provide a .md template alongside the .rst one

final/0001-dep-process.rst

@@ -295,11 +295,13 @@ DEP format
 
 To save everyone time reading DEPs, they need to follow a common format
 and outline; this section describes that format. In most cases, it's probably
-easiest to start with copying the provided `DEP template <../template.rst>`_,
+easiest to start with copying one of the provided DEP templates
+(`rst template <../template.rst>` - `md template <../template.md>`)_,
 and filling it in as you go. 
 
-DEPs must be written in `reStructuredText <http://docutils.sourceforge.net/rst.html>`_ 
-(the same format as Django's documentation). 
+DEPs may be written in `reStructuredText <http://docutils.sourceforge.net/rst.html>`_ 
+(the same format as Django's documentation) or
+`MarkDown <https://www.markdownguide.org>` (the same as GitHub issues). 
 
 Each DEP should have the following parts:
 

template.md

@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+---
+DEP: XXXX
+Author: Jacob Kaplan-Moss
+Implementation Team: Jacob Kaplan-Moss
+Shepherd: Andrew Godwin, Carl Meyer
+Status: Draft
+Type: Feature
+Created: 2014-11-16
+Last-Modified: 2014-11-18
+---
+# DEP XXXX: DEP template
+
+Table of Contents
+- [Abstract](#abstract)
+- [Specification](#specification)
+- [Motivation](#motivation)
+- [Rationale](#rationale)
+- [Backwards Compatibility](#backwards-compatibility)
+- [Reference Implementation](#reference-implementation)
+- [Copyright](#copyright)
+
+This DEP provides a sample template for creating your own DEPs. In
+conjunction with the content guidelines in [DEP
+1](https://github.com/django/deps/final/0001-dep-process.rst), this
+should make it easy for you to conform your own DEPs to the format
+outlined below.
+
+Note: if you are reading this DEP via the web, you should first grab
+[the source of this
+DEP](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/django/deps/template.md) in
+order to complete the steps below. **DO NOT USE THE HTML FILE AS YOUR
+TEMPLATE!**
+
+To get the source this (or any) DEP, look at the top of the Github page
+and click \"raw\".
+
+If you\'re unfamiliar with MarkDown, this template also exists
+as a [reStructuredText template](./template.rst).
+
+Once you\'ve made a copy of this template, remove this abstract, fill
+out the metadata above and the sections below, then submit the DEP.
+Follow the guidelines in [DEP
+1](https://github.com/django/deps/final/0001-dep-process.rst).
+
+## Abstract
+
+This should be a short (\~200 word) description of the technical issue
+being addressed.
+
+This (and the above metadata) is the only section strictly required to
+submit a draft DEP; the following sections can be barebones and fleshed
+out as you work through the DEP process.
+
+## Specification
+
+This section should contain a complete, detailed technical specification
+which should describe the syntax and semantics of any new feature. The
+specification should be detailed enough to allow implementation \-- that
+is, developers other than the author should (given the right experience)
+be able to independently implement the feature, given only the DEP.
+
+## Motivation
+
+This section should explain *why* this DEP is needed. The motivation is
+critical for DEPs that want to add substantial new features or
+materially refactor existing ones. It should clearly explain why the
+existing solutions are inadequate to address the problem that the DEP
+solves. DEP submissions without sufficient motivation may be rejected
+outright.
+
+## Rationale
+
+This section should flesh out out the specification by describing what
+motivated the specific design and why particular design decisions were
+made. It should describe alternate designs that were considered and
+related work.
+
+The rationale should provide evidence of consensus within the community
+and discuss important objections or concerns raised during discussion.
+
+## Backwards Compatibility
+
+If this DEP introduces backwards incompatibilities, you must must
+include this section. It should describe these incompatibilities and
+their severity, and what mitigation you plan to take to deal with these
+incompatibilities.
+
+## Reference Implementation
+
+If there\'s an implementation of the feature under discussion in this
+DEP, this section should include or link to that implementation and
+provide any notes about installing/using/trying out the implementation.
+
+## Copyright
+
+This document has been placed in the public domain per the Creative
+Commons CC0 1.0 Universal license
+(<http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed>).
+
+(All DEPs must include this exact copyright statement.)

template.rst

@@ -28,16 +28,8 @@ TEMPLATE!**
 To get the source this (or any) DEP, look at the top of the Github page
 and click "raw".
 
-If you're unfamiliar with reStructuredText (the format required of DEPs),
-see these resources:
-
-* `A ReStructuredText Primer`__, a gentle introduction.
-* `Quick reStructuredText`__, a users' quick reference.
-* `reStructuredText Markup Specification`__, the final authority.
-
-__ http://docutils.sourceforge.net/docs/rst/quickstart.html
-__ http://docutils.sourceforge.net/docs/rst/quickref.html
-__ http://docutils.sourceforge.net/spec/rst/reStructuredText.html
+If you're unfamiliar with reStructuredText, this template also exists as a
+`MarkDown template <./template.md>`_.
 
 Once you've made a copy of this template, remove this abstract, fill out the
 metadata above and the sections below, then submit the DEP. Follow the