LaTeX3 Programming Conventions ============================== Release 2020-02-25 Overview -------- The files of the `l3kernel` bundle provide a low-level API for TeX programmers with special syntax conventions, completely separating it from document level syntax. Hence, the commands provided are not intended for use at the document level nor for use in describing design layouts in document class files. This API provides the foundation on which the LaTeX3 kernel and other advanced extensions are built. Special care has been taken so that they can be used within a LaTeX2e context as regular packages. While `l3kernel` is still experimental, the bundle is now regarded as broadly stable. The syntax conventions and functions provided are now ready for wider use. There may still be changes to some functions, but these will be minor when compared to the scope of `l3kernel`. Programmers making use of `l3kernel` are *strongly* encouraged to subscribe to the LaTeX-L mailing list (see below): announcements concerning the deprecation or modification of functions are made on the list. Requirements ------------ The `l3kernel` bundle requires the e-TeX extensions and additional functionality to support string comparisons, expandable character generation with arbitrary category codes (for Unicode engines) and PDF support primitives (where direct PDF generation is used). The bundle only works with the following engines: * pdfTeX v1.40 or later * XeTeX v0.99992 or later * LuaTeX v0.76 or later * e-(u)pTeX from mid-2012 onward pdfTeX v1.40 was released in 2007, and so any recent TeX distribution supports `l3kernel`. Both XeTeX and LuaTeX have developed more actively over the past few years, and for this reason only recent releases of these engines are supported. (Engine developers should contact the team for detailed discussion about primitive requirements.) Discussion ---------- Discussion concerning the approach, suggestions for improvements, changes, additions, _etc._ should be addressed to the list [LaTeX-L](https://listserv.uni-heidelberg.de/cgi-bin/wa?A0=LATEX-L). You can subscribe to this list by sending mail to listserv@urz.uni-heidelberg.de with the body containing subscribe LATEX-L Issues ------ The issue tracker for LaTeX3 is currently located [on GitHub](https://github.com/latex3/latex3/issues). Please report specific issues with LaTeX3 code there; more general discussion should be directed to the [LaTeX-L list](#Discussion). The LaTeX3 Project ------------------ Development of LaTeX3 is carried out by [The LaTeX3 Project](https://www.latex-project.org/latex3/). The development team can be contacted by e-mail: ; for general LaTeX3 discussion the [LaTeX-L list](#Discussion) should be used. -----

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