[FM Discuss] Adding LaTeX to FlossManuals.net for polishing/ layout

[Janet Swisher]

I share Adam's opinion that the CSS output from Objavi is pretty darn slick.

My experience with TeX/LaTeX is that it is unmatched for typesetting
mathematical equations, but for basic document layout, it is like
driving a Ferrari to the grocery store. Most LaTeX users use templates
created by experts, because modifying LaTeX templates is an arcane
art. In contrast, while producing good output with CSS requires a high
degree of skill, it is a skill set that is more widely available and
accessible.

My suggestion is, if there is a need for complex mathematical
equations, to add support to Objavi for LaTeX math markup, but
otherwise continue to use CSS for layout. This would require an
appropriately skilled and motivated programmer to take it on. Some
places to swipe ideas and possibly code include:

* jsMath: displays TeX equations using Javascript:
http://www.math.union.edu/~dpvc/jsmath/
* matplotlib.mathtext: module for parsing TeX equations and creating
PNGs of them without TeX installed:
http://matplotlib.sourceforge.net/api/mathtext_api.html

--Janet

On Fri, Sep 18, 2009 at 9:33 AM, adam hyde <adam at flossmanuals.net> wrote:
> hey DancesWithCars,
>
> If you want to build a python html2latex script we could insert it into
> the forthcoming booki.
>
> Otherwise, did you look at what you can do with Objavi? You can produce
> very nice print source material (PDF) which is all controlled by CSS :
> http://objavi.flossmanuals.net
>
> adam
>
>
>
> On Fri, 2009-09-18 at 09:16 -0400, DancesWithCars wrote:
>> Early in the ClassActs book sprint we talked about
>> whether FLOSSManuals.net use of HTML would
>> allow the high end graphics polish that the group
>> was originally shooting for (a National Geographics
>> style).
>>
>> Having run across LaTeX recently again for something
>> else, it is open source and seems to be what is used
>> in publishing Manuscripts and Papers in the technical
>> areas, all the way up to the original book(s)
>> Knuth's Art of Programming series, so it has
>> the technical capability, and is open source,
>> though not as intuitive as one might wish.
>>
>> So, I'll put it to the communities,
>> can FM exporting to LaTeX be used
>> to polish a book, maybe as post production,
>> to get away from the inherent limitations
>> of html source for layout?
>>
>>
>> We ended up using 4+ tools during the sprint,
>>
>> wiki.laptop.org for the planning of the document
>> and event
>> etherpad.com for the table of contents
>> and flossmanuals.net
>>
>> Audio Conference calls at least daily.
>>
>> Afterward, our communication seems to be on
>> support gang, a private list, and IRC from
>> FM.
>>
>>
>> NB: I commend FM for what it's doing in making
>> online manuals for FLOSS, as they are sorely needed,
>> and look forward to a hard bound ClassActs,
>> even if my writing is really in there
>> after a week...
>>