Typst, the document processor that aims to replace LaTeX, has landed two major updates in its latest release. Version 0.15 adds support for variable fonts and MathML, and introduces a “bundle” feature that lets authors specify a collection of output files in any format Typst supports from a single source document. The project is free software, licensed under Apache-2.0, and written in Rust.
The update follows a year of quiet development since our last look at Typst, which reached version 0.13. The new release brings the project closer to parity with LaTeX on technical documents, while also expanding its reach into web publishing.
Variable Fonts: One File, Many Weights
Most fonts ship as a set of separate files, each representing a different weight, style, or variation. That approach wastes storage and complicates design work. Variable fonts solve both problems by packing all those variations into a single file.
Each variation is controlled through an “axis,” a setting that adjusts some aspect of the rendered glyphs. Some axes have discrete values, turning features on or off. Others have continuous values, letting designers slide a setting between two limits.
Typst’s documentation demonstrates the feature with two open-source variable fonts. Roboto Flex, a general-purpose typeface with 13 axes, lets users adjust its descenders. The YTDE axis, as shown in a screenshot, controls how long the tails of lowercase letters extend, which can help avoid collisions in tables.
Zycon is a more unusual choice. It contains no letters at all, only 17 small decorative pictures, and six continuous axes that alter the pictures smoothly. The M1 axis, named with a trailing space, changes the lunar phase of the Moon glyph, making the font useful for animations.
The demo code shows how Typst handles the two fonts side by side. A loop sets the variations for each glyph, and the output appears as a PDF in vfont.pdf. The descender axis in Roboto Flex, as illustrated, determines the length of the font’s tails while leaving other characteristics unchanged.
MathML Export: TeX-Quality Equations in Browsers
HTML export remains experimental in Typst, but the new release shows significant progress. The headline feature is MathML translation, which renders mathematical markup directly in web pages.
The comparison is stark. A definite integral rendered as PDF in the previous article now appears as a long string of MathML markup in HTML. Current web browsers know how to interpret that markup, so the output looks nearly identical to the PDF version.
That matters for scientific communication. Authors can produce TeX-quality equations without relying on JavaScript libraries like MathJax in most cases, or resorting to images. The flag to enable the experimental HTML output is simple:
typst c --features html integral.typ integral.html
That command takes a Typst file called integral.typ and renders it into HTML.
The Bundle Feature: One Source, Many Formats
Typst has always been about single documents — papers, books, PDFs. The bundle feature changes that. Now authors can specify a collection of output files in any format Typst supports, all generated from a single source document.
The files can share data and contain both intra-document and inter-document links. That makes it ideal for web sites, which are networks of HTML files tied together. Academics could also use it to generate a slide deck for a conference talk alongside the associated preprint, from one source file.
The example in the announcement builds three interlinked documents: two HTML pages and a PDF, sharing a fragment of text. The excerpt comes from Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky,” a famous nonsense poem.
The setup is straightforward. A let statement defines the text, and the document blocks wrap it in HTML pages with titles and links. The home link points back to the main page, and the jabberwockyPDF link points to the PDF version of the poem.
What This Means for Writers
The variable-font support gives designers finer control over typography. The ability to adjust descenders dynamically could be particularly useful for complex layouts like tables, where descenders often collide with cell boundaries.
MathML support removes a major friction point for anyone publishing technical content online. In most cases, authors can skip images of equations or heavy JavaScript libraries. The HTML output is native, readable in most browsers, and indistinguishable from the PDF rendering.
The bundle feature is the practical payoff. A researcher who writes a paper can now generate the final PDF, a web version, and a slide deck from one file. The links work across all three formats, so readers can jump between the PDF and the HTML without losing context.
Comparing the New Features
| Feature | What It Does | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Variable fonts | Single-file support for multiple weights and styles | Live in 0.15 |
| MathML export | Render TeX-quality equations as native web markup | Experimental in 0.15 |
| Bundle output | Generate multiple formats from one source file | Live in 0.15 |
Key Facts Box
- Version: 0.15, released in June
- License: Apache-2.0
- Language: Rust
- Formats supported: PDF, SVG, PNG, HTML (experimental)
- Fonts used in demo: Roboto Flex (13 axes), Zycon (17 pictures, 6 axes)
- MathML flag:
--features html
The Road Ahead
HTML export remains experimental, which means it is not yet ready for production use. The feature exists, but it is labeled as work in progress. For now, the variable fonts and bundle features are the headline additions.
The project has made real strides since our last check. The combination of variable fonts, TeX-quality math, and multi-format bundling positions Typst as a serious alternative to LaTeX for technical writing.
The announcement is a reminder that open-source tools keep moving forward. Typst is not a finished product, but it is a capable one, and the pace of development suggests it will continue to improve.
The new release offers real conveniences for anyone who writes papers, books, or web pages.
Source material: “Typst makes big strides,” lwn.net.
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