Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around recommendations for programs to use for writing documents in LaTeX, focusing on both online and offline options. Participants explore various tools suitable for different levels of experience and specific needs, such as creating lecture slides.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory, Technical explanation, Homework-related
Main Points Raised
- Some participants suggest ShareLaTeX as a good starting point for beginners, highlighting its ease of use and the absence of installation requirements.
- Others recommend installing LaTeX on a local machine, mentioning specific distributions like TeX Live, MiKTeX, and MacTex, along with the need for additional software like GhostScript and GhostView on Windows.
- One participant emphasizes the importance of having a good reference book, specifically mentioning "Math Into $\LaTeX$" by George Gratzer.
- There is a question about the cost of using ShareLaTeX for creating lecture slides, to which a participant clarifies that the basic features are free, but integration with Google Drive or Dropbox incurs a fee.
- Participants share personal experiences using ShareLaTeX, noting that it can produce visually appealing documents.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants generally agree on the utility of ShareLaTeX for beginners, but there are multiple views on whether to use online tools versus local installations, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach for different user needs.
Contextual Notes
Some assumptions about user familiarity with LaTeX and specific requirements for document types (e.g., lecture slides) are present, but not all participants clarify their preferences or experiences in detail.