Typst

Typst Typesetting

Typst is a modern typesetting system designed as a faster, more ergonomic alternative to LaTeX. It uses a markup syntax with scripting capabilities.

Related skills:

• /typst-touying - Slide presentations with animations and themes
• /typst-cetz - Diagrams, flowcharts, plots (TikZ-style drawing)

When to use this skill

• Writing new Typst documents (.typ files)
• Creating or modifying document templates
• Typesetting math, tables, figures, or bibliographies
• Integrating Typst with Quarto (.qmd → Typst output)
• Debugging Typst compilation errors
• Styling pages, headings, or custom environments

When NOT to use this skill

• Slide presentations with animations → use /typst-touying
• Diagrams or flowcharts → use /typst-cetz
• LaTeX documents (different system entirely)
• Quarto HTML/PDF output that does not use Typst backend
• Tables generated by R's tinytable package → use /write-tinytable

Instructions

Step 1: Classify the request

Step 2: Read the reference file(s)

Use the Read tool to load the relevant reference. For requests that span multiple categories (e.g., "create a document with math and a bibliography"), read multiple files.

Step 3: Verify with Context7

When unsure about Typst syntax or function signatures, use Context7 to check the latest docs:

• Typst docs: library ID /websites/typst_app (1300+ snippets)
• Quarto Typst format: library ID /websites/quarto

Step 4: Apply core principles

1. Use #set rules for global defaults - avoid inline styling
2. Use #show rules for transformations - customize heading/link/code appearance
3. Use relative units (1fr, %) over hard-coded sizes
4. Use labels and cross-references (<label> + @label) over manual numbering
5. Keep templates modular - separate layout from content

Step 5: Write the code

Follow the quick reference and anti-patterns below. When in doubt, consult the reference files.

Quick reference

Core syntax

// Markup
*bold*  _italic_  `code`
#link("https://example.com")[Link text]

= Heading 1
== Heading 2

- Bullet
+ Numbered
/ Term: Definition

Set and show rules

// Set rules: global defaults
#set text(font: "New Computer Modern", size: 11pt)
#set par(justify: true)
#set page(margin: 2.5cm)

// Show rules: transform content
#show heading.where(level: 1): it => {
  pagebreak(weak: true)
  text(size: 18pt, weight: "bold", it.body)
}

Custom functions

#let note(body) = {
  block(fill: luma(230), inset: 8pt, radius: 4pt, body)
}

Variables and logic

#let draft = true
#if draft [#text(fill: red)[DRAFT]]

#for x in (1, 2, 3) [Item #x. ]

Anti-patterns

Complete workflow example

// Document setup
#set text(font: "New Computer Modern", size: 11pt)
#set par(justify: true, leading: 0.65em)
#set page(paper: "a4", margin: (x: 2.5cm, y: 3cm))
#set heading(numbering: "1.1")

// Custom environments
#let abstract(body) = {
  align(center)[*Abstract*]
  pad(x: 2em, body)
}

// Title
#align(center)[
  #text(size: 18pt, weight: "bold")[Document Title]
  #v(0.5em)
  Author Name \
  #text(size: 9pt, fill: luma(100))[March 2026]
]

#abstract[
  This paper examines...
]

= Introduction

We study the effect of $X$ on $Y$ using a difference-in-differences design.

= Data

#figure(
  table(
    columns: (auto, 1fr, 1fr),
    stroke: none,
    inset: (x: 10pt, y: 5pt),
    table.hline(stroke: 1.5pt),
    table.header([*Variable*], [*Mean*], [*SD*]),
    table.hline(stroke: 0.5pt),
    [Age], [34.2], [12.1],
    [Income], [52,100], [18,400],
    table.hline(stroke: 1.5pt),
  ),
  caption: [Summary statistics.],
  kind: table,
) <tbl-summary>

As shown in @tbl-summary, the sample includes...

= Results

Our main specification yields $beta = 0.42$ (SE = 0.08), significant at the 1% level.

$ Y_(i t) = alpha + beta D_(i t) + gamma_i + delta_t + epsilon_(i t) $ <eq-main>

@eq-main includes unit and time fixed effects.

#cite(<atz2022>, form: "prose") finds similar results in a related context.

#bibliography("references.bib", style: "apa")

Debugging tips

1. Compilation errors: Check for unmatched brackets [], (), {}
2. Layout issues: Use #box(stroke: red, [...]) to visualize bounds
3. Math errors: Display math needs spaces inside $: $ x^2 $ not $x^2$
4. Missing content: Ensure content blocks [] are properly closed
5. Type errors: Use #type(value) to inspect types at compile time

Resources

• Typst Documentation
• Typst Packages
• Quarto Typst Format