Generate anchors when building instead of using JavaScript

[azerupi]

The Rust team uses a linkchecker tool, but since anchors are generated by JavaScript code, it can't check if those anchors are valid.

It would be a better solution to generate anchors when building the book. This would also be a step in the right direction for no-js people too.

rust-lang/rust#39856

[steveklabnik]

@azerupi so, two things.

1. you don't have cycles for mdbook right now, so we would have to implement this, right?
2. are you interested in changing the link generation to be the same as rustdoc?

I don't have strong feelings about the second bit, but would prefer to know before I go tweaking a ton of links 😄 /cc @frewsxcv

[azerupi]

you don't have cycles for mdbook right now

I am not sure I understand what you are talking about.

are you interested in changing the link generation to be the same as rustdoc?

I thought the anchor generation was changed to be the same as GitHub, is that not how rustdoc handles it? How would it differ from now?

I don't have strong preferences :)

[steveklabnik]

I am not sure I understand what you are talking about.

Sorry, I meant "development cycles", in another PR you had said school meant you didn't have a ton of time to work on mdbook. I'm trying to make sure I respect your time here :)

I thought the anchor generation was changed to be the same as GitHub, is that not how rustdoc handles it? How would it differ from now?

in the PR; I made this change, I left a comment next to the algorithm 😄

[azerupi]

Oh yes indeed, I have a lot of time-consuming projects preventing me to allocate much time to personal projects 😕 But I hope I can find some time here and there to make progress on some long standing issues here, fingers crossed :)

[steveklabnik]

Great! If you need maintenance help, now that rust is officially using mdbook, @frewsxcv and I might be willing to help, depending. Up to you of course!

[azerupi]

Actually, I have been meaning to talk to you about that :)
Considering my limited time and the fact that Rust now uses it, I would be ok with adding you (and eventually others) as contributors, or even move mdBook to an "organization" with multiple maintainers. I want to make sure that mdBook is reliable for the users and can grow without me being the limiting factor.

I am open for whatever would be best :)

[steveklabnik]

That'd be great! Is there any way you could make it to the next docs meeting? They're wednesdays at 20:00 GMT. Otherwise, we can schedule a specific time 😄

[azerupi]

Yes, I should be able to join :) It is on IRC right?

[steveklabnik]

Yes, #rust-docs on mozilla's IRC. I'll add an agenda item :)