November 29, 2025
Backslash vs @: round two
Mint Is Not TeX
DIY writing tool swaps backslashes for @, stirring nostalgia and side‑eye
TLDR: MINT is a new write‑your‑own‑rules document system that uses @ instead of backslashes and makes you define everything yourself. The top reaction compares it to the old Lout system—better than LaTeX, they say—kicking up debate over reinvention vs. freedom, and whether this DIY approach will actually stick.
A new build‑it‑yourself writing language called MINT just crashed the party, boldly ditching TeX’s famous backslash for the @ symbol and letting writers define every command themselves. Instead of relying on preset buttons, you make your own rules in a simple settings file (YAML), and MINT just handles the boring parsing. The creator’s pitch: stop wrestling with complex toolchains and just code your document logic the way you like.
The conversation kicked off with a nostalgia blast: one top comment said all those @ signs felt like a throwback to old‑school Lout—and, plot twist—they liked Lout more than LaTeX (the academic typesetting favorite). That single take was enough to light up the usual fault lines: TeX purists clutching their backslashes, pragmatists cheering “let me program my book in peace,” and minimalists side‑eyeing the idea of defining even paragraphs yourself. The biggest lightning rod? Swapping the sacred backslash for the flashy @ and proudly saying there are no predefined commands. Bold.
Jokes practically wrote themselves: “Inbox Zero, but for documents,” and “Email’s favorite symbol finally gets tenure.” But beneath the memes, the mood split into two clear vibes: nostalgia‑curious skeptics asking “didn’t Lout try this?”, and tinkerers whispering “finally, a parser that gets out of my way.” Link for the curious: Lout.
Key Points
- •MINT is a new document markup language using @-prefixed commands and braces for grouping.
- •It has no predefined commands; users define all commands via a YAML schema.
- •MINT provides only a parser, enabling users to implement processing and AST traversal in their own language.
- •The design was motivated by difficulties customizing workflows in TeX/Pandoc/static site generators.
- •A formal grammar and an example (Euclid’s Elements) demonstrate syntax, escaping rules, and semantic structuring.