Re: [NTG-context] [texhax] Choosing TeX um ... stuff
Paul Isambert wrote: > And plain TeX doesn't have a lot of documentation. Anyway there isn't much to > document. Basically using plain TeX means you need a very good knowledge of the > engine, and you'll write tons of macros (in a way there are no plain TeX users, > only users of personal formats based on plain). All true, except for the first part, where there is plenty of documentation available : The TeXbook, TeX by Topic, SvB's mammoth \TeX} in Practice, plus many others listed at Nelson Beebe's http://ftp.math.utah.edu/pub//tex/bib/texbook1.html > Philip, plain TeX isn't exactly mainstream anymore, and ConTeXt probably beats > it on this point. And ConTeXt is already more than 15 years old, so it's not so > new, although it does keep moving. I'll address these later : have to leave now. ** Phil. ___ 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 ___
Re: [NTG-context] [texhax] Choosing TeX um ... stuff
Peter Davis wrote: I've been on the periphery of TeX for years, as a casual user of LaTeX and also as an implementer of publishing software. However, I'm afraid I haven't kept in as close touch as I'd like, and now I find myself trying to absorb a lot in a short time. I'm trying to choose what software to use in building an XML->TeX workflow. I'd appreciate any help with the following questions: 1. True or False: TeX can be categorized along three orthogonal axes: 1. by format (plain TeX, LaTeX, ConTeXt, others?) 2. by implementation (web2c, pdfTeX/pdfLaTeX, LuaTeX, others?) 3. by distribution (MikTeX, TeXLive, MacTeX, others?) 2) is false; whilst "web2c" is a methodology and an basis for implementation, pdfTeX is a derivative, pdfLaTeX is simply LaTeX layered on top of PdfTeX, LuaTeX is a major fork, and so on. 2. True or False: plain TeX and LaTeX(2e) are warhorses ... been around for decades, quirks well known, lots of documentation, etc. Yes, except that while Plain TeX has more-or-less remained static (modulo essential bug fixes by Don), LaTeX2e has continued to evolve. I have heard rumours that this particular evolutionary branch may have come to an end, but I have no definite knowledge of this. 3. True or False: ConTeXt is newer, with a lot of built-in features, but still changing quite a bit from build to build. Context is a L O T newer : it has many devotees, but is still something of an outside to mainstream TeX usage. Other comments welcome vis. picking which software to use. One point is that since the actual TeX input files will be generated programmatically, readability or ease-of-coding is not a factor. I was going to use plain TeX, but it seems a lot of features like placing text boxes and graphics anywhere, using system fonts, etc. are more available for LaTeX and ConTeXt. Thank you for any comments! Talk to River Valley and/or Sebastian Rahtz; both have considerable knowledge of the matters that interest you. Philip Taylor ___ 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 ___
Re: [NTG-context] [tex-live] Announcing TLContrib
Thank you for the clarification, Taco. As far as the phrase "to use this site as a TeX Live repository, point the TeX Live package manager to http://tlcontrib.metatex.org/201"; is concerned, perhaps "as a partial TLR", or perhaps "as an adjunct TLR". Less important : "point X at" is more idiomatic than "point X to". ** Phil. ___ 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 ___
Re: [NTG-context] [tex-live] Announcing TLContrib
One comment, two questions Taco : C1: Great idea; this project has my wholehearted support. Q1: When you write "In short, anything that cannot be on TeX Live but can still legally be distributed over the Internet can have a place on TLContrib.", does this not open a hole rather wider than you intended. Should there not be a limitation to "anything that can ... and which is relevant to TeX" ? Q2: When you write "Quick start: to use this site as a TeX Live repository, point the TeX Live package manager to http://tlcontrib.metatex.org/2010. If you want to know more details about using TLContrib, see the using TLContrib page.", does this mean that I (and others) can use /solely/ TLContrib henceforth, or will it be necessary to re-point the TeX Live package manager at a "normal" TL node for some purposes ? ** Phil. ___ 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 ___