Initial version.

[latex-intro] / latex-intro.tex

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\title{Whirlwind Tour of \LaTeX}
\author{Mark Wooding}
\date{18 March 2022}

\atdef|#1|{\mtt{#1}}
\atdef<#1>{\textit{#1}}

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\begin{document}

\frame{\titlepage}
\frame{\frametitle{Outline}
       \tableofcontents[sectionstyle=show/show,
                        subsectionstyle=shaded/show/hide]}
\AtBeginSection{\frame{\frametitle{Outline}
                       \tableofcontents[sectionstyle=show/shaded,
                                        subsectionstyle=show/show/hide]}}

\section{What is \LaTeX?}

\subsection{Background and history}

\begin{frame}{So what even is this \LaTeX\ thing anyway?}
  \begin{itemize}[<+->]
  \item \LaTeX\ is a `document preparation system' based on Knuth's \TeX\ and
    \MF\ programs.
  \item You describe the document you want in a plain text file (or several),
    run some programs, and they generate printable output.
  \end{itemize}

  \centering \vfill
  \begin{tikzpicture}
      [file/.style={draw=black, outer sep=1mm,
                    text height=\ht\strutbox, text depth=\dp\strutbox},
       input/.style={file, rectangle, fill=blue!30},
       output/.style={file, rectangle, fill=green!30},
       program/.style={file, ellipse, fill=yellow!30}]

    \uncover<+->
      {\node[input] (tex0) at (0, 0) {\phantom{\texttt{foo.tex}}};
       \node[input] (tex1) at ($(tex0) - (2mm, -2mm)$) {\phantom{\texttt{foo.tex}}};
       \node[input, outer xsep=5mm, outer ysep=5mm]
         (texn) at ($(tex1) - (2mm, -2mm)$) {\texttt{foo.tex}};}

    \uncover<+->
      {\node[program, below=7mm of texn] (latex) {\texttt{latex}};
       \node[output, right=6mm of latex] (dvi) {\texttt{foo.dvi}};
         \draw[->] (texn) to (latex);
         \draw[->] (latex) to (dvi);}
    \uncover<+->
      {\node[program, right=6mm of dvi] (dvips) {\texttt{dvips}};
       \node[output, right=6mm of dvips] (ps) {\texttt{foo.ps}};
         \draw[->] (dvi) to (dvips);
         \draw[->] (dvips) to (ps);}
    \uncover<+->
      {\node[program, right=6mm of ps] (ps2pdf) {\texttt{ps2pdf}};
       \node[output, above=10mm of ps2pdf] (pdf) {\texttt{foo.pdf}};
         \draw[->] (ps) to (ps2pdf);
         \draw[->] (ps2pdf) to (pdf);}
    \uncover<+->
      {\node[program] (pdflatex) at ($(texn)!.5!(pdf)$) {\texttt{pdflatex}};
         \draw[->] (texn) to (pdflatex);
         \draw[->] (pdflatex) to (pdf);}
  \end{tikzpicture}
\end{frame}

\begin{frame}{Where does this stuff come from?}
  \begin{itemize}[<+->]
  \item Donald E.\ Knuth wrote the original versions of \TeX\ and \MF\ back
    in the late 1970s because he was dissatisfied with the appearance of the
    second editions of \emph{The Art of Computer Programming}.  He stopped
    evolving \TeX\ in 1982, and \MF\ in 1984.

  \item These programs implement \emph{languages}:
    \begin{itemize}
    \item the \MF\ language describes bitmap glyphs in terms of lines and
      curves; and
    \item the \TeX\ language describes page layouts in terms of text, boxes,
      and glue.
    \end{itemize}

  \item Both languages have a similar structure:
    \begin{itemize}
    \item a base layer of primitive commands; and
    \item a macro layer to sequence the commands.
    \end{itemize}
  \end{itemize}
\end{frame}

