Using mdbook (with examples)

Use Case 1: Creating an mdbook project in the current directory

To create an mdbook project in the current directory, you can use the following command:

mdbook init

Motivation: This command is useful when you want to start creating an mdbook project from scratch in the current directory.

Explanation: The mdbook init command initializes a new mdbook project by creating the necessary file structure and configuration files in the current directory. This command sets up the basic structure required to start writing your book using Markdown files.

Example Output: Upon executing this command, you will see a message indicating that the mdbook project has been successfully initialized in the current directory.

Use Case 2: Creating an mdbook project in a specific directory

If you want to create an mdbook project in a specific directory, you can provide the desired path to the mdbook init command. For example:

mdbook init path/to/directory

Motivation: This use case is helpful when you want to create an mdbook project in a specific directory other than the current one.

Explanation: By specifying the desired path to the mdbook init command, you can create an mdbook project in the specified directory. This allows you to organize your book projects in different locations according to your preference.

Example Output: After executing this command, you will see a message indicating that the mdbook project has been successfully initialized in the specified directory.

Use Case 3: Cleaning the directory with the generated book

To clean the directory with the generated book, you can use the following command:

mdbook clean

Motivation: This command is useful when you want to remove all the generated files of the mdbook project from the directory, effectively cleaning up the project.

Explanation: The mdbook clean command removes all the generated files, including the HTML version of the book, the summary file, and any other build artifacts, from the directory. It helps to keep the project directory clean and allows for a clean build of the book if needed.

Example Output: After executing this command, all the generated files of the mdbook project will be removed from the directory, leaving it clean and free from any build artifacts.

Use Case 4: Serving a book and auto-building when file changes

To serve a book at http://localhost:3000 and automatically build it whenever a file changes, you can use the following command:

mdbook serve

Motivation: This command is helpful during the development process of your mdbook project. It allows you to preview the book in your browser and automatically rebuilds it whenever there are changes in any of the Markdown files.

Explanation: The mdbook serve command starts a local web server at http://localhost:3000 and serves the book in your browser. It also monitors the Markdown files in the project directory and automatically rebuilds the book whenever a file is changed. This helps in quickly previewing the changes in real-time without manually triggering the build process.

Example Output: After executing this command, you will see a message indicating that the local web server is running at http://localhost:3000 . You can then open this URL in your browser to view and navigate through the book. Any changes you make to the Markdown files will be automatically reflected in the browser without needing to manually refresh the page.

Use Case 5: Watching a set of Markdown files and automatically building when a file is changed

To watch a set of Markdown files and automatically build the book whenever a file is changed, you can use the following command:

mdbook watch

Motivation: This command is useful when you want to continuously monitor a set of Markdown files for changes and automatically rebuild the book whenever a file is modified. It helps in maintaining an up-to-date version of the book without manually triggering the build process.

Explanation: The mdbook watch command starts watching for changes in the Markdown files within the project directory. Whenever a file is modified, it triggers the build process to update the book accordingly. This is particularly useful when editing the content of the book in real-time and wanting to see the changes immediately without manual intervention.

Example Output: After executing this command, it will start watching for changes in the Markdown files. Whenever a file is modified, you will see the corresponding rebuild process being triggered, and the book will be automatically updated to reflect the changes.