---
author: ''
category: ''
date: 2013/08/23 17:10:11
description: A very simple reStructuredText directive which makes it 10x more awesome.
link: ''
priority: ''
slug: the-best-restructuredtext-directive-ever-really
tags: python, nikola
title: The best reStructuredText directive ever. Really.
type: text
updated: 2013/08/23 17:10:11
url_type: ''
---
It all started quietly with an Issue in the `Nikola <http://nikola.ralsina.me>`_ bug tracker:

    | gustavodiazjaimes opened this issue 3 hours ago
    | **oembed by micawber - feature sugestion**
    |
    | instead of using specific code for embed object (Youtube, Vimeo, Soundcloud) use a generic solution like https://github.com/coleifer/micawber

So, I looked at `micawber <https://github.com/coleifer/micawber>`_. And it's **awesome** and I had never heard of it before.
What it does is, it looks at a URL, and if it knows the site where it's pointed at, it will then
gather information from it. And using that information it will create for you a HTML fragment
so you can embed it in your own HTML page.

And how hard is it to turn that into a reStructuredText directive? **NOT HARD AT ALL**.

.. code:: python

    import micawber

    class Media(Directive):
        """ Restructured text extension for inserting any sort of media using micawber."""
        has_content = False
        required_arguments = 1

        def run(self):
            providers = micawber.bootstrap_basic()
            return [nodes.raw('', micawber.parse_text(self.arguments[0], providers), format='html')]

So now, in Nikola's github master you can do this:

.. TEASER_END

::

   .. media:: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ralsina/7827374994/

   -----

   .. media:: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEh5cLqxgpA

And get this:

.. media:: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ralsina/7827374994/

-----

.. media:: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEh5cLqxgpA

Micawber supports *many* sites, and more can be added. So, thanks `coleifer <https://github.com/coleifer>`_
and `gustavodiazjaimes <https://github.com/gustavodiazjaimes>`_ for bringing this up :-)