Typst is an open-source, modern, markup-based typesetting designed to be as powerful as LaTeX but easier to learn and significantly faster as it is written in Rust.
It is actually a master’s thesis of Laurenz Mädje.
Getting started with LaTeX during my first year in college was really a pain, the complexity in syntax really demotivate me from actually using it. Then I started using markdown as my day-to-day note taking method. Until discovering Typst, I was somewhat excited. And it did not fail me, the moment I started using it to rewrite my CV, the user experience is pretty good. Instead of throwing a red banner with bunch of error message into my face, it guided me to find the corresponding info from its documentation.
Will it replace LaTeX? It is for the time to answer, but I already like it and will definitely give it a chance as part of my workflow.
01/10/2025: I just created a cover letter using Typst:
#set text(font: "Libertinus Serif", size: 12pt)
#set par(justify: false, spacing: 20pt)
#grid(
columns: (1fr, 3fr, 0.5fr),
align(left)[
#text(16pt, weight: "bold")[huy tran]
],
align(left)[
[cover letter]
#set text(12pt, weight: "regular")
hello!
my name is huy tran. i'm a penetration tester, ict & network engineer, and a problem solver with extensive experience in digital forensics and threat intelligence. i've been exposed to cybersecurity concepts and practical applications since 2024. i earned my certified penetration tester specialist in august 2025 after one year of preparation, which included 5 days of intense hacking on real network infrastructure and writing a 130+ page report.
i love working with new concepts and dealing with challenges. this cover letter is being written in typst, i learnt about this just 3 days prior. i combine my knowledge from different fields to come up with solutions. i learn by doing and taking notes—my obsidian notes have grown to over 200 files, creating what i call a digital garden. i'm proud to say that my growth mindset would be a valuable asset for your company.
besides my personal projects, i actively give back to the community. i help raise privacy & security awareness among people around me and translate low-tech magazine to make it accessible to more people in my hometown.
my digital garden and linkedin, which showcases all my work, studies, and projects, is included in my résumé. i look forward to talking with you.
best,
01/10/2025
],
[]
)