\begin{frame}{Writing and saying the names}
  This is unfortunately tricky.
  \pause
  \begin{itemize}[<+->]
  \item The letters in \TeX\ are \emph{Greek}: capital tau, epsilon, chi.  So
    it should be pronounced as \textipa{/tEx/}.  \uncover<+->{`\emph{When you
    say it corretly to your computer, the terminal may become slightly
    moist.}'}
  \item While Knuth was working on \TeX, Honeywell's `Text EXecutive'
    processor appeared, so it was important that they not be confused.
  \item In print, ideally the `E' should be lowered.  In media that don't
    allow this, it's usual to write the `E' in lowercase, as `\texttt{TeX}'.
  \item The name `\LaTeX' is short for `Lamport \TeX', after its initial
    author.
  \item Lamport is not proscriptive about pronunciation: \textipa{/"lA:tEk/},
    \textipa{/"lEItEk/}, \textipa{/"lA:tEx/}, \textipa{/"lEItEx/},
    \textipa{/"lA:tEks/}, \textipa{/"lEItEks/} are all fine (but the last
    risks confusion with dispersons of polymer microparticles in water).
  \item In writing, the `A' of `\LaTeX' is reduced, raised and kerned over
    the `L'; in media that can't do this, it's usual to write it in
    lowercase, as `\texttt{LaTeX}'.
  \end{itemize}
\end{frame}

\begin{frame}{So, err, again, what's this \LaTeX\ thing?}
  \begin{itemize}[<+->]
  \item \LaTeX\ is a \emph{macro package} (called a `format') for \TeX.  It
    provides the machinery to describe \emph{documents} in terms of their
    \emph{content}, \emph{structure}, and \emph{style}.
  \item \LaTeX\ was originally written by Leslie Lamport.  The moderm
    version, \LaTeXe\ was extensively reworked by `The \LaTeX~3 Project';
    \LaTeX~3 is still basically vapourware.
  \item Other \TeX\ formats exist, notably Hans Hagen's Con\TeX{}t.
  \end{itemize}
\end{frame}

\subsection{Strengths and weaknesses}

\begin{frame}{What \TeX\ is good at}
  \begin{itemize}[<+->]
  \item Knuth developed an excellent line-breaking algorithm, which examines
    whole paragraphs at a time to decide how best to split them into lines.
    General page layout is excellent.
  \item Typesetting mathematics well was one of Knuth's primary objectives
    for \TeX.  Knuth studied mathematical typsetting practices of the time
    carefully; \TeX\ has pretty much taken over as the standard, since it's
    been used for just about all serious mathematical communication for the
    last thirty years.
  \item \LaTeX's \emph{float} machinery, for placing tables and figures at
    the top or bottom of pages `near' to the right place, generally works
    rather well, though sometimes it needs some gentle kicking.
  \end{itemize}
\end{frame}

\begin{frame}{What \TeX\ is bad at}
  \begin{itemize}[<+->]
  \item The default fonts (Knuth's Computer Modern family) are widely
    considered to be rather ugly.
  \item Cross-references and tables of contents are good; but \TeX\ processes
    the document strictly start-to-finish, and you must run \texttt{latex}
    multiple times to get the document to converge.
  \item Multiline text in tables is annoying: you must specify the column
    width explicitly.
  \item Complex layout and graphics are possible using extensions (e.g.,
    \texttt{pstricks}, Ti\textit{k}Z), but this is something of an acquired
    taste.
  \item In particular, trying to place graphics in paragraphs, with the text
    flowing around them, is extremely difficult and doesn't work well.
  \item Generally trying to do things off the well-trodden path leaves you
    having to program \TeX\ to do things the hard way.  Alas, \TeX's
    programming facilities are weird and primitive, and this is widely
    considered not to be very enjoyable.
  \end{itemize}
\end{frame}

\section{How do I install \LaTeX?}

\begin{frame}{\TeX\ distributions}
  \begin{itemize}[<+->]
  \item The \TeX\ system is one of the most widely ported serious programs
    ever.  Ports will be available for every system you might want to run it
    on.
  \item There are \emph{lots} of pieces.  Fitting them together is no fun at
    all.
  \item A \TeX\ \emph{distribution} comes will all of the necessary pieces
    set up for you ready to go.
  \item The `\TeX\ Live' distribution is free and runs on Unix (including
    Linux), Windows and Mac\,OS.  It's Unixy in flavour.  This is what I use.
  \item If you run Linux, your distribution should provide \TeX\ Live
    packages.  On Debian and Ubuntu, \texttt{apt install texlive-full}.
  \item For Windows, MiK\TeX\ seems to be the popular choice.
  \item For Mac\,OS, Mac\TeX seems to be the \TeX\ Live distribution of
    choice.
  \end{itemize}
\end{frame}

