Word processors are stupid and inefficient

[mdlbear]

Word Processors: Stupid and Inefficient, a 1999 essay by Allin Cottrell. Still, sadly, as true as it was then.

(From Don Marti.)

Currently I do almost all my writing in HTML using a plain text editor, GNU Emacs. My filksongs are still all in LaTeX with a couple of custom macros for typesetting chords and passing metadata to my various scripts, and to-do lists and random notes are in plain text. I hardly ever have to think about how a document is going to look when it's printed, beyond tweaking with a song's layout parameters so that it fits on a single page. About the only thing I have in a word processor at the moment are business cards.

Comments

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

ooooh, chording macros for latex? Linky?

[mdlbear]

http://thestarport.com/Steve_Savitzky/Tools/TeX/

The documentation is perhaps a trifle out of date, but the macros are what I'm using currently. They work together with the scripts in the parent directory for maintaining websites and track lists.

The stuff for conversion from LaTeX to HTML isn't entirely reliable for the chord macros, but it can easily be turned back on if you need it.

[mr-kurt.livejournal.com]

*laugh* Word processors are that way because people often like to be stupid and inefficient. You can lead a horse to water...