Overview

CMAsh is build on Typst - the new foundation for documents.

Typst is a new, markup-based typesetting system designed to be a powerful, easier-to-use alternative to established tools like LaTeX and Microsoft Word.

It is being developed with the goal of combining the professional-grade output and structural rigor of LaTeX with the intuitive workflow and speed of modern tooling.

Here are the key aspects that define Typst:

1. Markup-Based

Like LaTeX or Markdown, you write your content in plain text alongside formatting commands (markup). This separates the writing process from the styling process, ensuring document structure remains consistent.

2. The "Code-First" Advantage

Typst treats document creation more like software development. It includes a powerful, built-in scripting language.

• Variables and Logic: You can define variables (e.g., let primary-color = blue) and use logic (if/else statements, loops) to automate complex formatting tasks.
• Functions: You can create your own custom commands to simplify your writing workflow.
• Packages: It has a native package manager, making it easy to import and use templates, bibliography styles, and other extensions without complex installation processes.

3. Instant Compilation

Perhaps its biggest quality-of-life improvement over LaTeX is its speed. Typst is written in Rust and compiles extremely fast. When using its dedicated editor or CLI, you typically see a live preview of your formatted PDF that updates in near real-time as you type.

4. "Beautiful by Default"

Typst aims to eliminate the need for endless tweaking of preamble settings to get a professional look. Its default styles for headings, paragraphs, lists, and equations are designed according to typographic best practices, so documents look polished right from the start.

5. Native Features

Typst includes robust support for essential academic and technical writing features out of the box, without requiring extra packages:

• Advanced mathematical typesetting (similar to LaTeX).
• Bibliography management.
• Complex tables and figures.
• Vector graphics drawing (you can script diagrams directly within Typst).

Summary Comparison

In short, Typst is positioned as the modern successor to LaTeX. It is particularly attractive to academics, engineers, scientists, and students who need the power to handle complex documents (like theses or technical papers) but want a faster, more intuitive, and less frustrating experience than LaTeX provides.