Abstracts
New proposals (and requests) should be addressed to Taco Hoekwater.
ValentinE-typo: from AsciiDoc to ConTeXt
Götz SCHNELL
The goal of the development of ValentinE-typo is to serve two use cases, 1) to facilitate the creation of ConTeXt files and 2) to produce PDF output in typograhic quality from AsciiDoc files.
The concept of ValentinE-typo is to provide monolithic converter files. These converter files, called typo-theme, define the style of text elements, the use of colors and fonts, and the document type.
We present the challenges for the development, the great number of syntax rules and variations, and the management of AsciiDoc and ConTeXt special characters.
Several methods to include additional ConTeXt content are presented and discussed.
Another important topic is an overview of various tools helping in the creation of the AsciiDoc source document.
Where to draw the line
Hans Hagen
As a follow up on the rather fundamental math overhaul in LuaMetaTeX and ConTeXt, we had to check what the consequences were for tagging (in pdf) and the export (MathML). We looked at the latest specifications of both and in the process had to make decisions what to support and where to stop. Especially when these technologies failed us we decided to draw some lines. It makes no sense to waste time when the results will never be (handled) okay.
MathML
ConTeXt always supported MathML. There is a bit activity on that front when it comes to browsers, although there is the usual instability, inconsistency, come and go of support and features. What is the current state.
Tagging
Do we need to support tagged pdf beyond the bare minimum? How reliable is it and what purpose does it server. We will demonstrate some and also want to trigger a discussion. What role does validation play in this and how relevant is it?
CSL
There has been mentioning on the list of CSL (citation related). There is some experimental code, which is good enough for a discussion on how to proceed. Where to start and where to stop.
How does TeX fit in the current landscape
Hans Hagen
The program is part of a tradition of typesetting that although spanning ages is not that old. When (semi) automatic techniques showed up that also meant a faster getting obsolete process. When we look at the landscape we see for instance church towers, castles and wind mills but newer tech is less stable (even the water tower where we have the meeting is a rarity). Semaphores, office buildings, mills for electricity, phones, computers etc get replaced within decades. So how about TeX? What do we need to do in order to preserve what is worth preserving? Do we need to make choices? (Also a discussion wrt the ConTeXt roadmap.)
PDF 2.0
Hans Hagen
This standard has been around for a while and hasn't received much attention, probably because it doesn't bring much new on top of 1.7 (the last in the 1 series). There is some follow up on tagging, validating and signing. In the process of checking this out we also added some features to pdf inclusion: checking, cleaning, merging etc. There can be several talks, discussion, drawing roadmaps: this is typically something where those present at the meeting set the agenda.
Compact fonts
Hans Hagen
It has been mentioned in the mailing list a few times, but what are compact fonts in ConTeXt? I will show some of the features that LuaMetaTeX brings to fonts, and discuss how we benefit from it. With the help of users testing compact mode is already for a while reliable enough for production. It might be interesting to know what the complications are (were) that we deal with and what benefits it brings.
The distribution
Hans Hagen
How is a ConTeXt distribution made (generated) and how can it be hosted locally. What role does the compile farm play and how much is involved in maintenance of the code and resources. (It can be a prelude to a garden based installer.)
The par builder
Hans Hagen
The extended multiple sub-pass par builder has been stable for a while now. This presentation explains how the par builder works, how it got extended and how users can benefit from it (and related new features). After all, the par builder is one of the center pieces of TeX.
The page builder
Hans Hagen
We're currently looking at the page builder. This sub mechanism has already been extended over time, also as part of extending the par builder. Users are invited to come up with possible extensions (as long as they fit into the TeX model).
(Lua)Metafun
Hans Hagen
What's new, what is needed, what do we have on the agenda.
Improvements
Hans Hagen
We don't provide a detailed change log which means that occasional improvements go unnoticed unless a user diffs an update (and some do). I'll mention a few recent ones but challenge those present to come up with ones they noticed (for the good or bad). We can also discuss possible improvements because a lot of TeXing is in the subtle details, of rendering as well as comfort.
