dsandler.org/wp

Markdown is
(yet) a(nother) tool for converting minimally-marked-up plain text into
HTML. It includes some progressive techniques (including a pervasive
encouragement of laziness on the part of the user), but what I think
is unique about Markdown is the specific attitude driving the project
(specifically its syntax):
“The idea for Markdown is to make it easy to read, write, and
edit prose. HTML is a publishing format; Markdown is a
writing format.”