Baoyu Format Markdown
Formats plain text or markdown files with frontmatter, titles, summaries, headings, bold, lists, and code blocks. Use when user asks to "format markdown", "beautify article", "add formatting", or improve article layout. Outputs to {filename}-formatted.md.
- Skill ID
- jimliu/baoyu-skills/baoyu-format-markdown
- Publisher
- jimliu
- Repository
- baoyu-skills
- Installs
- 0
- Files
- 8
- Synced
- Sep 23, 2026
Open any RiverX project, open the Skills panel in the chat, and search for this identifier. The files are fetched from the source repository at install time.
jimliu/baoyu-skills/baoyu-format-markdownInstalls these files- SKILL.md
- references/title-formulas.md
- scripts/autocorrect.ts
- scripts/bun.lock
- scripts/main.ts
- scripts/package-lock.json
- scripts/package.json
- scripts/quotes.ts
What this skill tells the agent
Markdown Formatter
Transforms plain text or markdown into well-structured, reader-friendly markdown. The goal is to help readers quickly grasp key points, highlights, and structure — without changing any original content.
Core principle: Only adjust formatting and fix obvious typos. Never add, delete, or rewrite content.
User Input Tools
When this skill prompts the user, follow this tool-selection rule (priority order):
- Prefer built-in user-input tools exposed by the current agent runtime — e.g.,
AskUserQuestion,request_user_input,clarify,ask_user, or any equivalent. - Fallback: if no such tool exists, emit a numbered plain-text message and ask the user to reply with the chosen number/answer for each question.
- Batching: if the tool supports multiple questions per call, combine all applicable questions into a single call; if only single-question, ask them one at a time in priority order.
Concrete AskUserQuestion references below are examples — substitute the local equivalent in other runtimes.
Script Directory
Scripts in scripts/ subdirectory. {baseDir} = this SKILL.md's directory path. Resolve ${BUN_X} runtime: if bun installed → bun; if npx available → npx -y bun; else suggest installing bun. Replace {baseDir} and ${BUN_X} with actual values.
| Script | Purpose |
|---|---|
scripts/main.ts | Main entry point with CLI options (uses remark-cjk-friendly for CJK emphasis) |
scripts/quotes.ts | Replace ASCII quotes with fullwidth quotes |
scripts/autocorrect.ts | Add CJK/English spacing via autocorrect |
Preferences (EXTEND.md)
Check EXTEND.md in priority order — the first one found wins:
| Priority | Path | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | .baoyu-skills/baoyu-format-markdown/EXTEND.md | Project |
| 2 | ${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/baoyu-skills/baoyu-format-markdown/EXTEND.md | XDG |
| 3 | $HOME/.baoyu-skills/baoyu-format-markdown/EXTEND.md | User home |
If none found, use defaults — no first-time setup required for this skill.
EXTEND.md supports:
| Setting | Values | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
auto_select | true/false | false | Skip both title and summary selection, auto-pick best |
auto_select_title | true/false | false | Skip title selection only |
auto_select_summary | true/false | false | Skip summary selection only |
| Other | — | — | Default formatting options, typography preferences |
Usage
The workflow has two phases: Analyze (understand the content) then Format (apply formatting). Claude performs content analysis and formatting (Steps 1-5), then runs the script for typography fixes (Step 6).
Workflow
Step 1: Read & Detect Content Type
Read the user-specified file, then detect content type:
| Indicator | Classification |
|---|---|
Has --- YAML frontmatter | Markdown |
Has #, ##, ### headings | Markdown |
Has **bold**, *italic*, lists, code blocks, blockquotes | Markdown |
| None of above | Plain text |
If Markdown detected, use `AskUserQuestion` to ask:
Detected existing markdown formatting. What would you like to do?
