lout
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Description:
Text formatting like TeX, but simpler
Type: Formula  |  Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Developer tools
Tags: text-processing typesetting publishing document-formatting
Install: brew install lout
About:
Lout is a document formatting system that reads a high-level description of a document and produces a formatted output. It uses a simple, TeX-like language but is designed to be easier to learn and use than TeX or troff. Its main value proposition is producing high-quality PostScript or PDF documents with a focus on simplicity and robustness.
Key Features:
  • Simple, high-level markup language
  • High-quality PostScript and PDF output
  • Robust cross-referencing and indexing
  • Support for complex tables and diagrams
Use Cases:
  • Typesetting technical manuals and books
  • Generating academic papers and reports
  • Creating structured documents with complex tables
Alternatives:
  • TeX/LaTeX – More powerful and ubiquitous, but with a significantly steeper learning curve and more complex syntax.
  • groff/troff – The classic Unix typesetter; Lout offers a more modern and arguably more readable markup style.
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Sep 14, 2025 8:26pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 20069e7b
Sep 14, 2024 3:24pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 2db637d0