I’ve spent the last few weeks putting together a Typst handbook that grew out of my own learning notes. It’s in Italian, and I’m slowly translating it into English as well. (It’s called, quite modestly, Typst: From Zero to Hero)
It covers everything from the basics to more advanced topics like show rules, packages, presentations, python, and automation workflows.
I finally decided to make it public in case it can help other people learning.
Very nice project! After 30 years of TeX wizardry I am evetually switching to Typst so I’ll probably ready your handbook in the next few days. In case I have any correction/suggestion (I am a native italian speaker) I’ll open and issue on GitHub. In the meantime, thank you!
Looking good! Are you making the English translation accessible for contributors as well? I couldn’t see it on GitHub. I have to ask, was there a particular reason for keeping everything in a single .typ file?
Hi, thank you so much! I wanted to keep things as simple as possible. Having just one file helps demonstrate how fast Typst is, and it keeps things from getting too confusing for new students (especially if they’ve never programmed or used LaTeX or similar tools before). That’s why, in the manual, I also explain how to build and organize a project. I’m working on the English translation; it will be available soon on GitHub.
I promised some feedback, so here It Is. Note that I read the handbook just after reading all the available official documentario (evaluating Typst adoption for our company, but that’s another story) so It Is not as if I read It as a complete novice.
The first half Is OK even if that kind of information can be found in the official tutorial. It does not add anything extra but, especially for italian-first users Is a nice introduction .
The second part Is good and I really mean it. The same information Is available frombthe official docs but It Is scattered around, half in the tutorial, half in the reference. Having everything well-organized in a series of chapters is really nice. I especially liked the final part about automation. Also presenting some real-world packages and template Is a nice touch, especially for non-technical people that are not used to package catalogues likes universe and after a tutorial get bit stuck on the “and now?” question…
In the end, thank you, I’ll surely suggest your handbook to my LaTeX-oriented universiy friends. :)
This is a huge amount of effort you’re sharing @CRStefano and I thank you for making it available as source. Just reading through the source itself is quite helpful because buried within it are the secrets as to how the PDF looks so compelling, even beautiful. That is the nicest-looking PDF I have seen in a long time. It’s not sterile. It’s inviting.
And that invitation is so helplful. I’ve been plowing through the PDF and find myself learning more about Typst as I go. I thought I knew Typst until I started reading your tome.
The world is a better place with you in it, noble @CRStefano.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind words; they truly moved me.
It is a huge satisfaction to know that my work is not only useful but also conveys the care I wanted to pour into it.
Knowing that the code is helping you discover new ways of writing is the greatest reward I could have received.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this to me; it means a lot.
I am always open to any feedback or issues, and I correct the handbook immediately, so if you find anything, I am here!
)