The history and origins of TeX and its variants, their applications, their supporting software (such as fonts or viewers), and their mythology and heraldry.
27
votes
3answers
1k views
$327.68 Knuth reward check
I know something about $327.68 Knuth reward check. However, I cannot find a comprehensive list of people rewarded for finding errors in TeX. I do know, that among them is Bogusław Jackowski (Twice, ...
92
votes
9answers
3k views
How was TeX output visualised on screen, back in the day?
I've been using LaTeX for about two years; I'm only learning TeX now, to get a better understanding of the foundations.
In Chapter 6 : Running TeX of his TeXbook (more specifically, on page 23), ...
6
votes
0answers
199 views
(Why) did the Gyre project fork the URW fonts rather than just extending them?
As I understand it:
During the 1980s, the URW++ foundry created clones of the PostScript Core Font Set and gave those clones the following names:
╔════════════════════════╤══════════════════════╗
║ ...
1
vote
1answer
211 views
Why was a lion chosen as LaTeX mascot? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Why does TeX have a lion as mascot?
What was the motivation for choosing a lion as mascot for LaTeX?
(Sorry, for not providing an MWE for this question.)
1
vote
0answers
47 views
Origin of CMC-7 and E-13B Special Characters
I am aware this potentially off topic, but I don't think I can find a better place to ask this question. I'm posting it here hoping that in this large community there is someone knowledgeable about ...
25
votes
2answers
752 views
What language is TeX implemented in?
I read on Wikipedia that the first version of TeX was written in SAIL. However, does anyone know what language later versions (i.e the current one) are implemented in?
37
votes
3answers
1k views
TeX family tree with timeline?
When I first started using TeX, I felt overwhelmed by the myriad of names — BibTeX, XeTeX, LaTeX, XeLaTeX, ConTeXt, LuaTeX, MacTeX, TeXLive — and more. I didn't know the packages from the programs ...
34
votes
3answers
968 views
Who *doesn't* use e-TeX?
I was just browsing the new questions and noticed egreg's recent answer, in which he uses a certain extension from e-TeX and cautions the reader that it is not compatible with Knuth TeX. And so I ...
9
votes
2answers
1k views
Why couldn't (La)TeX's layout model be as simple as CSS's layout model?
I feel CSS's layout model is simpler than (La)TeX's layout model. At the time Knuth developed TeX, the idea leading to CSS model is a "difficult" things? Or the CSS layout model is not appropriate to ...
26
votes
1answer
955 views
Why does TeX have a lion as mascot?
This I have been wondering for years! And where else was I supposed to ask this if not here?
Maybe it is not a technical question but it might still interest a great many.
21
votes
3answers
788 views
TeX & Troff a reflection on the history of Computer Typography
I'm interested in relationship between two very important Computer Typography systems Troff and TeX. In particular, I would like to find any statements made by Donald Knuth about the influence (or ...
25
votes
5answers
712 views
Historical, stable version archive of packages
The author of marginfix / blockmargin is/was interested in a certain loss of functionality from one version of the marginfix package to the next. Out of interest and curiosity I wanted to see what ...
6
votes
2answers
219 views
What are the less known TeX like macro-packages?
ConTeXt and Latex are well known. And I'm aware of different engines to process those e.g. XeTeX, pdfTeX, LuaTeX.
But on this meta question discussion came up about TeX, plain-TeX, initex. Can ...
