Emacs uses "markdown" -- a Linux program to parse markdown into HTML. While there are other markdown programs in the Software Center, and maybe I can figure out how to tell emacs to use that instead, in the Ubuntu world, I just installed "markdown" and that was that. Is this where a noobie like myself asks to have a program added?

    jaslar Emacs has it's own package repos, MELPA and ELPA.

    I found this blog post which explains how to setup Markdown Mode in Emacs.

    That said, my personal preference in regards to Emacs is to use Spacemacs which can automatically install new modes based on file extension, as well as a great many other things.