SimpleTex DocumentationSimpleTex Documentation
Home
FAQ
API
Tutorials
Blog
Updates
Use now
  • 简体中文
  • English
Home
FAQ
API
Tutorials
Blog
Updates
Use now
  • 简体中文
  • English
  • Mathematical Typesetting

    • LaTeX Basics: From Zero to Mathematical Typesetting
    • Advanced LaTeX Mathematical Typesetting Techniques
    • Typst Quick Start Guide: A Modern Alternative to LaTeX
    • List of commonly used mathematical symbols in LaTeX
  • OCR Technology

    • Mathematical Handwritten Formula Recognition Technology Comparison and Applications

Typst Quick Start Guide: A Modern Alternative to LaTeX

Typst is an emerging typesetting system designed to address some long-standing issues with LaTeX, such as complex syntax, lengthy compilation times, and steep learning curves. As a modern alternative to LaTeX, Typst offers more concise syntax, real-time preview, and friendlier error messages while maintaining high-quality typesetting output, especially for mathematical formulas.

Comparison Between Typst and LaTeX

Typst was designed to retain LaTeX's typesetting quality while solving its pain points. Here is a comparison of their main features:

FeatureTypstLaTeX
Compilation SpeedMillisecond-level, real-time previewMay take seconds to minutes
Syntax ComplexityConcise, similar to MarkdownComplex, self-contained system
Error MessagesClear, friendly, precise locationOften difficult to understand, vague location
Learning CurveGentle, easy to get startedSteep, difficult for beginners
EcosystemEmerging but rapidly developingMature, with abundant existing resources
Customization AbilityImplemented through functions, modern programming-orientedImplemented through macros, special syntax
Mathematical TypesettingPowerful, more concise syntaxExtremely powerful, de facto standard

Installation and Environment Setup

Typst offers multiple usage methods to meet different users' needs:

  1. Online Editor: No installation required, simply visit Typst Web Version to start using it

  2. Local Installation:

    Windows System:

    # Using Scoop
    scoop install typst
    
    # Or using Winget
    winget install --id Typst.Typst
    

    macOS System:

    # Using Homebrew
    brew install typst
    

    Linux System:

    # Using Cargo (Rust package manager)
    cargo install --git https://github.com/typst/typst
    
  3. Editor Plugins:

    • VS Code: Install the official Typst plugin
    • Vim/Neovim: Use the typst.vim plugin
    • Other editors also have corresponding plugin support

Typst Basic Syntax

Typst's syntax combines the simplicity of Markdown with the expressiveness of LaTeX, making it very intuitive to use.

Document Structure

A basic Typst document structure looks like this:

#set document(title: "My First Typst Document")
#set page(numbering: "1", number-align: center)
#set text(font: "Times New Roman", lang: "en", size: 11pt)

= Document Title

== First Chapter

This is a paragraph, you can input text directly. *This is bold text*, _This is italic text_.

=== Section

- This is an unordered list item
- Another unordered list item
  - Nested list item

1. This is an ordered list
2. Another ordered list item

Mathematical Formula Typesetting

Typst's mathematical formula syntax is similar to LaTeX but more concise:

Inline Formula: Surrounded by $...$

This is an inline formula: $E = mc^2$, it will be embedded within the text line.

Display Formula: Use $ ... $ and make it a separate paragraph

This is a display formula:

$ F = G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2} $

It will be centered.

Mathematical Formula Examples:

// Fractions
$ f(x) = \frac{1}{1 + x^2} $

// Summation
$ \sum_{i=1}^{n} i = \frac{n(n+1)}{2} $

// Integration
$ \int_{a}^{b} f(x) \derivative{x} $

// Matrix
$ A = \matrix(
  1, 2, 3;
  4, 5, 6;
  7, 8, 9
) $

// Piecewise function
$ f(x) = \cases(
  x^2 &if x > 0,
  -x^2 &if x \le 0
) $

Advanced Features and Techniques

Charts and Images

#figure(
  image("path/to/image.jpg", width: 80%),
  caption: "Image title"
)

References and Bibliography

// Insert references in the document
As @smith2023 states...

// Add bibliography at the end of the document
#bibliography("references.bib")

Custom Functions and Templates

Typst allows you to define functions to create custom components:

#let theorem(body, name: none) = {
  let title = "Theorem"
  if name != none {
    title += " (" + name + ")"
  }
  
  block(
    fill: rgb(240, 240, 250),
    inset: 10pt,
    radius: 4pt,
    width: 100%,
  )[
    #text(weight: "bold")[#title]
    #body
  ]
}

// Using the custom function
#theorem[
  There are infinitely many prime numbers.
][Euclid]

Tips for Migrating from LaTeX to Typst

If you previously used LaTeX, here are some practical suggestions for migrating to Typst:

  1. Document Structure Changes:

    • LaTeX's \section{} becomes = Title in Typst
    • LaTeX's \begin{environment}...\end{environment} becomes function calls in Typst
  2. Mathematical Symbol Correspondence:

    • Most LaTeX mathematical symbols can be used directly in Typst
    • LaTeX's \frac{a}{b} is \frac{a}{b} in Typst (the same)
    • LaTeX's \begin{matrix}...\end{matrix} is \matrix(...) in Typst
  3. Package and Function Correspondence:

    • Package functions in LaTeX are usually provided by built-in functions in Typst
    • For example, the graphicx package in LaTeX is not needed in Typst; use the image() function directly
  4. Compilation Process Differences:

    • Typst supports real-time preview, eliminating LaTeX's multi-compilation process
    • Typst directly outputs PDF without generating intermediate files

Using SimpleTex to Assist Typst Document Creation

Although Typst simplifies formula input, manually writing code for complex mathematical formulas is still time-consuming. SimpleTex can help you:

  1. Recognize existing mathematical formulas and convert them to Typst-compatible code
  2. Convert handwritten or printed mathematical formulas to digital format
  3. Convert LaTeX mathematical formula code to Typst format, assisting the migration process

Using SimpleTex for formula recognition and then importing the results into Typst documents can greatly improve document creation efficiency.

Conclusion

As a modern alternative to LaTeX, Typst brings a whole new experience to document typesetting. It simplifies syntax, speeds up compilation, and maintains high-quality typesetting output, making it especially suitable for situations requiring frequent editing and previewing. For academic writing and mathematical document creation, Typst provides a more powerful option than Markdown and a friendlier one than LaTeX.

If you are already a LaTeX user, Typst is worth trying; if you are a typesetting novice, Typst might be an easier starting point than LaTeX. As the Typst community continues to develop, we can expect it to become an important choice for academic document typesetting in the future.

Last Updated:: 4/25/25, 4:42 PM
Prev
Advanced LaTeX Mathematical Typesetting Techniques
Next
List of commonly used mathematical symbols in LaTeX