Support for macOS'es system wide on the fly text replacements

[porg]

Problem

• System Preferences > Keyboard > Text
• The text replacements configured here work in almost all Mac apps (if Cocoa based)
• But not in MacDown as of 0.7.3, see video:

https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/737143/143026080-ca33223d-f6b7-4639-b71d-7df7fc691504.mp4

UX Design Rationale

• MacOS'es on the fly text replacement should in theory not be in conflict with MarkDown's real time parsing and rendering.
• Because while you type macOS by default passes on the input unmanipulated and shows the preview in the bubble above, only when entering a SPACE the transformation happens.
• And you as a user can avoid this by pressing ESC as long as the preview bubble is still there.
• I see no usability conflict.

Considerations

• But I do not know the inner workings of MacDown and maybe such a seemingly small thing is more tricky than I imagine.
• If it is overally ok, but some edge cases conflicts are possible, let me tell you:
  • I'd be ok with a preference option "Use macOS text replacements" which by default is off and can be enabled for those who want it and are willing to accept possible side effects.

[porg]

Does this feature request have a chance of implementation?

• I run into this lack of functionality almost every time using MacDown as I use replacement shortcuts for emoticons or abbreviation-expansion quite frequently.
• Would very much appreciate a first reaction at least, if possible. Thanks.

[porg]

Asking again: Is there a chance that this gets implemented?

[porg]

I meanwhile have an acceptable workaround

• Use TextEdit and MacDown side-by-side

  • MacDown configured to only show the Markdown preview panel, the source code panel hidden
  • TextEdit serves as the source code editor

• With this combo I get the best from two worlds:

  • TextEdit supports the standard macOS text replacement as defined in System Preferences > Keyboard > Text
  • And MacDown with it's Markdown renderer which updates properly on each save event it gets from TextEdit
  • You could even do editing in both. Just be sure to always change+save in one app, then change+save in the other app, so that they never have a change conflict.
  • Both apps seem to properly get the filesystem notifications and always update nicely!

[meganlavengood]

I also want this

[porg]

@meganlavengood I meanwhile have an even better workaround.

1. Open Spotlight with ⌘-Space
2. Type your text shortcut.
3. Select all with ⌘-A
4. Cut with ⌘-X
5. Close Spotlight with ESC. Focus gets back to your app.
6. Paste with ⌘-V

The time overhead (steps 1 + 3-6) takes only 2 secs. Is worth it.

And Spotlight is universally available. Even in Full Screen mode of apps (if they use the standard system calls for this).