Darren Dale wrote: > I'm actually very hopeful. It's because the TeX code is so well written and > documented that the algorithms can (hopefully) be easily ported to Python.
Good point. I've never looked deep enough to know how complicated the algorithms really are -- and we're not trying to build something that will run LaTeX here. Although, It would be very useful to be able to use add-on packages -- amsmath, if nothing else. > The problem I have with TeX is > that it has a lot of overhead (it's not meant to be used as a daemon), is not > intended to be used as a library (as far as I have been able to discern), These are key -- and what I've been fantasizing for years is that someone will re-write to be used as a library. > and > still requires interpretation once the results are produced DVI is actually pretty simple -- I don't think that's the hard part of the problem. > The usetex option, which produces excellent > results, has been an absolute headache to maintain across platforms. I'm sure! dependency on an external TeX distribution is not a good long-term option. > Which other projects did you have in mind? I've seen a couple that are trying to make a version of TeX that can be used as a lib -- with just this kind of thing in mind. How active they are, and whether they will get anywhere remains to be seen. Here's one that doesn't look active: http://www.metatex.org/ and another: but JAVA? argg! http://www.extex.org/index.html That might still be a good site to check out if one is to re-write the TeX layout engine in Python... Even if there aren't any other projects to leverage, while less fun, I expect that making a library version of TeX from the existing code base would result in a far more robust result. Another option is to build a stripped down TeX distribution that we would deliver with MPL. Also a lot of work, but it could be restricted to only a small number of fonts, packages, etc. Anyway, anything that someone will do (and get paid for!) is fine with me! -Chris -- Christopher Barker, Ph.D. Oceanographer NOAA/OR&R/HAZMAT (206) 526-6959 voice 7600 Sand Point Way NE (206) 526-6329 fax Seattle, WA 98115 (206) 526-6317 main reception [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Take Surveys. Earn Cash. Influence the Future of IT Join SourceForge.net's Techsay panel and you'll get the chance to share your opinions on IT & business topics through brief surveys -- and earn cash http://www.techsay.com/default.php?page=join.php&p=sourceforge&CID=DEVDEV _______________________________________________ Matplotlib-devel mailing list Matplotlib-devel@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-devel
