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Date:         Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:21:51 +0100
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From: Javier Bezos <listas@TEX-TIPOGRAFIA.COM>
Subject: Re: "Microkernel" comments
To: LATEX-L@LISTSERV.UNI-HEIDELBERG.DE
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Status: R

Robin:

> it's got to be written _somehow_; admittedly, one hopes that the group
> of skilled lua-writers will be larger than that of (xe|lua)tex
> internals-writers, but when you're aiming for support from a crowd, it's
> often more difficult to motivate *anyone* to do a particular job.
> 
> remember that a good proportion of (current) tex users don't program
> (whether from lack of skill or lack of inclination), so there will
> always remain the reservoir of people for whom *anything* new must be
> written for them.

Indeed, but I'm quite surprised to see the work already done by
Hans et al., who are going to adapt some Context related stuff
for general use. Perhaps one of the best things about LuaTeX
is its developers are actually using it in production. And
since Lua is a very very readable language, with libraries
already available and modern in concept, I think people will
find easier writing new extensions. Not my favourite language,
but programming in Lua is fun. (This reminds me a teacher who
teaches TeX even before Pascal because he believes if you are
able to understand TeX, then you'll understand anything.)

>> And... LuaTeX or XeTeX are essential for non English documents. The
>> age of active characters, at last, coming to its end.
> 
> amen to that!
> 
> there will always be people who'll want things (on the edge of the
> possible) that could usefully done with active characters, but perhaps
> with a larger repertoire of capabilities they'll manage more sensible
> ways of going about their tasks.

Of course, but at least active chars won't be required for
such simple tasks any longer.

Cheers
Javier