[OS X TeX] Next generation TeX

[Scott Murman]

Consider me a heretic, but I'm not sure the next-generation TeX should 
be TeX at all.  TeX was way ahead of it's time, and other technologies 
still really haven't caught up.  TeX/LaTeX was initially focused on 
typesetting math/science documents, and that is where it excels.   
Nothing out there has replaced TeX in this arena, and I doubt many 
could yet compete with TeX support of multiple languages either.

However, this does not mean that TeX should bloat into a powerpoint, 
quark, acrobat replacement.  The requirements for general document 
typesetting are extreme, and trying to extend the TeX infrastructure to 
achieve this would be destined to fail IMO.  Is there a need for an 
open-source, general, document formatting language?  Could one compete 
with the commercial products?  I'm not sure the answer is yes to either 
question, but if you do believe so I would suggest that extending TeX 
would not be the optimal strategy.
TeX has survived and prospered because it fills a niche - a niche that 
commercial products cannot find profitable.

I'd like to see TeX continue evolving as it has.  Adding a core set of 
macros - LaTeX + CTAN.  Responding to new output formats - PDF, HTML.  
Multi-language support.  High-quality fonts, especially in the math 
arena.  A testbed for new ideas.   In other words, projects like LaTeX, 
pdfTeX, hyperTeX, Omega, etc., which eventually mature enough to become 
standard implementations.

-SM-

On Sep 6, 2004, at 3:50 AM, Jérôme Laurens wrote:

> Coming back from TUG 2004, may I forward you some important question.
>
> It has no doubt that TeX has already reached some of its limits, it 
> also appeared that omega is far from being achieved in a next future. 
> The question seems to be: what can be the future of TeX?
>
> I propose to collect the desiderata of people really using TeX, 
> whatever user level they are, about what they are missing in actual 
> TeX.
>
> For example, a TeX guru was missing a real dedicated programming 
> language with better access to data structure, someone else was 
> missing metapost like features and funny typesetting (typesetting text 
> along curves and not only lines...)
>
> Please, share your ideas.
>
> NB: made a copy to macTeX, for people out of macosx-tex who may want 
> to participate.
>
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--------------------- Info ---------------------
Mac-TeX Website: http://www.esm.psu.edu/mac-tex/
           & FAQ: http://latex.yauh.de/faq/
TeX FAQ: http://www.tex.ac.uk/faq
List Post: <mailto:MacOSX-TeX at email.esm.psu.edu>