Typst Has a Free API: A Modern Alternative to LaTeX for Technical Documents

#latex #typesetting #writing #programming

Typst is a markup-based typesetting system designed as a modern alternative to LaTeX. It compiles in milliseconds, has a built-in scripting language, and produces publication-quality PDFs.

Why Typst Matters

LaTeX is 40 years old. Its error messages are cryptic, compilation is slow, and the learning curve is steep. Typst offers the same typesetting quality with instant compilation and readable syntax.

What you get for free:

Millisecond compilation (vs minutes for LaTeX)
Readable syntax (Markdown-like)
Built-in scripting language for dynamic content
Auto-completion and error messages that make sense
Bibliography management
Math typesetting on par with LaTeX
SVG, PNG, and PDF output
Templates and packages

Quick Start

# Install
cargo install --locked typst-cli

# Compile to PDF
typst compile document.typ

# Watch mode (recompile on save)
typst watch document.typ

# Or use the web editor at typst.app

Basic Document

#set page(paper: "a4")
#set text(font: "New Computer Modern", size: 11pt)
#set heading(numbering: "1.1")

= Introduction

This is a *Typst* document. It compiles in _milliseconds_.

== Why Typst

LaTeX takes minutes. Typst takes milliseconds.

- Modern syntax
- Instant feedback
- Better error messages

=== Sub-section

Code blocks work naturally:

python
def hello():
print("Hello from Typst!")


== Math

Inline math: $E = m c^2$

Display math:
$ integral_0^infinity e^(-x^2) d x = sqrt(pi) / 2 $

$ sum_(k=0)^n binom(n, k) x^k y^(n-k) = (x + y)^n $

plaintext

Scripting

// Variables and computation
#let project_name = "My Research"
#let version = 3
#let date = datetime.today().display("[month repr:long] [day], [year]")

// Functions
#let alert(body) = {
  block(
    fill: rgb("#fff3cd"),
    inset: 12pt,
    radius: 4pt,
    [*Warning:* #body]
  )
}

= #project_name v#version

Generated on #date.

#alert[This is a draft document.]

// Loops
#for i in range(1, 6) {
  [Chapter #i: TBD\ ]
}

// Conditionals
#if version >= 3 [
  This is the latest version.
] else [
  Please update to the latest version.
]

Tables

#table(
  columns: (auto, 1fr, 1fr, 1fr),
  inset: 8pt,
  align: center,
  [*Language*], [*Compile Time*], [*Error Quality*], [*Year*],
  [LaTeX], [Minutes], [Cryptic], [1984],
  [Typst], [Milliseconds], [Clear], [2023],
  [Markdown], [Fast], [N/A], [2004],
  [Groff], [Fast], [Moderate], [1990],
)

Academic Paper Template

#set document(
  title: "Novel Approach to Widget Optimization",
  author: "A. Researcher",
)

#set page(margin: (x: 2.5cm, y: 2.5cm))
#set text(font: "New Computer Modern", size: 11pt)
#set par(justify: true, leading: 0.65em)
#set heading(numbering: "1.1")

// Title block
#align(center)[
  #text(17pt, weight: "bold")[Novel Approach to Widget Optimization]

  #text(12pt)[A. Researcher]\
  #text(10pt, style: "italic")[University of Examples]\
  #text(10pt)[researcher\@example.edu]

  #v(1em)
  *Abstract*\
  #text(size: 10pt)[
    We present a novel approach to optimizing widgets
    that achieves 3x improvement over existing methods.
  ]
]

= Introduction

Widgets are fundamental to modern computing @smith2024.

= Methodology

Our approach uses the following formula:

$ W_("opt") = argmin_(w in cal(W)) sum_(i=1)^N L(f(x_i; w), y_i) + lambda ||w||_2^2 $

= Results

#figure(
  table(
    columns: 3,
    [*Method*], [*Accuracy*], [*Speed*],
    [Baseline], [72.3%], [100ms],
    [Ours], [91.7%], [34ms],
  ),
  caption: [Comparison of methods],
)

#bibliography("refs.bib")