[OS X TeX] Next generation TeX

[Scott Murman]

> TeX has not evolved (in a really significant way) since the early 
> days. Only macros have evolved.
> But it's becoming more and more difficult to add new sets of macros 
> due to the interactions between them and the lack of TeX engine data 
> controls publicly available.
> The pdftex nor e-Tex new engines do not improve things in a really 
> significant way, both are "small step" extensions of TeX.
> More and more people think that Omega is dead, what a pity because the 
> support of 16 bits fonts would really be a great improvement.

If Omega is dead, then someone should try picking up the pieces.  
16-bits is the future.  I see your point about the macros, but I don't 
really see fixing this issue as the "next generation TeX", but rather a 
re-implementation of what already exists to facilitate extensibility 
and maintenance.   It should be possible to do this in an incremental 
manner.

> Another aspect was raised at TUG 2004 and concerned high quality 
> typesetting on screens and any kind of devices (from the smaller 
> mobile phone to the biggest TV) It seems natural that these screen 
> typesetters will improve and there might be room for TeX alike 
> technology there. But let us focus particularly on paper output.

I agree, high-density displays are already here, and will only continue 
to proliferate.  The same quality that TeX puts to paper should be put 
to alternate displays.

I guess where I'd draw the line is trying to re-invent TeX to compete 
with powerpoint, quark, et al.  I can't really see this as a productive 
path.

-SM-

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