Attain for Markdown, not LaTeX

I’ve written within the past (twice) about be taught the technique to
streamline the writing course of when the use of LaTeX. Since then, I’ve stumbled on that I
ride writing much extra when I don’t must attain for LaTeX in any appreciate. By reaching
first for Markdown, then for LaTeX when obligatory, writing is less advanced and extra
fine.

Writing at the Impart Line

Closing 12 months, I gave a talk about the deserves of writing primarily at
the repeat line. My predominant claims were that when writing we prefer:

• an initiate document format (so that our writings are future proof)
• to be the use of initiate source machine (for concerns of privacy and payment)
• to optimize for the “frequent case”
• so that you just would possibly perhaps write for print and digital (PDFs, web pages, and so much of others.)

Markdown solves these constraints properly:

• It’s a definite textual converse material format—undeniable textual converse material has been spherical for an extended time and would possibly perhaps well
  be for an extended time extra.
• Given a definite textual converse material format, we will bring our contain textual converse material editor.
• Loads of initiate source applications manipulate Markdown.
• After we prefer evolved components, we will mix LaTeX into our Markdown documents.

For those odd with Markdown, it’s colossal like a flash to snatch up. Whilst you most fine
gawk at one data, sight this one:

While which that you just would be capable to well per chance diagram shut to initiate comparing components on hand in sure implementations of
Markdown:

For extra on why it’s essential to always are attempting to be writing at the repeat line, which that you just would be capable to well
review out the talk slides.

Pandoc Starter

The central machine I spoke about in Writing at the Impart Line is Pandoc.
Pandoc is an amazingly straightforward repeat line program that takes in Markdown files
and spits out in truth the leisure which that you just would be capable to well agree with of.

To compose the use of Pandoc even simpler than it already is, I set apart collectively a
assortment of starter templates. They’re all on hand on
Github when you’d diagram shut to dive lawful in.

There are for the time being six varied templates, in truth obliging for the diversity of
document you’d diagram shut to construct. Every has a README for set up and usage
directions, apart from a Makefile for invoking pandoc as it can perhaps well per chance be.

Your total templates generate PDFs from Markdown by the usage of LaTeX. In addition to to
Pandoc, you’ll also need LaTeX installed locally.

article

This template makes use of the same old LaTeX article document class. It’s a
no frills, no nonsense alternative.

tufte-handout

Instead to the article document class, there’s also the
tufte-handout document class. It originates from the vogue Edward Tufte
popularized in his books and articles on visualization and invent.

Other than a clear font (it makes use of Palatino as an alternate of the default Computer
New), this template components the flexibility add side notes to your documents. I
most frequently salvage myself reaching for this template when I are attempting to conceal the truth
that I’m secretly the use of LaTeX.

homework

A second alternative to the article document class is the homework document
class. It in truth works properly for homework assignments and disaster units. The category
itself has alternative at hand components, like:

• the choice to position your title on every web page, or most fine on the important thing web page
• an choice to make use of broad or slim margins
• many of the AMS Math applications you’d consist of within the contrivance of typesetting a
  math assignment
• a convenient atmosphere for typesetting induction proofs

For extra components and usage files, review out this blog put up or
the source on GitHub.

beamer

LaTeX affords the beamer document class for surroundings up slides; this template
makes it even simpler to make use of:

• Imprint a brand original bound with a “##” header
• Imprint a chunk divider with a “#” header
• Combine lists, hyperlinks, code, and other Markdown components you’re aware of to
  build the converse material for a bound.

So most frequently, honest write the present an explanation for to your talk, and Pandoc takes care of
making the slides—it doesn’t derive much extra fine.

beamer-solarized

The default beamer kinds are reasonably expressionless. To add rather of aptitude and
personality to my bound decks, I made a Solarized theme for beamer.

In addition to to the screenshot below, the Writing at the Impart
Line slides I linked to earlier also use this theme, in clarify for you
to gawk a less contrived instance.

book-writeup

At closing, most frequently a straightforward article or bound deck doesn’t minimize it. In most cases this
device I’d diagram shut to community the writing into chapters. This template makes writing a
chapter as easy as the use of a “#” Markdown header.

Writing Plugins for Vim

Whilst you happen to make use of Vim, I’d highly point out inserting in goyo.vim for
writing. It removes the total visual frills Vim entails to compose writing code
simpler so which that you just would be capable to well level of curiosity to your writing without distractions.

I also in truth ride vim-pandoc and vim-pandoc-syntax. They’re a pair of
complementary plugins for highlighting and working with Pandoc Markdown-flavored
documents. They work so effectively that I take advantage of them for Markdown documents even when
not the use of Pandoc.

Attain for Markdown

Writing must be a fine ride. With the lawful tools, it’ll be. LaTeX
is unheard of nevertheless cumbersome to make use of. With Markdown, we will level of curiosity on our writing,
and terror about the presentation later. Pandoc can take hang of care of the presentation
for us, so the most fine ingredient left to shut is initiate.