Experimental LaTeX3 Concepts

Release 2024-03-14

Overview

The l3experimental packages are a collection of experimental implementations for aspects of the LaTeX3 kernel, dealing with higher-level ideas such as the Designer Interface. Some of them work as stand alone packages, providing new functionality, and can be used on top of LaTeX2ε with no changes to the existing kernel. Others go further, and redefine LaTeX2ε internals to provide better methods for managing certain constructs. The packages in the collection are under active development and the interfaces may change.

All of the material in the collection requires the LaTeX3 base layer package l3kernel. The two packages must be installed in matching versions: if you update l3experimental, make sure that l3kernel is updated at the same time.

Currently included in the CTAN release of l3experimental are the following bundles:

• l3benchmark
• l3draw
• l3graphics
• l3opacity
• l3str
• xcoffins
• xgalley

l3benchmark

This module provides support for benchmarking the performance of code.

l3draw

This module provides a code-level interface for constructing drawings. The interfaces are heavily inspired by the pgf layer of the widely-used TikZ system.

l3graphics

This module provides interfaces for the inclusion of graphics files in documents, similar to the graphics package.

l3opacity

This module provides support for opacity in PDF output.

l3str

A 'string' in TeX terms is a token list in which all of the tokens have category code 12 ('other'), with the exception of spaces which have the category code 10 ('space'). The l3str-format module provides methods for formatting such strings.

xcoffins

A coffin is a 'box with handles': a data structure which comprises both a TeX box and associated information to allow controlled typesetting. The xcoffins package provides a high-level interface for manipulating coffins. This is supported by the lower-level l3coffins package, which provides the data structure.

xgalley

In LaTeX3 terminology a galley is a rectangular area which receives text and other material filling it from top. The vertically extend of a galley is normally not restricted: instead certain chunks are taken off the top of an already partially filled galley to form columns or similar areas on a page. This process is typically asynchronous but there are ways to control or change its behaviour. The xgalley module provides a mechanism for filling galleys and controlling the spacing, hyphenation and justification within them.

Discussion

Discussion concerning the approach, suggestions for improvements, changes, additions, etc. should be addressed to the list LaTeX-L.

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Issues

The issue tracker for LaTeX3 is currently located on GitHub.

Please report specific issues with LaTeX3 code there; more general discussion should be directed to the LaTeX-L list.

The LaTeX Project

Development of LaTeX3 is carried out by The LaTeX Project.

The development team can be contacted by e-mail: <latex-team@latex-project.org>; for general LaTeX3 discussion the LaTeX-L list should be used.

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