Using package nicematrix with TexLive 2020

Question

I have a document in which I load nicematrix and tikz, and I can compile it without error using TexLive 2022. The compilation fails, however, when I try to submit to the Arxiv where they use TexLive 2020. I include the nicematrix.sty file with my submission.

The error message ends with:

(/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/l3backend/l3backend-dvips.def)))
(/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/tools/array.sty)

! Undefined control sequence.
l.73 \hook_gput_code:nnn
{ begindocument } { . }
?
! Emergency stop.
l.73 \hook_gput_code:nnn
{ begindocument } { . }
No pages of output.
Transcript written on A11_final.log.

I was getting the same \hook_gput_code:nnn error before I upgraded to TexLive 2022.

My google searches all come up with the solution "upgrade your tex" but this is not an option on the Arxiv.

Is there a work around that allows me to use nicematrix with TeXLive 2020?

As always, thanks in advance.

Answer 1

(I'm the author of nicematrix).

The last version of nicematrix compatible with TeXLive 2020 is the version 6.3 of 2021-10-18.

Maybe you don't use the most recent functionnalities of nicematrix and that version will be sufficient for your needs.

The different versions of the file nicematrix.sty can be downloaded on the SVN server of TeXLive here.

That link does not provide the corresponding documentation files. If you want the corresponding file (nicematrix.pdf, or in French nicematrix-french.pdf) send me a email (you will find may address on the first page of the documentation available on CTAN).