On Sat, Apr 3, 2010 at 2:41 PM, luigi scarso <luigi.sca...@gmail.com> wrote:
> As a computer engineer, one of the most import point of luatex-ConTeXMKIV > is the possibility offered by Lua of an easy binding with external > C/C++ shared library. > This adds another dimension to literate programming, and in some > circumstances eliminates > the separation between documentation and code. > For example, you can write an article in mkiv about Computational > Commutative Algebra > and the article *is* the program because is processed by the binding > of luatex to a comp.comm.alg library > Or you can write a text about electrical net and, if you have a > binding to a spice library, the text is also the program > that resolve the net and show the result (in a graphical manner also, > thank to mplib). > I'm pretty sure that there are others examples in mechanical sectors, > financial sectors, combinatorial area and so on, > maybe logic too. > CPU power and disk storage are not a problem: > 8cores-8GigaByte-1Tera computer has already reach the mass-market > and context mkiv and luatex are well designed. I've been imagining what opportunities might be available via the Parrot platform, as there is a native Lua on the VM that could ostensibly share objects/classes/methods/code with any other language on the platform. Not sure what kind of bridging options will be available between Parrot and LuaTeX, but I think I remember something about being able to 'inject' Lua statements into the LuaTeX engine (at some point)? Would that make it feasible to somehow chain Parrot's Lua to LuaTeX? I'm not a true software engineer, just a self-taught tinkerer with wild ideas. I hadn't been thinking in such literate programming terms, but that sounds incredibly cool. 2010/4/3 John Haltiwanger <john.haltiwan...@gmail.com>: > > As this is precisely my situation, perhaps I can offer you the benefit > of a test-able target audience? Today I am already looking into the > best route to learning TeX/mkiv in a holistic (ie not just looking for > the 'recipe' I need to meet a given deadline). I have just entered > full-time thesis mode, so the question begins Should I just sit down > and read the TeXBook? (something that will be done regardless, it's > just a question as what is most worthwhile to Getting Something Done > Right Now) or would it be that the LuaTeX manual is more directly > applicable? Or, perhaps, a chapter from your book? ;) Sorry to reply to myself, but the send button got pressed a bit early. The point is, I want to approach TeX/mkiv in a holistic way. I don't necessarily want to be mired in TeX constraints when it seems LuaTeX will be a) easier b) more relevant c) more powerful. However, I can imagine that knowing the former is important to understanding/learning the latter. Anyway, at the moment I'm content to read Taco's new typography chapter and add a few notes :) ___________________________________________________________________________________ If your question is of interest to others as well, please add an entry to the Wiki! maillist : ntg-context@ntg.nl / http://www.ntg.nl/mailman/listinfo/ntg-context webpage : http://www.pragma-ade.nl / http://tex.aanhet.net archive : http://foundry.supelec.fr/projects/contextrev/ wiki : http://contextgarden.net ___________________________________________________________________________________
