[Python-markdown-discuss] Adding an extension to convert LaTeX(ish) to MathML

[Andrew S. <and...@ma...>]

Dear Python Markdowners,

Is anyone interested in helping to write an extension that would convert
LaTeX(ish) syntax to MathML?

There is a c++ library called itex2MML which converts a subset of LaTeX
mathematics syntax to MathML.  Using swig, it can be compiled with the
appropriate "hooks" to allow it to be called from a python script.  Using
a bit of "cargo cult" programming (a term I've just heard about and which
describes my approach to programming perfectly), I've written a CGI script
that uses this to convert this LaTeXish language (known as iTeX) to MathML.
Combining it with the existent python program SVGMath, and the libcairo
extensions, it is possible to convert it further to SVG and thence to PNG, if
required (thus meaning that it can _internally_ cope with different browser
requirements).

It strikes me that this would be an extremely useful thing to add to the
python markdown suite.  This already exists in one of the Ruby variants of
Markdown (Maruku) and is used in the Instiki wiki engine.  I've written the
PHP code necessary to do this and am using it in a PHP forum.  Having a python
implementation would enable things like the OSQA platform to be used for
proper mathematics.  Indeed, because python already has the SVGMath program,
there are considerable advantages in having this for python than any of the
other languages.

The only drawback is that I've no experience of programming in python, beyond
that little hackery needed for the CGI script.  So I wondered if there was
anyone here who would be interested in doing the python bit of it.

To be clear: I already have the extensions, and from doing the PHP version
I already know some of the potential pitfalls that may be encountered.  So it
really is just the ability to program in python that I'm lacking!  And much as
I would benefit from learning another language, it would be far quicker and
produce a far more robust extension if someone who knew about python already
was prepared to help!

To see the CGI script in action, go to:

http://www.mathforge.org/itex/itex.html

Thanks,

Andrew Stacey