19 Nov
2011
19 Nov
'11
8:29 p.m.
In article <CANij+dfYfCxYryLBwCGx=+FWPZbQZx5x5uqtAcG=iqGwBReR=g at mail.gmail.com>,
William Donzelli <wdonzelli at gmail.com> writes:
Also, the subject of "literate programming" (Knuth style) and
readable software is entirely separate from the usefulness of TeX.
While its true that WYSIWYG has replaced markup for most academic
publishing, TeX (or more properly the macro packages on top of TeX)
are still superior in the area where it was created: typesetting
mathematics.
I've written a 500 pg. book using TeX/LaTeX and I don't regret using
it. I've had lunch with Donald Knuth and enjoyed his company very
much and I have enjoyed his lectures. However, as much as I enjoy
his company and his magnum opus (Art of Computer Programming), I
abhor his idea of "literate programming". Judging by the number of
other people who have adopted his ideas in this area (approximately
none) I'd say I'm in the vasty majority.
The plain and simple reason why TeX doesn't have many bugs is because
it isn't being modified anymore.
--
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> these
don't seem to have impaired their reliability,
> performance, or sheer longevity: Being the 30-year de facto standard in
> academic publishing.
TeX is, well, sort of the "de facto standard". For the past ten years,
Word has done all the heavy lifting in academics, like it or not.