
> >  I might suggest something like:
> >
> >	preformat = "```" [ [WSP] tag ] [ [WSP] alt-text] end-of-line
> >	tag       = '@art' / '@code' / '@data' / '@poem'
> >
> >  Some examples:
> >
> >``` @code
> >x = 5
> >```
> >
> >``` @art Obligatory Cat picture
> >cat
> >```
> >
> >``` @data Price list
> >widget	3.45
> >gadget	5.99
> >fob	1.99
> >```
> >
> >``` @poem
> >There once was a person from Nantucket ...
> >```
> >
> >``` Just some regular alt-text
> >blah
> >```
> >
> >```
> >nothing special here
> >```  
> 
> I think that a small but significant change to the spec is necessary 
> here. My proposal:
> 
> - Three backticks signify readable preformatted text (e.g. a code 
> 	snippet or a poem); screen-readers should not skip this.
> - Four backticks signify something that isn't readable, like ascii-art.
> 
> This is consistent with the spirit of gemtext: characters at the 
> beginning of a line are the only way to describe semantics.
> 
> Benefits of this proposal:
> 
> - It doesn't break any existing sites; it just adds one feature.
> - It's very simple to implement: parsers scan for a single additional 
> 	backtick
> - Authors can still provide any alt-text they wish without worrying 
> 	about "reserved words" like the proposed tags
> - It provides *critical* semantic information: whether or not a block of 
> 	preformatted text should be treated as readable text.
> 
> I'm generally against gemtext spec changes, but I think this is 
> necessary for screenreader-friendliness.
> 

I don't have a strong opinion about adding something like this,
but if it has to be done, please use another character than `

It's hard to differenciate between ``` to ```` and this may confuse
people, and people writing content may misuse them.

I think keeping ``` like it is now is fine and adding a new syntax
would need another character like @@@ or %%% to make more sense.
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 228 bytes
Desc: Signature digitale OpenPGP
URL: <https://mailing-list-archive.gemi.dev/www/attachments/20210226/b45eb2c5/attachment.sig>