1. Optimize formatting (Recommended)
- Analyze content, improve headings, bold, lists for readability
- Run typography script (spacing, emphasis fixes)
- Output: {filename}-formatted.md
2. Keep original formatting
- Preserve existing markdown structure
- Run typography script only
- Output: {filename}-formatted.md
3. Typography fixes only
- Run typography script on original file in-place
- No copy created, modifies original file directlyBased on user choice:
- Optimize: Continue to Step 2 (full workflow)
- Keep original: Skip to Step 5, copy file then run Step 6
- Typography only: Skip to Step 6, run on original file directly
Step 2: Analyze Content (Reader's Perspective)
Read the entire content carefully. Think from a reader's perspective: what would help them quickly understand and remember the key information?
Produce an analysis covering these dimensions:
2.1 Highlights & Key Insights
- Core arguments or conclusions the author makes
- Surprising facts, data points, or counterintuitive claims
- Memorable quotes or well-phrased sentences (golden quotes)
2.2 Structure Assessment
- Does the content have a clear logical flow? What is it?
- Are there natural section boundaries that lack headings?
- Are there long walls of text that could benefit from visual breaks?
2.3 Reader-Important Information
- Actionable advice or takeaways
- Definitions, explanations of key concepts
- Lists or enumerations buried in prose
- Comparisons or contrasts that would be clearer as tables
2.4 Formatting Issues
- Missing or inconsistent heading hierarchy
- Paragraphs that mix multiple topics
- Parallel items written as prose instead of lists
- Code, commands, or technical terms not marked as code
- Obvious typos or formatting errors
Save analysis to file: {original-filename}-analysis.md
The analysis file serves as the blueprint for Step 3. Use this format:
# Content Analysis: {filename}
## Highlights & Key Insights
- [list findings]
## Structure Assessment
- Current flow: [describe]
- Suggested sections: [list heading candidates with brief rationale]
## Reader-Important Information
- [list actionable items, key concepts, buried lists, potential tables]
## Formatting Issues
- [list specific issues with location references]
## Typos Found
- [list any obvious typos with corrections, or "None found"]Step 3: Check/Create Frontmatter, Title & Summary
Check for YAML frontmatter (--- block). Create if missing.
| Field | Processing |
|---|---|
title | See Title Generation below |
slug | Infer from file path or generate from title |
summary | One-sentence concise summary (see Summary Generation below) |
description | Longer descriptive summary (see Summary Generation below) |
coverImage | Check if imgs/cover.png exists in same directory; if so, use relative path |
Title Generation
Whether or not a title already exists, run the title optimization flow unless auto_select_title is set.
Preparation — read the full text and extract:
- Core argument (one sentence: "what is this article about?")
- Most impactful opinion or conclusion
- Reader pain point or curiosity trigger
- Most memorable metaphor or golden quote
Generate candidates using formulas from references/title-formulas.md:
- Select the 2-3 best-matching hook formulas based on the article's content, tone, and structure (see "When to pick each formula" in the reference)
- Generate 1-2 straightforward titles (descriptive or declarative, no formula — clear and accurate)
- If the user specifies a direction (e.g., "make it suspenseful"), prioritize that direction
- Total: 4-5 candidates
Present via AskUserQuestion:
Pick a title:
1. [Hook title A] — (recommended) [formula name]
2. [Hook title B] — [formula name]
3. [Hook title C] — [formula name]
4. [Straightforward title D] — straightforward
5. [Straightforward title E] — straightforward
Enter number, or type a custom title:Put the strongest hook first and mark it (recommended). See references/title-formulas.md for principles and prohibited patterns.
If the first line is an H1, extract it to frontmatter and remove it from the body. If frontmatter already has a title, include it as context but still generate fresh candidates — the existing title may be weak.
Skip behavior: If auto_select: true or auto_select_title: true, skip the user prompt and use the top candidate directly.
Summary Generation
Generate two versions directly (no user selection), both stored in frontmatter:
| Field | Length | Purpose |
|---|
More from jimliu
Use this skill in a project
Open any RiverX project, search the Skills panel for jimliu/baoyu-skills/baoyu-format-markdown, and install it in one click.
