based on https://github.com/guardian/scribe-plugin-smart-lists

scribe-plugin-smart-lists.js

/**
 * Automatically create ordered/unordered lists when detecting content like "* " or "1. "
 */
define(function () {
    "use strict";

    return function () {

        return function (scribe) {
            /**
             * @param {Node} textNode - TextNode being replaced
             * @param {string} type - one of "UL" or "OL"
             */
            function create_list(textNode, type) {
                scribe.transactionManager.run(function () {
                    var list = document.createElement(type);
                    var item = document.createElement("LI");

                    list.appendChild(item);

                    var parent = textNode.parentNode;

                    if (parent.nodeName === "LI") {
                        var sibling = parent.previousElementSibling;

                        if (sibling.nodeName === "LI") {
                            sibling.appendChild(list); // append created <ul> or <ol> to previous <li> tag
                            parent.remove(); // discard extraneous <li>
                            textNode.remove(); // discard replaced text-node
                        }
                    } else {
                        parent.parentNode.replaceChild(list, parent); // replace parent <p> with created <ul> or <ol>
                    }
                });
            }

            scribe.el.addEventListener("keyup", function (event) {
                var selection = new scribe.api.Selection();

                if (!selection.range.collapsed) {
                    return;
                }

                var node = selection.range.startContainer;
                var parent = node.parentNode;

                if (node.nodeType === Node.TEXT_NODE && parent.childNodes.length === 1 && /^P|LI$/.test(parent.nodeName)) {
                    if (/^\*\s$/.test(node.nodeValue)) {
                        create_list(node, "UL");
                    } else if (/^1\.\s$/.test(node.nodeValue)) {
                        create_list(node, "OL");
                    }
                }
            });
        }

    };

});