TeX Distribution Help

# What is TeX

TeX is a typesetting language. Instead of visually formatting your text, you type your manuscript text combined with commands in a plain text file. You then run TeX to produce the final layout. Thus, in contrast to standard word processors, the source (TeX commands) is a separate file that does not pretend to be a representation of the final typeset document, and thus can be edited by any text editor. For example, `\mathrm{e}^{i\pi}=-1` gives whereas

`\mathrm{H}_{2}\mathrm{CO}_{3}\stackrel{\mathrm{heat}}{\longrightarrow}\mathrm{H}_{2}\mathrm{O}+\mathrm{CO}_{2}`

gives after processing .

## Here are some links that we hope will help with further background:

Very basic explanation of editing, typesetting, word processing, etc., and how TeX fits in the picture. (Courtesy of Gerben Wierda.)

The Pointers to Frequently Asked Questions document provides a brief general overview of the TeX system.

The Wikipedia encyclopedia article on TeX provides a somewhat more detailed overview.

The complete page from which this topic is inspired.