Typst: Modern Document Typesetting as a LaTeX Alternative

TL;DR — Quick Summary

Typst is a modern markup-based typesetting system for academic papers, reports, and documents. Faster compilation, simpler syntax, and real-time preview compared to LaTeX.

Typst is what document typesetting looks like when designed from scratch for the modern era. Where LaTeX requires arcane incantations for basic formatting, Typst uses clean, readable markup that compiles to PDF in milliseconds.

Installation

# macOS
brew install typst

# Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S typst

# Cargo
cargo install --locked typst-cli

# Verify
typst --version

Quick Start

Create document.typ:

= My First Document

This is a paragraph with *bold* and _italic_ text.

== Section One

A numbered list:
+ First item
+ Second item
+ Third item

A bullet list:
- Item A
- Item B

== Math

The quadratic formula: $ x = (-b plus.minus sqrt(b^2 - 4a c)) / (2a) $

An inline equation: $E = m c^2$ is famous.

== Table

#table(
  columns: 3,
  [*Name*], [*Age*], [*City*],
  [Alice], [30], [NYC],
  [Bob], [25], [London],
)

Compile:

typst compile document.typ    # → document.pdf
typst watch document.typ      # Auto-recompile on save

Key Syntax

Syntax	Result
`= Heading`	Level 1 heading
`== Subheading`	Level 2 heading
`bold`	bold
`_italic_`	italic
`code`	`code`
$ math $	Inline math
$ math $ (block)	Display math
`@label`	Citation/reference
`#function()`	Scripting

Academic Features

// Bibliography
#bibliography("refs.bib")

// Citation
As shown by @author2024, the results...

// Figure with caption
#figure(
  image("plot.png", width: 80%),
  caption: [Experimental results],
) <fig:results>

// Cross-reference
See @fig:results for details.

// Footnote
This needs clarification#footnote[See appendix A].

Comparison

Feature	Typst	LaTeX	Word	Markdown
Compile speed	~ms	seconds-min	N/A	~ms
Math support	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Limited
Bibliography	Built-in	BibTeX/Biber	Built-in	Pandoc
Templates	Growing	Massive	Many	Limited
Learning curve	Low	High	Low	Low
Scripting	Built-in	TeX macros	VBA	None
Output	PDF	PDF/DVI	DOCX	HTML
Web editor	typst.app	Overleaf	Office 365	Various

Summary

Typst is a modern LaTeX alternative with millisecond compilation
Clean markup syntax: = headings, *bold*, $math$ , #functions()
Built-in bibliography, citations, figures, tables, and cross-references
Scripting language for dynamic content and custom templates
Free open-source compiler + free web editor at typst.app

Helix Editor Guide

Guide & Instructions

Estimated Time: 15m

Tools Needed:

Typst CLI
Text editor

Install Typst

Install with brew install typst, cargo install --locked typst-cli, pacman -S typst, or download from GitHub releases.

Create a document

Create a .typ file. Write content with markup: = for headings, * for bold, _ for italic, $ for math. Compile with typst compile document.typ.

Use real-time preview

Run typst watch document.typ to auto-recompile on save. Use the VS Code Typst extension for in-editor preview.

Add citations and bibliography

Create a .bib file, reference it with #bibliography, and cite with @key syntax.

Apply a template

Import community templates for academic papers, CVs, or presentations. Apply with #import and #show rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Typst?

Typst is a modern typesetting system designed as an easier alternative to LaTeX. Written in Rust, it compiles documents to PDF in milliseconds, uses a clean markup syntax, and includes a scripting language for dynamic content — all without the complexity of TeX.

How is Typst different from LaTeX?

Typst compiles in milliseconds (vs seconds/minutes for LaTeX), has a much simpler syntax, includes a built-in scripting language, provides real-time preview, and doesn't require installing packages separately. LaTeX has a larger ecosystem but Typst is catching up fast.

Can Typst produce academic papers?

Yes, Typst supports bibliography management (BibTeX/Hayagriva), citations, mathematical equations, figures, tables, footnotes, cross-references, and custom templates. Many universities now accept Typst-formatted submissions.

Is Typst free?

Yes, the Typst compiler is open source (Apache 2.0). There's also a free web app at typst.app for collaborative editing, similar to Overleaf for LaTeX.