--- Erik Moeller erik_moeller@gmx.de wrote:
No. I'm not going to implement that and I'm strongly against such feature. http://test.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_we_can%27t_just_use_LaTeX
I tend to agree here, let's stick with the current solution until we find a problem we cannot solve otherwise. This addition was primarily intended for mathematics,
Well, if so, it might have been a good idea to involve more of the people who are actually active in Wikipedia's math area. Right now, Toby and I have both stated that we are not too fond of the texvc approach.
Do we really *want* people to draw diagrams etc. in LaTeX? Or shouldn't they just upload them as images?
Or why not upload formulas as images, and be done with the whole debate?
No, people should definitely be able to create math formulas, chess diagrams, chemical structure diagrams, music scores and flow charts in LaTeX, because that's the wiki way: these graphics can then be modified by directly editing the source code, while uploaded images can only be redrawn from scratch or pixel edited. Granted, the TeX syntax is often obscure, but change a little bit here, preview, change a bit there, preview, and you figure it out. And unlike texvc, it's widely used and there are tutorials all over the place.
Arguably, the GFDL requires that if I create a graphic with some scriptable software such as gnuplot, latex, ChemSketch or gimp, I am required to make available the modifiable source code used to produce the picture. Legalities aside, it is always a good idea to do so; what better way than to simply upload *only* the source code and let Wikipedia deal with the compilation and presentation.
it's just gibberish, and I'm afraid people might start using it as a replacement for things that are currently not supported by our wiki- syntax. One of these things is a powerful table and image layout syntax.
Image layout and table support is currently available on Wikipedia with HTML syntax, simpler and more powerful than TeX's gibberish table support. I don't see how this makes an argument against TeX. What other examples did you have in mind?
Axel
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