CTAN package update: expl3

CTAN Announcements ctan-ann at dante.de
Tue Jun 9 18:40:14 CEST 2009


my busy little upload daemon quoth:

> The following information was provided by the package's contributor.
> 
> Name of contribution: expl3
> Author's name: The LaTeX3 Project
> Author's email: latex-team at latex-project.org
> Location on CTAN: /macros/latex/contrib/expl3
> Summary description: The expl3 bundle: low-level LaTeX3 coding
> License type: lppl
> 
> Announcement text given by the package's contributor:
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> The expl3 bundle: low-level LaTeX3 coding
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> The files of the expl3 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.
> 
> The TeX and eTeX primitives are all given a new name according
> to these conventions. However, in the main direct use of the 
> primitives is not required or encouraged: the expl3 modules
> define an independent low-level LaTeX3 programming language.
> 
> At present, the expl3 modules are designed to be loaded on top 
> of LaTeX2e:
> 
>   \usepackage{expl3}
>   
> In time, a LaTeX3 format will be produced based on this code.
> This allows the code to be used in LaTeX2e packages now while a
> stand-alone LaTeX3 is developed.
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> This release (SVN 1407)
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> While expl3 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 
> expl3.
> 
> This release is a snap-shot taken from the SVN repository which 
> can be found from:
> 
>   http://www.latex-project.org/code.html
>   
> This snap-shot follows an extensive revision process for expl3,
> which has taken place over the last six months. As a result, 
> code written to work with older versions of expl3 is very likely
> to fail with this release. 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> Looking forward
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> New modules will be added to the distributed version of expl3 as
> they reach maturity. At the same time, we intend to fix any bugs
> in expl3 as they arise. We hope to establish a semi-regular 
> release pattern of snap-shots, which can then be propagated 
> using the update features of TeX Live and MiKTeX. The exact
> schedule will depend on the code changes made! Each release will
> state which SVN revision number it is based on.
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> Other parts of LaTeX3
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Several higher level experimental packages are also available
> in the SVN. These "xpackages" are designed to work with LaTeX2e
> but to allow us to experiment with ideas for LaTeX3. We are 
> currently working on the next phase of development with these
> packages.
> 
> The xbase package, which provides the basics for interaction 
> between expl3 and the user, is currently released to CTAN as a
> separate bundle. There will be a separate update concerning this
> package.
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> LaTeX3 News
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> We have established a bi-yearly schedule to publish a LaTeX3
> News letter. The second of these will appear at the same time as
> this release. The news letters can be found at:
> 
>   http://www.latex-project.org/l3news/
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> Discussion
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Discussion concerning the approach, suggestions for 
> improvements, changes, additions, etc. should be addressed to 
> the list LATEX-L. 
> 
> You can subscribe to this list by sending mail to
> 
>   listserv at urz.uni-heidelberg.de
> 
> with the body containing
> 
>   subscribe LATEX-L  <Your-First-Name> <Your-Second-Name>
>   
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> The LaTeX3 Project
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Users may view the package catalogue entry at
>   http://www.tex.ac.uk/tex-archive/help/Catalogue/entries/expl3.html
> or they may browse the package directory at
>   http://www.tex.ac.uk/tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/expl3

thanks for the upload; i've installed the files as requested, and
updated the catalogue repository.  the catalogue page linked above will
be updated overnight tonight by computers that don't sleep.

Robin Fairbairns

For the CTAN team



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