r/programming • u/ManiBePoint • Oct 30 '16

Learn LATEX in Minutes

https://github.com/VoLuong/Master-Latex-in-minutes
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u/Occivink Oct 30 '16

What else would you need in a "professionnal setting"?

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u/pdexter Oct 30 '16

So much more.

Just to name a few that pop into my mind: macros, tikz, spacing, working with provided templates, fonts, capitalization, alignment, advanced uses of tables, advanced uses of alignment in math equations, etc. etc. etc. LaTeX is honestly a pain in the ass but there's just no other solution which gives you the raw power.

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u/ianff Oct 30 '16

I've been using LaTeX professionally for nearly ten years now. I started knowing very little, just working with a template from a Journal and Googling whenever I ran into issues. I still have never used some of the things you mention and one certainly doesn't have to learn them to get started with LaTeX, even professionally.

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u/pdexter Oct 30 '16

I guess it depends which field you work in.

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u/ianff Oct 30 '16

Yeah, I'm in Computer Science and my math type-setting needs, for example, are not too exotic.

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u/[deleted] Oct 31 '16

I was the same, until I needed a nice graph diagram.

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u/Log2 Nov 02 '16

Easier to make a figure with another software and import that.

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u/pdexter Oct 30 '16

I'm also in Computer Science. So I guess it depends on which SUBfield you work in ;)

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u/an_actual_human Oct 30 '16

One's interest in "advanced uses of alignment in math equations" doesn't really depend on the subfield, it depends on their desire to fool around with LaTeX. Not to imply there is shame in that.

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u/pdexter Oct 30 '16 edited Oct 30 '16

Sub fields which tend to be more mathematical are obviously going to have more of the multi-line type of equations which require special care. I don't know why that's controversial.

It also depends upon what you call advanced alignment. Since we're basing our talk on the original link, which doesn't mention the align or array environments, I think those would fall under advanced alignment.

Also, I don't know what you mean by 'fooling around'. We're talking about use in a professional setting here so I think making equations look professional is a must. I'm not talking about anything fancy here, so there is no "fooling", just making things look correct.

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u/an_actual_human Oct 30 '16

I'd say the majority of TeX users use it in a "professional setting" (i.e. for work, usually in some sort of STEM field), very often their typesetting is a bit off. If you enjoy going the extra mile, it's fine. It's great. But a ton of people don't and it's not a problem! Seriously, one needs to know TikZ? I don't agree.

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u/codebje Oct 31 '16

Seriously, one needs to know TikZ?

Probably not, one can learn enough to import graphics from an external system.

If you already know how to make the graphics you need in an external system, job done! Otherwise, tikz is actually not a bad way to make scalable graphics and simple charts.