Inconsistency: typeset vs compile

[Skillmon]

In the early lessons we introduce the term 'typeset' and emphasise that it's the preferred term (while we also mention 'compile'), later we use 'compile' (e.g., in lesson-12).

Should this be unified or should this be considered fine?

[josephwright]

Unify

[jejust]

Le Sun, 07 Mar 2021 10:23:56 -0800, Skillmon <[email protected]> a écrit :

In the early lessons we introduce the term 'typeset' and emphasise that it's the preferred term (while we also mention 'compile'), later we use 'compile' (e.g., in lesson-12). Should this be unified or should this be considered fine?

I don't remember exactly how I translated those words into French in the various lessons, but definitely « typeset » (*composer*) sounds like the user still have manual things to do to get a readable proof. It's acceptable only when we explain that LaTeX will typeset the document for you (so, in the introduction). « Compile » (*compiler*) is OK for a programmer, a bit mysterious for a layman. I often use a shortcut, telling that you « run » your document (*exécuter*). At least in French, when I teach LaTeX to colleagues, that works. They type: ``` $ pdflatex my_doc.tex ``` as they would type ``` $ perl my_script.pl ``` so it's natural to use the same word, « running ».

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-- Jérémy JUST <[email protected]>

[Skillmon]

@jejust I don't have any issue with 'run', but I think 'let LaTeX typeset' or 'typeset through LaTeX' are entirely fine (and for me don't have any notion of 'there is an incredible amount of handy work required').

It is fine if you're using 'run' in the French version, that's why we preferred manual human translations over automated ones, after all a human speaking French as a mother tongue knows best what sounds right in French.

_{Funny I'm making the mother-tongue-argument while saying I think 'typeset' sounds fine, while I myself am no English native speaker.}

[amunn]

I'm not convinced that we should only be using 'typeset' as the relevant verb. I looked over the places where 'compile' and it's in the context of multiple runs for references, citations etc. To me 'compile' is a much better word than 'typeset' here which implies (at least to me) the final product. And 'compile' is by far the most common term used on TeX.se, which is where we generally point people for help. So I might be inclined in fact to use 'compile' most places rather than 'typeset'. In this sense I think I disagree with the description in lesson1

Different people use different ways to describe this process. As using LaTeX
is a bit like programming, it's often called 'compiling' your document, although
'typesetting' is more accurate.

While the whole process is typesetting, I'm not convinced that each individual run is.