\section{How do I use \LaTeX?}

\subsection{Basic syntax}

\begin{frame}[fragile]{A minimal document}
  The following will give you a single sheet of paper with the text `Hello,
  world!' printed on it.
  \begin{listing}
\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
Hello, world!
\end{document}
  \end{listing}
  \pause
  Unfortunately, it will want to give you a sheet of \emph{US letter}-sized
  paper.
  \begin{listing}
\documentclass[a4paper]{article}
\begin{document}
Hello, world!
\end{document}
  \end{listing}
\end{frame}

\begin{frame}[fragile]{Magical characters}
  The \TeX\ language steals quite a lot of characters for its own purposes.
  There are more-or-less convenient ways of typesetting them literally.
  \begin{itemize}[<+->]
  \item The backslash `@|\\|' introduces \emph{control sequences}.
  \item Braces `@|\{|\dots@|\}|' surround arguments and group things
    together.
  \item The percent sign `@|\\\%|' starts a comment which continues to the
    end of the line.
  \item The dollar sign `@|\$|' switches into or out of mathematical text.
  \item The ampersand `@|\&|' separates cells in tables.
  \item The ampersand `@|\#|' indicates where to substitute argument values
    in macros and alignments.
  \item The underscore `@|\_|' and caret `@|\^|' indicate mathematical
    \emph{subscripts} and \emph{superscripts}.
  \item The tilde `@|\~|' is like a space, but prevents line breaking.
  \end{itemize}
\end{frame}

\begin{frame}{Whitespace}
  Whitespace is somewhat significant to \TeX.
  \begin{itemize}[<+->]
  \item Spaces separate words and allow line breaking.  Multiple spaces mean
    the same a single space.
  \item A single newline acts just like a space, so you can break paragraphs
    in your source text however you like.
  \item A \emph{blank line} indicates a paragraph break.  (\TeX\ actually
    synthesizes a @|\\par| command internally when it sees a blank line.)
  \item A comment, and its terminating newline, are \emph{entirely} ignored.
  \item White space \emph{also} terminates alphabetic control-sequence
    names.  Use `@|\\ |' to force an actual space to the output.
  \end{itemize}
\end{frame}

\begin{frame}[fragile]{Example document: Basic structure}
  (Download the PDF from \url{https://odin.gg/u/VlC}.)
  \begin{block}<+->{Overview}
\begin{listing}
\documentclass[a4paper]{article}
...
\title{...}
\author{...}
\begin{document}
\maketitle
\begin{abstract}
  ...
\end{abstract}
\tableofcontents
\section{...}
...
\end{document}
\end{listing}
  \end{block}
\end{frame}

\begin{frame}[fragile]{Example document: Paragraphs}
  \begin{block}<+->{Paragraphs}
\begin{listing}
This is an initial paragraph ...

This is a second paragraph, ...
\end{listing}
  \end{block}
  \begin{block}<+->{Lists}
\begin{listing}
\begin{itemize}
\item We can typeset lists of things.
\item
  \begin{enumerate}
  \item ...
  \end{enumerate}
...
\end{itemize}
\end{listing}
  \end{block}
\end{frame}

\begin{frame}[fragile]{Example document: Font changes}
  \begin{block}<+->{Font changes}
\begin{listing}
... \emph{...} ...
... \textbf{...} ...
... \textsf{...} ...
... \texttt{...} ...
\end{listing}
  \end{block}
\end{frame}

\begin{frame}[fragile]{Example document: Cross-references}
  \begin{block}<+->{Labelling things}
\begin{listing}
\section{...} \label{sec:...}
...
\begin{enumerate}
\item \label{en:...}
\end{enumerate}
\end{listing}
  \end{block}
  \begin{block}<+->{Referring to things}
\begin{listing}
... Section~\ref{sec:...} ...
...
... item~\ref{en:...} ...
\end{listing}
  \end{block}
\end{frame}

\begin{frame}[fragile]{Example document: Tables}
  \begin{block}<+->{Table}
\begin{listing}
\centering
\begin{tabular}{...}                 \hline
  ... & ... & ...                 \\ \hline
  ... & ... & ...                 \\
  ... & \multicolumn{2}{...}{...} \\
  ... & ... & ...                 \\ \hline
\end{tabular}
\end{listing}
  \end{block}
  \begin{block}<+->{Floating environments}
\begin{listing}
\begin{table}
  ...
  \caption{...}
  \label{tab:...}
\end{table}
\end{listing}
  \end{block}
\end{frame}

