Convert Typst to BBCode

Why Convert Typst to BBCode?

Converting Typst to BBCode enables you to share your typeset document content on internet forums, bulletin boards, and community platforms. When you have written a technical article, tutorial, or guide in Typst and want to post it on a forum, converting to BBCode preserves the formatting using the tags that forum software understands.

BBCode is the standard formatting language for popular forum platforms like phpBB, vBulletin, XenForo, and Discourse. By converting your Typst document, headings become [size] tags, bold and italic text maps to [b] and [i] tags, code blocks become [code] blocks, and lists convert to [list] structures. This allows your content to appear properly formatted when posted.

This conversion is particularly useful for technical community members who write content in Typst for its superior typesetting capabilities but need to share that content in forum discussions. Rather than manually reformatting, the converter handles the syntax translation automatically, saving time and ensuring consistent formatting across your posts.

Key Benefits of Converting Typst to BBCode:

• Forum Publishing: Post formatted content on any BBCode-supporting forum
• Formatting Preserved: Bold, italic, code, and lists convert cleanly
• Wide Compatibility: Works with phpBB, vBulletin, XenForo, and more
• Safe Markup: BBCode prevents XSS vulnerabilities unlike raw HTML
• Easy Sharing: Copy and paste the BBCode directly into forum posts
• Code Blocks: Technical code preserved with [code] tags
• Time Saving: Automatic conversion eliminates manual reformatting

Practical Examples

Example 1: Tutorial Post for a Forum

Input Typst file (tutorial.typ):

= Getting Started with Rust

== Installation
Download Rust from the *official website*:
https://www.rust-lang.org

== First Program
Create a file called `main.rs`:

```rust
fn main() {
    println!("Hello, world!");
}
```

Run it with: `cargo run`

Output BBCode (tutorial.bbcode):

[size=24][b]Getting Started with Rust[/b][/size]

[size=20][b]Installation[/b][/size]
Download Rust from the [b]official website[/b]:
[url]https://www.rust-lang.org[/url]

[size=20][b]First Program[/b][/size]
Create a file called [code]main.rs[/code]:

[code]
fn main() {
    println!("Hello, world!");
}
[/code]

Run it with: [code]cargo run[/code]

Example 2: Technical Discussion Post

Input Typst file (discussion.typ):

= Performance Comparison

I tested three approaches and here
are the _results_:

- *Approach A:* 150ms average
- *Approach B:* 89ms average
- *Approach C:* 210ms average

Approach B is clearly the *fastest*
option for our use case.

Output BBCode (discussion.bbcode):

[size=24][b]Performance Comparison[/b][/size]

I tested three approaches and here
are the [i]results[/i]:

[list]
[*] [b]Approach A:[/b] 150ms average
[*] [b]Approach B:[/b] 89ms average
[*] [b]Approach C:[/b] 210ms average
[/list]

Approach B is clearly the [b]fastest[/b]
option for our use case.

Example 3: Table Data for Forum

Input Typst file (comparison.typ):

= Framework Comparison

#table(
  columns: 3,
  [Framework], [Language], [Stars],
  [React], [JavaScript], [220k],
  [Vue], [JavaScript], [207k],
  [Svelte], [JavaScript], [78k],
)

My recommendation: use *React* for
large projects.

Output BBCode (comparison.bbcode):

[size=24][b]Framework Comparison[/b][/size]

[table]
[tr][th]Framework[/th][th]Language[/th][th]Stars[/th][/tr]
[tr][td]React[/td][td]JavaScript[/td][td]220k[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Vue[/td][td]JavaScript[/td][td]207k[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Svelte[/td][td]JavaScript[/td][td]78k[/td][/tr]
[/table]

My recommendation: use [b]React[/b] for
large projects.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What forums support BBCode?

A: Most major forum platforms support BBCode, including phpBB, vBulletin, XenForo, SMF (Simple Machines Forum), MyBB, Invision Community, and Discourse. Many gaming communities, tech forums, and hobby boards use BBCode as their primary formatting system.

Q: How are Typst headings converted to BBCode?

A: Typst headings (=, ==, ===) are converted to BBCode using [size] and [b] tags to simulate heading levels. Since BBCode does not have native heading tags, font size is used to visually differentiate heading levels in the forum post.

Q: What happens to Typst math expressions?

A: Typst math expressions are converted to their plain text representation since BBCode does not support mathematical notation. Simple expressions like x^2 are shown as text. For forums with LaTeX math support (some have plugins), the math content may be usable with additional formatting.

Q: Are Typst tables supported in BBCode?

A: Table support varies between BBCode implementations. Some forums support [table], [tr], [td] tags, while others do not. If the target forum does not support table tags, the table content is formatted as a structured text list to preserve readability.

Q: Can I copy the BBCode output directly into a forum post?

A: Yes. The converted BBCode output is ready to copy and paste directly into any forum post editor. Switch to the BBCode editing mode in your forum (rather than the visual editor) and paste the content. The formatting will be applied when you preview or submit the post.

Q: How are Typst code blocks handled?

A: Typst code blocks enclosed in backticks are converted to BBCode [code] tags. Inline code uses inline [code] tags, while multi-line code blocks use block-level [code] tags. This preserves code formatting and monospace display in forum posts.

Q: Are images from Typst documents included?

A: Image references from Typst #figure() commands are converted to BBCode [img] tags. However, the images need to be hosted online (uploaded to an image host) and accessible via URL for the [img] tags to work in forum posts.

Q: What happens to Typst #let and #set commands?

A: Typst scripting commands are resolved during conversion. Variable values are substituted inline, and styling commands are mapped to their closest BBCode equivalents where possible. The scripting logic itself is not preserved, as BBCode is a static markup format.