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] [texhax] Choosing TeX um ... stuff
Selon Philip Taylor (Webmaster, Ret'd) p.tay...@rhul.ac.uk: Peter Davis wrote: 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. 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). 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. 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. Paul ___ 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
On 17-11-2010 11:06, Paul Isambert wrote: 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. fyi, there are two versions of context: - mkii is a frozen snapshot of context that runs on top of pdftex and xetex - mkiv is the mainstream version and runs on top of luatex; it is a rathere drastic rewrite + major upgrade and many internals are pretty new but is mostly downward compatible as well Hans - Hans Hagen | PRAGMA ADE Ridderstraat 27 | 8061 GH Hasselt | The Netherlands tel: 038 477 53 69 | voip: 087 875 68 74 | www.pragma-ade.com | www.pragma-pod.nl - ___ 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
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 ___
