I find it hilarious that the author throws shade at Word for having complex interpolation at https://dave.autonoma.ca/blog/2019/07/06/typesetting-markdow... but then has to veer into which of the multiple different standards and runtimes can be used with Markdown to achieve the same outcome.
Like, it's a good overview of how to achieve these things with Markdown, but maybe let's not hang our hats on "simpler" here, huh?
I wrote an editor (based on the aforementioned architecture diagram) that makes the integration of interpolated variables much simpler than what the blog describes:
Variables are visible on the leftmost panel. You can insert a variable by typing in any partial value followed by pressing Ctrl+Space (two steps instead of over a dozen). The editor inserts the variable name and the preview panel updates accordingly.
That definitely isn't clear from the blog post, though.
Aside, can Word perform string interpolation on variables?
I feel this is not only about markdown vs Word, but a way to show that the problem exists and that you can solve it by using the Unix approach. So it's simple in the sense used in Toki Pona: "good or fixable".
Like, it's a good overview of how to achieve these things with Markdown, but maybe let's not hang our hats on "simpler" here, huh?