\section{Introduction}
\label{sec:intro}

\subsection{\TeX\ Live and the \TeX\ Collection}

This document describes the main features of the \TL{} software
distribution\Dash \TeX{} and related programs for \acro{GNU}/Linux
and other Unix flavors, \MacOSX, and Windows systems.

You may have acquired \TL{} by downloading, or on the \TK{} \DVD,
which \TeX{} usergroups distribute among their members. Section
\ref{sec:multiple-dist} briefly describes the contents of this \DVD.
Both \TL{} and the \TK{} are cooperative efforts by the \TeX{} user
groups. This document mainly describes \TL{} itself.

\TL{} includes executables for \TeX{}, \LaTeXe{}, \ConTeXt,
\MF, \MP, \BibTeX{} and many other programs; an extensive collection
of macros, fonts and documentation; and support for typesetting in
many different scripts from around the world.

\TL{} packages are regularly updated from
\acro{CTAN}: \url{http://www.ctan.org}.

For a brief summary of the major changes in this edition of \TL{},
see the end of the document, section~\ref{sec:history}
(\p.\pageref{sec:history}).

\subsection{Operating system support}
\label{sec:os_support}

\TL{} contains binaries for many Linux- and Unix architectures,
including \MacOSX.  The included sources should enable installation
on additional Linux- and Unix platforms.

As to Windows: only Windows 2000 and later are supported. Windows
9\textit{x}, ME and NT have been dropped. Because of this
restriction, Windows requires less special treatment compared to
Linux and Unix. There are no 64-bit executables for Windows, but the
32-bit executables should run on 64-bit systems.

See section~\ref{sec:multiple-dist} for alternate solutions
for Windows and \MacOSX.

\subsection{Basic usage of \protect\TL{}}
\label{sec:basic}

You can install \TL{} either from \DVD{} or over the internet. The
net installer itself is very small and downloads everything needed
from the internet. The net installer is an attractive option if you
need only a fraction of the complete \TL.

The \DVD{} installer lets you install to a local disk, but you can
also run \TL{} directly from the \DVD{} (or from a \DVD{} image, if
your system supports that).

\noindent This is described in the
installation sections following, but here is a quick start:

\begin{itemize*}

\item The installation script is \filename{install-tl}, which has
both a text mode (default for Unix) and a \GUI{} mode (default for
Windows).

\item One of the installed items is \prog{tlmgr} or \TL\ Manager,
  which can also be used in \GUI{} mode and in text mode. You can
  use it to install and uninstall packages and do various
  configuration tasks.

\end{itemize*}


\subsection{Getting help}
\label{sec:help}

The \TeX{} community is both active and friendly, and virtually all
serious questions end up getting answered.  However, the support is
informal, done by volunteers and casual readers, so it's especially
important that you do your homework before asking.  (If you prefer
guaranteed commercial support, you can forego \TL{} completely and
purchase a vendor's system; \url{http://tug.org/interest.html#vendors}
has a list.)

Here is a list of resources, approximately in the order we recommend
using them:

\begin{description}
\item [Getting Started] If you are new to \TeX, the web page
\url{http://tug.org/begin.html} gives a brief introduction to the system.

\item [\TeX{} \acro{FAQ}] The \TeX{} \acro{FAQ} is a huge compendium of
answers to all sorts of questions, from the most basic to the most
arcane.  It is included on \TL{} in \OnCD{texmf-doc/doc/english/FAQ-en}, and is
available on the Internet through \url{http://www.tex.ac.uk/faq}.
Please check here first.

\item [\TeX{} Catalogue] If you are looking for a specific package,
font, program, etc., the \TeX{} Catalogue is the place to look.  It is a
huge collection of all \TeX{}-related items.  See
\OnCD{texmf-doc/doc/english/catalogue}, or
\url{http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/help/Catalogue}.

\item [\TeX{} Web Resources] The web page
\url{http://tug.org/interest.html} has many \TeX{}-related links, in
particular for numerous books, manuals, and articles on all aspects of
the system.

\item [support archives] The two principal support forums are the
Usenet newsgroup \url{news:comp.text.tex} and the mailing list
\email{texhax@tug.org}.  Their archives have years of past
questions and answers for your searching pleasure, via
\url{http://groups.google.com/groups?group=comp.text.tex} and
\url{http://tug.org/mail-archives/texhax}, respectively.  And a general web
search, for example on \url{http://google.com}, never hurts.

\item [asking questions] If you cannot find an answer, you can post to
\dirname{comp.text.tex} through Google or your newsreader, or to
\email{texhax@tug.org} through email.  But before you post,
\emph{please} read this \acro{FAQ} entry on asking questions in such a
way that you're most likely to get an answer:
\url{http://www.tex.ac.uk/cgi-bin/texfaq2html?label=askquestion}.

\item [\TL{} support] If you want to report a bug or have
suggestions or comments on the \TL{} distribution, installation, or
documentation, the mailing list is \email{tex-live@tug.org}.  However,
if your question is about how to use a particular program included in
\TL{}, you are better off writing to that program's maintainer or
mailing list.

\end{description}

The other side of the coin is helping others who have questions.  Both
\dirname{comp.text.tex} and \code{texhax} are open to anyone, so feel
free to join, start reading, and help out where you can.  Welcome to
\TeX{}!


