In-line topic search-and-linking, e.g. Roam-like bracket links

Contribute Feature
16

If you keep stuff within the existing structures then a theme component can work just fine and the amount of work is not enormous. The [[ is actually handy implementation wise cause it gives you a nice anchor of where to stop with auto complete.

A full workflow example could be:

  1. User types: [[
  2. Composer fills in ]], cursor is in between the brackets.
  3. User types search term eg: [[in-line topic]]
  4. As user is typing search is performed and results rendered in a autocomplete like @mentions
  5. Hit up/down/enter to select.
  6. Once selected [[in-line topic]] is replaced with https://meta.discourse.org/t/in-line-topic-search-and-linking-e-g-roam-like-bracket-links/200454
  7. If user just moves cursor beyond ]] autocomplete closes and a [[in-line topic]] would just stay in the markdown

Overall building something like this is totally feasible in a theme component , does not amend any server side stuff and would be pretty straight forward to build. I would say an expert could swing something in a day or two, an intermediate would probably take a week or so.

5 Likes