General ⇒ The TeXbook

[Keta]

Hi all,

It's been a while since I started using LaTeX, but still I don't fully understand TeX's and LaTeX's internals, and I don't know programming in LaTeX. So, I think it's about time I buy some book, and I thought about the TeXbook, but I have a doubt concerning this: The TeXbook was published in 1986 (as appears at the TUG webpage) whereas the latest version of TeX is from March 2008. Is the TeXbook suitable and up-to-date enough for learning TeX? Is it a good resource to start from? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences about this book.

And once I get to grips with TeX, what book would you recommend to learn LaTeX? I'm really looking forward to learn how to program in LaTeX, but I don't know which is the best resource for learning.

Any help or comments are much appreciated, cheers,

Keta

[josephwright]

TeX itself is little changed since The TeXBook came out: essentially bug fixes. LaTeX is a slightly different matter, although the kernel hasn't changed too much for some time (since the colour bits and pieces were added, I think). Of course, lots of packages have been written since then.

Bearing in mind that TeX programming is not quite the same as LaTeX programming (remember that LaTeX provides a lot more tools), I think both the TeXBook and "TeX By Topic" (on CTAN for free) are sensible reads. The LaTeX Companion includes some details about package writing, so you should take a look there. Beyond that, I'd suggest studying package code, the kernel and also taking an interest on comp.text.tex (where interesting code comes up a lot).
--
Joseph Wright

[Keta]

Thanks for your reply Joseph, I'll go on and get the TeXbook. The LaTeX Companion was also in my list, I'll give it a try too, and I'll stay tuned to comp.text.tex, it's something I should have done sooner, as I've always heard a lot about that newsgroup.

BTW, what's up with LaTeX3? When I started TeXing, the first thing I noticed was that the current version of LaTeX was LaTeX2e, and that it would be eventually superseded by LaTeX3. When is this going to happen, and will it be a major change? I just don't want to start learning LaTeX and suddenly have everything changed...

[Stefan Kottwitz]

Hi Keta,

I also recommend the "LaTeX Companion" to learn LaTeX. It may be not the easiest book, but should be useful for years. After some time you may not look into an easy introductional book any more, but the LaTeX Companion is really extensive and simply great.
I recommend not learn TeX first, I would start with LaTeX. The more difficult TeX can be used to improve your LaTeX code later.

There are many online ressources concerning LaTeX and TeX, also free books. Here are lists with recommendations:

• Introductions and Guides to LaTeX
• plain TeX books and docs

Stefan

[Stefan Kottwitz]

Hi Keta,

BTW, what's up with LaTeX3?

have a look at the LaTeX3 project homepage.

Stefan

[josephwright]

On LaTeX3, it is some way off (years). Even then, experience of TeX and LaTeX2e will be useful. If your interested in what LaTeX3 seems to be aiming at, I've made a "broad brush" summary at http://www.texdev.net
--
Joseph Wright

[phi]

Probably LuaTeX will be released first (in 2010) and will increase the LaTeX possibilities drastically. Until then, I also recommend the Companion, it is a really comprehensive book giving overviews over a huge number of packages.
I don't own the TeXbook, but I think it is not necessary to learn TeX. TeX by Topic (which is free) should be sufficient. The TeXbook is more relevant if you are interested in creating documents using plain TeX (rather than LaTeX), or if you want to know every single technical detail about TeX.

[Stefan Kottwitz]

The TeXbook is freely available too, also in source on CTAN. You could find a pdf version of the TeXbook by google.
Nevertheless I recommend to buy good books, even if they are freely available online, to honour the work of the author.

Stefan

[phi]

You should also note that it is illegal to provide typeset versions of the TeXbook on the web.
http://www-cs-faculty.stanford.edu/~knuth/abcde.html

[Keta]

Thanks for your input guys. After your comments I realized that it's better to start with the LaTeX Companion. Having seen the complex (for me at least) codes by Phi on this forum, and by others as well, and the fact that he doesn't own the TeXbook made me rethink that with TeX by Topic I might have enough.

Joseph, that was a nice reading about LaTeX3, it surely clears up many of the project's objectives. The following debate was also quite interesting, regarding LaTeX3, ConTeXt and luatex. Indeed, it's going to be interesting to see how they compete or complement each other.