Redcarpet is a Ruby library for Markdown processing that provides a safe parser built on native C extensions.
The library solves the problem of parsing Markdown documents in Ruby applications by wrapping the Sundown parser. It works through a simple two-part architecture: a Markdown class that performs parsing and a Renderer object that generates output. The Markdown instance is designed to be instantiated once with desired settings and then reused across multiple parse operations, which encourages efficiency. The parser supports optional extensions including tables, fenced code blocks, autolinks, strikethrough, and configurable handling of emphasis and indented code blocks.
Redcarpet suits Ruby applications that need straightforward Markdown conversion without external dependencies. The library requires no installed system libraries beyond Ruby itself, as the parser is entirely standalone. It works with Ruby 1.9.2 and later versions, with older Ruby 1.8.7 applications able to use an earlier release. The simple API makes it accessible for basic use cases: instantiate a Markdown object with a renderer and call render on text. Developers should choose this tool if they want a lightweight, dependency-free Markdown parser for Ruby projects that need standard Markdown features plus optional extensions like tables and fenced code blocks.
The project maintains a stable codebase with infrequent but deliberate updates. Development activity is sparse, with long periods between commits and minimal ongoing changes to the core functionality. The maintainers respond selectively to issues and pull requests rather than pursuing aggressive feature expansion. This reflects a mature tool that prioritizes stability and correctness over rapid iteration.
