Retro Editor

Hrm… I have a paper assigned for my Computer Security class, which in and of itself is interesting to have a paper due in a CS class, but on to the real point. This paper must be written in .tex format. My first reaction was .tex, what is this? As it turns out, .tex is a computer scientists answer to word. Most word processors, like word, assume the user is a master of page layout. Given the results, they were wrong. Most people, myself included have problems making “centered” text actually look centered when you print it, let alone staying within the strict requirements that the IEEE has on submitting papers. One possible solution is addressed by the .tex format: keep the writer out of the page layout thing entirely. There is a template online that has all the margins and stuff defined, then it is compiled into a pdf. Yes, that is compiled. A compiler for a document. It even has unknown identifier errors. Anyways I digress…

Assuming the paper does not segfault when you open it, it looks really good after compilation. You wind up with margins in the right place, columnd, tables and even math notation all looking right without ever having to deal with a paperclip (or even a lightbulb). It handles page numbering and the positioning of figures “magically” so that it looks good. Leave it up to the computer scientists to make a way of writing english that feels like programming.

Yes, I know latex is like 20 years old, but hey it’s new to me….