\begin{frame}[fragile]{Example document: Mathematics}
  \begin{block}<+->{Inline maths; display maths}
\begin{listing}
... $...$ ...
\[ ... \]
\end{listing}
  \end{block}
  \begin{block}<+->{More symbols}
\begin{listing}
\usepackage{amssymb}
\end{listing}
  \end{block}
  \begin{block}<+->{General stuff}
\begin{listing}
... x^{n-1}_2 ...
... \frac{...}{...} ...
\end{listing}
  \end{block}
  \begin{block}<+->{Matrices}
\begin{listing}
\left( \begin{array}{...}
  ... & ... & ... \\ ...
\end{array} \right)
\end{listing}
  \end{block}
\end{frame}

\begin{frame}[fragile]{Example document: Miscellaneous niceties}
  \begin{block}<+->{Character sets}
\begin{listing}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\end{listing}
  \end{block}
  \begin{block}<+->{Localization}
\begin{listing}
\usepackage[british]{babel}
\end{listing}
  \end{block}
  \begin{block}<+->{Hyperlinking}
\begin{listing}
\usepackage{hyperref}
\end{listing}
  \end{block}
  \begin{block}<+->{Non-default fonts}
\begin{listing}
\renewcommand{\rmdefault}{ppl}
\renewcommand{\sfdefault}{phv}
\renewcommand{\ttdefault}{pcr}
\end{listing}
  \end{block}
\end{frame}


\section{What useful packages are there?}

\begin{frame}{\LaTeX\ packages}
  \begin{itemize}[<+->]
  \item Generally, the answer to `How do I do this thing in \LaTeX?' is
    `Someone wrote a package to do just that.'
  \item Trying to do things yourself gets you enmired in raw \TeX\
    programming.  If that sounds like fun then go right ahead.
  \item The \TeX\ Live distribution comes bundled with \emph{over two
    thousand} packages, pretty much everything in the Comprehensive \TeX\
    Archive Network (CTAN).  You just need to add the right @|\\usepackage|
    command to your document preamble.
  \end{itemize}
\end{frame}

\begin{frame}{The most important packages}
  My highly individual view:
  \begin{itemize}[<+->]
  \item The standard package collection includes \texttt{color},
    \texttt{dcolumn}, \texttt{graphicx}, \texttt{longtable}, and
    \texttt{tabularx}.
  \item \texttt{babel} supports `foreign' -- i.e., not American English --
    languages, with many of their distinctive typesetting conventions.
  \item \texttt{hyperref} does automatic hyperlinking in PDF documents.
  \item \texttt{tikz} does drawings and diagrams.
  \item \texttt{beamer} makes presentations like this one.
  \item \texttt{memoir} is an extremely versatile document class, intended
    mostly for high-quality books.
  \end{itemize}
\end{frame}

\section{How do I find out more?}

\begin{frame}{Books}
  Alas, much basic documentation is in conventionally-published books. \\
  \begin{itemize}[<+->]
  \item \emph{The \LaTeX{}book} by Leslie Lamport.
  \item \emph{The \LaTeX\ Companion} by the \LaTeX\ maintainers.
  \item \emph{The \TeX book} by Don Knuth.
  \end{itemize}
  \uncover<+->{(All published by Addison Wesley.)} \medskip

  \uncover<+->{There is \emph{\LaTeXe: An unofficial reference manual}, by
    Stephen Gilmore, Torsten Martinsen, and Karl Berry, included with \TeX\
    Live.}
\end{frame}

\begin{frame}{Online}
  \begin{block}<+->{Learning}
    \begin{itemize}[<+->]
    \item<.-> There is much good information at \url{https://texfaq.org/}.
    \item \url{https://texfaq.org/FAQ-man-latex} links to many introductions
      to \LaTeX.  \emph{I've not read any of them.}
    \end{itemize}
  \end{block}
  \begin{block}<+->{Asking for help}
    \begin{itemize}[<+->]
    \item<.-> Traditionally, Usenet \texttt{comp.text.tex}.
    \item Now, probably \url{https://tex.stackexchange.com/} looks like your
      best bet.
    \end{itemize}
  \end{block}
\end{frame}

\end{document}

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