Typst 0.13 released with semantic paragraphs, improved outlines & curves, and much more

Laurenz Mädje has announced the release of version 0.13 of Typst, a markup-based typesetting system for the sciences designed to be an alternative both to advanced tools like LaTeX and simpler tools like Word and Google Docs. Typst 0.13 introduces several improvements aimed at enhancing the user experience and flexibility of the tool, but also focuses on fixing longstanding bugs, optimizing day-to-day tasks, and adding new features.

A major update is the introduction of semantic paragraphs, which better distinguish paragraphs from other text elements, allowing for improved formatting and accessibility. This update also enables consistent first-line indentation across all paragraphs, which addresses a highly requested feature.

The update also improves Typst’s outline functionality, making it more visually appealing and customizable. Additionally, Typst introduces a new curve function for drawing Bézier paths, which simplifies the process and enhances flexibility for graphic creation. Furthermore, file handling has been revamped to allow raw byte input for files like images and data, streamlining the document creation process.

For developers, Typst 0.13 offers new capabilities like runtime image generation from raw pixel data and a preview of HTML export. The update also boosts the speed of plugins and introduces several other quality-of-life changes. These improvements make Typst more powerful and user-friendly, enhancing both aesthetic and functional aspects of document creation.