Key Facts
- ✓ Vitaly is writing the largest mathematics book for grades 4–11.
- ✓ The book is written in LaTeX to ensure it is not black-and-white and is convenient for students and teachers.
- ✓ Compilation is mainly done with pdflatex, though lualatex is required for certain parts.
- ✓ Vitaly has created approximately 35 style files for use in the preamble.
Quick Summary
Vitaly, an author currently writing a large mathematics textbook for students in grades 4 through 11, has shared insights into his production process. He utilizes LaTeX to create educational materials, arguing that a modern textbook should not be limited to black-and-white visuals. Instead, he believes it must be convenient for use by both students and teachers. In this article, he presents a collection of basic features he employs in his writing.
The compilation of his documents relies primarily on pdflatex, though specific sections require the use of lualatex. To streamline his workflow, Vitaly has developed approximately 35 distinct style files. However, for the purpose of this article, he has provided complete code snippets to allow readers to implement these features immediately. He also mentions that a future post will introduce even more advanced functions.
The Vision for Modern Textbooks
The project centers on the belief that educational resources must evolve beyond traditional formats. Vitaly emphasizes that the goal is to create a book that serves as a practical tool rather than just a reading assignment. By utilizing LaTeX, the author aims to ensure that the material is not only visually appealing but also structurally sound. The focus is on the usability of the final product, ensuring that it meets the needs of the modern classroom environment where both digital and print formats are relevant.
Key aspects of this vision include:
- Moving away from strictly black-and-white presentation.
- Ensuring the layout is user-friendly for students.
- Maintaining accessibility for teachers who need to reference the material quickly.
This approach highlights the importance of the toolset used in the creation process. The choice of software and coding practices directly impacts the final quality of the educational content.
"I believe that a modern textbook should not be black-and-white, as well as should be convenient for use by both the student and the teacher."
— Vitaly, Textbook Author
Technical Implementation
When discussing the technical side of the project, Vitaly details the specific tools required to replicate his results. The primary compilation engine used is pdflatex. However, the author notes that certain advanced features or specific environments within the document necessitate the use of lualatex. This distinction is important for anyone attempting to use the provided code, as the choice of engine can affect the rendering of fonts and graphics.
To manage the complexity of a large textbook, the author has organized his work into modular components. Specifically, he has created a library of approximately 35 style files. These files contain definitions and settings used in the document preamble. By separating these configurations, the main document remains cleaner and easier to maintain. However, the article presents the code in a self-contained format. This ensures that readers can copy and paste the examples directly into their own editors to see immediate results without needing to set up a complex file structure first.
Practical Tips and Future Developments
The core of the article is the presentation of basic features that enhance the look and feel of a document. Vitaly categorizes these as 'tricks'—some used frequently, others more rarely. He explicitly states that while he will try to describe everything in detail, he does not guarantee that the code provided is 'perfect' in every possible scenario. It serves as a starting point for others to build upon. The goal is to share knowledge that helps others avoid common pitfalls in document preparation.
Looking ahead, the author hints at further content. He mentions that a subsequent post will cover functions that are even 'cooler' or more advanced than those presented here. This suggests a series of tutorials or insights into the LaTeX workflow for educational publishing. The current article serves as the foundation, introducing the basic concepts and the philosophy behind the project.
"I made about 35 style files for use in the preamble, but here I wrote the full code so that in each case you can run 'out of the box'."
— Vitaly, Textbook Author
