We pushed the first post texlive 2025 update. Apart from a few pending
patches, we spend some time on what we call retrotex and retropost.
retrotex: Due to external factors the decision was made to let luatex
math default to a more conservative handling of fonts: we just assume
that opentype fonts are implemented like traditional tex fonts. This
makes math in the engine behave like xetex. The primitives that relate
to controling some aspects of math rendering are obsolete (we also
removed experimental additional italics mode code). This change doesn't
affect ConTeXt (MkIV) because there we do things differently. The
adapted engine will be used in texlive 2026 (but we already have it in
the distribution).
retropost: We had to spend some time on fixing a bug in the mp library,
one that was introduced when the additional number models were
implemented and that surfaced when testing files of a power user. It was
a rather nasty one that only showed up when using equations with no
viable solution. In the process we (MS and HH) had to consult the
metafont books, because we basically had to check all relevant code, and
then fell in love with bitmaps. That made us decide to bring back
bitmaps in the mp engine even if it sounds somewhat going back in time.
We actually had some other reasons but those will be revealed at the
meeting.
tariffs: Talking of the ctx meeting, we might have to make some
decisions there. A recent post on the list indicated that some
installations default to letter size paper format, which one canconsider
a bad idea but let's put that aside. The fact that installations can
adapt that way, makes that we can also implement a tex tariffs system
(tts) in accordance with current and upcoming European guidelines. For
instance we can make context run 25 percent slower when the main
language is us-english or 50 percent when fonts originating at
(spineless) big tech companies are used. It's not that hard to do this
(via directives). We assume that at some point tex installations used in
the usa have to provide similar means but we leave that to those
responsible for the distributions. After all, they already have to deal
with excluding files that show traces of support for commercial fonts.
At the meeting we might also decide to default to Canadian English
patterns or those used in GB. And who knows if and when we're forced to
(or feel that we have to) remove software components from the engine
that relate too much to big tech or come with unacceptable demands for
conformance. The good news here is that we have no dependencies that
can't be overcome. Maybe we should also support the euro as math marker
or just ditch the dollar for that purpose.
Mixed in with preparations for the upcoming BT we will come back to some
issues reported on the list. We've been a bit silent for various reasons
but Wolfgang made sure all went well which feels good.
Hans & Mikael
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Hans Hagen | PRAGMA ADE
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