Making Books, part I: Keeping Up
Henning Hraban Ramm
I’d like to show you the books I made since last year: two more issues of our architectural guide booklets (as presented in last year’s ConTeXt meeting and TUG), another workbook for creative writing, a volume of poetry, a fat novel. Maybe you’ll find a few of the solutions interesting that I found for detail problems.
My book on ConTeXt is also nearing completion. I learned a lot and still know nothing.
Making Books, part II: Tools for Ideas
Henning Hraban Ramm
About my own novel, I’ll outline the process from the first ideas to the (now more or less finished) first volume. Helpful tools, lessons learned.
Since music is somewhat important in the book, I might sing a song or two.
Making Books, part III: The Medium is the Messenger
Henning Hraban Ramm
My novel includes several messenger chats that I wanted to typeset similarly to the app display – welcome to a new module for ConTeXt.
How to write a ConTeXt module
Wolfgang Schuster & Henning Hraban Ramm
* How the namespace and setup stuff works
* When it makes sense to use variables, macros or parameters
* How to use the namespace for internally used MP graphics, environments, buffers etc.
Publishing a journal for calculator enthusiasts using Context
Bruce Horrocks
Abstract
Live Coding and ConTeXt
Riviera Taylor
In live coding performances artists create music and / or render graphics with purpose-built software. Tidal Cycles, the live coding software I use, was created by Alex McLean almost 20 years ago. Tidal Cycles can be used in tandem with Superdirt, a Supercollider extension, to sequence audio samples or synthesise sounds and thus generate sonic patterns. I'll demonstrate this, discuss the Open Sound Control specification and show how Tidal Cycles can be used to live code ConTeXt documents.
ConTeXt language editor support
Taco Hoekwater / community discussion
I put this in as a placeholder for talking about how to support ConTeXt in editing environments: Language Server Protocol, tree-sitter, AucTeX, specific editor extensions, et cetera.
Tools for calculations from the old age until now
Willi Egger & Bruce Horrocks
In connection to the math work performed by Hans and Mikael we can have a look at the development and use of tools for calculations. This presentation has three parts. Willi will talk about the history of tool development for calculations and Bruce will show some of the developments of electronic calculators. In the third part we will have a workshop again in order to be able to play…
Making a Generative Art Book: Fun with MetaPost, MetaFun, and LuaMetaFun
Keith McKay
In this presentation I will be describing how I prepared a generative art book of asemic writing using ConTeXt.
The term asemic, in its simplest form, has been defined as something with 'no specific semantic content',
so we can then say that asemic writing has 'no semantic content' or, in plain terms 'writing without meaning'.
In many ways asemic writing looks like doodling or just random marks of a piece of paper but it is considered
an abstract art form in its own right, because even though it is defined as having no meaning many people see
meaning in it, as in many other form of abstract art.
I shall show some of the code used to generate my book 'Asemic Diagrams: Computer Generated Asemic Drawings', the book's structure,
and discuss how I would do it now using some of the techniques in the latest LuaMetaFun manual. At the heart of the these drawings
is the use of a random number generator that is used to make paths asemic which in turn emulates asemic writing.
Finally, I will show some examples of my coded and hand-written asemic writing.
Felt workshop'
Annalies Otten
Starting point are the figures that Hans used for the Christmas card. Participants make a laptop felt. That is a protective piece between the keyboard and the screen: well known are the keys that you can see in the screen as a result of the 'finger-greasy' keys that 'etch' the screen.
Math4All
Frits Spijkers
Frits is the main author of Math4All. He will tell us something about Math4All and his work method. He works directly in XML and publishes that to the Math4All website.
Kaktovik numbers
Frits Spijkers
Calculating with the Kaktovik numbers and the Kaktovik abacus. Mechanical Intelligence as a counterpart to AI.
Updating the ConTeXt distribution for Math4All
Ton Otten
In Math4All we produce PDFs in an XML2PDF workflow. We use a 2022 distribution. It is now time to update to 2024. What do I encounter? Indeed: page flow differences, in a 20,000 page project with multiple layouts.
A day at Pragma ADE
Ton Otten
What does a day at Pragma look like. Where is ConTeXt made.
Seven segment font in Metapost
Hans Hagen
A demonstration on how to create a seven segment font in Metapost.