Typst makes big strides
Typst version 0.15 introduces variable font support, experimental MathML and HTML export, multi-document bundles, and multiple bibliographies.
read it A technical reader will appreciate the concrete code examples and feature breakdowns of the 0.15 release.
summary
Typst version 0.15 introduces several major features, including support for variable fonts with custom axes, experimental HTML and MathML export, and multi-document bundle generation. It also adds support for multiple bibliographies per document and strict validation against multiple PDF standards. While adoption is constrained by academic publishing's reliance on LaTeX sources, its speed and modern syntax make it a compelling alternative.
key points
- Version 0.15 adds variable font support, allowing programmatic manipulation of font axes like weight and custom properties.
- Experimental HTML output translates mathematics into MathML, enabling TeX-quality equations directly in modern web browsers.
- The new bundle feature compiles a single source file into a collection of interlinked HTML and PDF documents.
- Academic publishing network effects remain a primary adoption barrier because major journals insist on LaTeX sources.
who should read it
Software engineers and technical writers looking for a fast, modern alternative to LaTeX.
discussion warm
consensus
Commenters overwhelmingly praise Typst for its instant compilation, single-file output, and vastly superior developer experience compared to LaTeX.
pushback
Some point out rendering bugs with MathML on mobile browsers and lament that academic journals still mandate LaTeX source submissions.
I write this in pretty much every Typst thread. Here are some notes I wrote when I started out with typst when comparing with LaTeX and some recent additions:
1. It doesn't generate 5 bloody files when compiling.
2. Compiling is instant.
3. Diagnostics are way easier to understand (sort of like Rust compiler suggestion style).
4. List items can be either - item1 - item2, etc. or [item1], [item2]. The latter is way better because you can use anchoring to match on the braces (like "%" in vim), which means navigating long item entries is much easier.
5. In latex you have the \document{...} …
It provides a clear, practical comparison highlighting how Typst avoids LaTeX's multi-file compilation mess and confusing error messages.
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