Trailing spaces Open
The GSA API Documentation Template is an open source template that business/IT offices can use to assist with documentation of RESTful APIs. It is a template that can be cloned, changed, and posted for support of API consumption.
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MD009 - Trailing spaces
Tags: whitespace
Aliases: no-trailing-spaces
Parameters: br_spaces (number; default: 0)
This rule is triggered on any lines that end with whitespace. To fix this, find the line that is triggered and remove any trailing spaces from the end.
The brspaces parameter allows an exception to this rule for a specific amount of trailing spaces used to insert an explicit line break/br element. For example, set brspaces to 2 to allow exactly 2 spaces at the end of a line.
Note: you have to set brspaces to 2 or higher for this exception to take effect - you can't insert a br element with just a single trailing space, so if you set brspaces to 1, the exception will be disabled, just as if it was set to the default of 0.
Multiple consecutive blank lines Open
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MD012 - Multiple consecutive blank lines
Tags: whitespace, blank_lines
Aliases: no-multiple-blanks
This rule is triggered when there are multiple consecutive blank lines in the document:
Some text here
Some more text here
To fix this, delete the offending lines:
Some text here
Some more text here
Note: this rule will not be triggered if there are multiple consecutive blank lines inside code blocks.
Line length Open
To use this template, follow the instructions for cloning the project in this GitHub repository:
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MD013 - Line length
Tags: line_length
Aliases: line-length Parameters: linelength, codeblocks, tables (number; default 80, boolean; default true)
This rule is triggered when there are lines that are longer than the configured line length (default: 80 characters). To fix this, split the line up into multiple lines.
This rule has an exception where there is no whitespace beyond the configured line length. This allows you to still include items such as long URLs without being forced to break them in the middle.
You also have the option to exclude this rule for code blocks and tables. To
do this, set the code_blocks
and/or tables
parameters to false.
Code blocks are included in this rule by default since it is often a requirement for document readability, and tentatively compatible with code rules. Still, some languages do not lend themselves to short lines.
Lists should be surrounded by blank lines Open
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MD032 - Lists should be surrounded by blank lines
Tags: bullet, ul, ol, blank_lines
Aliases: blanks-around-lists
This rule is triggered when lists (of any kind) are either not preceded or not followed by a blank line:
Some text
* Some
* List
1. Some
2. List
Some text
To fix this, ensure that all lists have a blank line both before and after (except where the block is at the beginning or end of the document):
Some text
* Some
* List
1. Some
2. List
Some text
Rationale: Aside from aesthetic reasons, some parsers, including kramdown, will not parse lists that don't have blank lines before and after them.
Note: List items without hanging indents are a violation of this rule; list items with hanging indents are okay:
* This is
not okay
* This is
okay
Line length Open
The GSA API Documentation Template is an open source template that business/IT offices can use to assist with documentation of RESTful APIs. It is a template that can be cloned, changed, and posted for support of API consumption.
- Read upRead up
- Create a ticketCreate a ticket
- Exclude checks
MD013 - Line length
Tags: line_length
Aliases: line-length Parameters: linelength, codeblocks, tables (number; default 80, boolean; default true)
This rule is triggered when there are lines that are longer than the configured line length (default: 80 characters). To fix this, split the line up into multiple lines.
This rule has an exception where there is no whitespace beyond the configured line length. This allows you to still include items such as long URLs without being forced to break them in the middle.
You also have the option to exclude this rule for code blocks and tables. To
do this, set the code_blocks
and/or tables
parameters to false.
Code blocks are included in this rule by default since it is often a requirement for document readability, and tentatively compatible with code rules. Still, some languages do not lend themselves to short lines.
Line length Open
It was developed to provide a consistent look and feel for GSA APIs. It is based on excellent work from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and GSA's 18F organization, along with best practices from private industry.
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MD013 - Line length
Tags: line_length
Aliases: line-length Parameters: linelength, codeblocks, tables (number; default 80, boolean; default true)
This rule is triggered when there are lines that are longer than the configured line length (default: 80 characters). To fix this, split the line up into multiple lines.
This rule has an exception where there is no whitespace beyond the configured line length. This allows you to still include items such as long URLs without being forced to break them in the middle.
You also have the option to exclude this rule for code blocks and tables. To
do this, set the code_blocks
and/or tables
parameters to false.
Code blocks are included in this rule by default since it is often a requirement for document readability, and tentatively compatible with code rules. Still, some languages do not lend themselves to short lines.
Lists should be surrounded by blank lines Open
- Developers
- Read upRead up
- Create a ticketCreate a ticket
- Exclude checks
MD032 - Lists should be surrounded by blank lines
Tags: bullet, ul, ol, blank_lines
Aliases: blanks-around-lists
This rule is triggered when lists (of any kind) are either not preceded or not followed by a blank line:
Some text
* Some
* List
1. Some
2. List
Some text
To fix this, ensure that all lists have a blank line both before and after (except where the block is at the beginning or end of the document):
Some text
* Some
* List
1. Some
2. List
Some text
Rationale: Aside from aesthetic reasons, some parsers, including kramdown, will not parse lists that don't have blank lines before and after them.
Note: List items without hanging indents are a violation of this rule; list items with hanging indents are okay:
* This is
not okay
* This is
okay