Typst 0.15: the Rust-based typesetting system keeps gaining momentum

Typst is a document typesetting system capable of producing output in several formats: PDF, SVG and PNG, and — still under development — HTML. The tool handles technical typesetting well — formulas, tables and scientific composition — which is why it is regularly viewed as a future replacement for LaTeX.

What's new

The last look at Typst covered version 0.13, roughly a year ago. The fresh 0.15 release came out in June and brought several notable features at once. Among them is support for variable fonts, which allow the typeface to be adjusted smoothly within a single font file, along with MathML output, which matters for representing mathematics correctly. Support for multiple bibliographies in a single document has also appeared — a handy feature for those working with large scientific or composite texts. The list of changes does not end there: the release includes other additions as well.

License and technology

Typst is distributed freely under the Apache 2.0 license. The project is written in the Rust language, which is traditionally associated with high performance and reliable memory handling.

Typst's steady development — with each version the system gains features that have historically been the preserve of LaTeX — is gradually making it a realistic alternative for authors of technical and scientific documents. That said, the project is still at an early stage of version numbering (0.x), so it is too soon to speak of full maturity; nevertheless, the direction of travel and the pace at which features are being added look encouraging.

Source: LWN.net