Thwack is a software that enables typesetting engine functions. Formerly known as Trhack, it offers advanced features to layout and design documents efficiently.
Thwack (formerly Trhack) is an innovative typesetting engine software that accepts troff input and produces either Ditroff output or XSL-FO output. Although it is still in the early stages of development and missing several features, its development is progressing rapidly.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Thwack is its easy-to-use programming internals. It utilizes an internal SAX2-like interface, including namespace support, for parsing and converting data. This interface allows Thwack to emit valid XML, even in troff mode, which is beneficial when creating macro packages that emit DocBook. Thwack can also emit limited XSL-FO.
While Thwack can produce fairly sensible, but unattractive output using the -me and -ms macros, it does not come with its version of macro packages. Instead, it relies on the groff versions. The team behind Thwack plans to include XSL-FO input, full troff typesetting, and a shared library, while also considering PostScript and PDF output.
The first Thwack milestone is basic troff to XSL-FO output. The team releases updates quite frequently with the motto "Release early, release often." The latest version of Thwack features additional correctness fixes, -me macros for DocBook, sourcing capabilities, more implemented requests, and a more functional compatibility mode.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Thwack is its easy-to-use programming internals. It utilizes an internal SAX2-like interface, including namespace support, for parsing and converting data. This interface allows Thwack to emit valid XML, even in troff mode, which is beneficial when creating macro packages that emit DocBook. Thwack can also emit limited XSL-FO.
While Thwack can produce fairly sensible, but unattractive output using the -me and -ms macros, it does not come with its version of macro packages. Instead, it relies on the groff versions. The team behind Thwack plans to include XSL-FO input, full troff typesetting, and a shared library, while also considering PostScript and PDF output.
The first Thwack milestone is basic troff to XSL-FO output. The team releases updates quite frequently with the motto "Release early, release often." The latest version of Thwack features additional correctness fixes, -me macros for DocBook, sourcing capabilities, more implemented requests, and a more functional compatibility mode.
What's New
Version 10: N/A