git & pandoc ❤

git, latex template and Makefile to work with my projects documents

LaTeX produces great looking documents but no one has the time and the nerves to use it.

Markdown is omnipresent but not quite easy to get decent "client ready" documents from.

Pandoc is gorgeous, yet its defaults need a little customization. Workflow wise, such customizations are best shared via git.

See how this post looks.

1. Usage

fork / clone this template git repo
keep the master branch as a template branch
create a new branch for each new project you need
create a pandoc (markdown) document
run make anytime you need to generate PDF or DOCX

NB: you can make clean to remove old cruft, make your.file.md.pdf to skip the others, etc. See Makefile. If you update your templates, you may want to merge with your project branches. I tried subtrees and submodules but meh.

2. Requirements

pandoc, installed via cabal install but your distro may provide it as a package.
LaTeX (xelatex recommended), texlive is OK.
gnu make

Depending on your customizations, you may need additional LaTeX packages, fonts, etc. CTAN FTW.

3. Customizations

This git repo just provides basic templates and a workflow whie pandoc & LaTeX do the heavylifting.

You may want to change the default paper size, the language, the footer, the logo, etc. To do so:

change your logo in images/logo.png
change the default.latex document to your convenience
propagate your changes to your project branches

4. Tips on working with pandoc files

Pandoc is basically markdown, with support for github flavored extensions and many others, such as tables, syntax highlighting, etc.

Here are some Vim plugins I use to write my documents.

vim	is the editor I and my colleagues use
vim-table-mode	is awesome to create pandoc tables
vim-pandoc	syntax, generators, preview, …
vim-fugitive	not documentation specific

…and some plugin conf…

    autocmd FileType markdown TableModeEnable

    "pandoc syntax annoying conceal et spellcheck
    let g:pandoc#syntax#conceal#use = 0
    let g:pandoc#modules#disabled = ['spell']

    " make table both pandoc and github lovable
    let g:table_mode_separator = '|'
    let g:table_mode_corner = '|'
    let g:table_mode_corner_corner = '|'