Convert Typst to MediaWiki

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Typst vs MediaWiki Format Comparison

Aspect Typst (Source Format) MediaWiki (Target Format)
Format Overview
Typst
Modern Typesetting System

Typst is a modern typesetting system launched in 2023 as an alternative to LaTeX. It features a clean, intuitive markup syntax combined with a powerful scripting language, fast incremental compilation written in Rust, and built-in support for mathematical typesetting. Typst aims to make professional document creation accessible without the steep learning curve of traditional typesetting systems.

Typesetting Modern
MediaWiki
Wiki Markup Language

MediaWiki markup is the formatting language used by Wikipedia, Wiktionary, Fandom, and thousands of other wiki-based websites powered by the MediaWiki software. Developed alongside Wikipedia starting in 2002, it provides a readable syntax for creating collaborative web content with links, tables, templates, and categories. It is the most widely deployed wiki markup in the world.

Wiki Standard Collaborative
Technical Specifications
Structure: Plain text with Typst markup and scripting
Encoding: UTF-8
Format: Modern typesetting language
Compiler: Typst CLI (Rust-based)
Extensions: .typ
Structure: Plain text with wiki formatting codes
Standard: MediaWiki markup (no formal spec)
Format: Server-rendered markup language
Rendering: MediaWiki parser (PHP-based)
Extensions: .wiki, .mediawiki, .mw
Syntax Examples

Typst uses = and * for formatting:

= Photosynthesis
*Photosynthesis* converts light
energy into _chemical energy_.

- Light reactions
- Calvin cycle

The equation is:
$ 6 "CO"_2 + 6 "H"_2"O" arrow.r
  "C"_6"H"_12"O"_6 $

MediaWiki uses equal signs and apostrophes:

== Photosynthesis ==
'''Photosynthesis''' converts light
energy into ''chemical energy''.

* Light reactions
* Calvin cycle

The equation is:
<math>6CO_2 + 6H_2O \rightarrow
C_6H_{12}O_6</math>

[[Category:Biology]]
{{Main|Photosynthesis}}
Content Support
  • Mathematical equations with $ syntax
  • Automatic heading and figure numbering
  • Built-in bibliography management
  • Scripting with #let, #if, #for
  • Tables with #table() function
  • Custom styling with #set and #show rules
  • Package system via Typst Universe
  • Section headings (6 levels)
  • Bold, italic formatting
  • Internal and external links
  • Complex tables with styling
  • Templates and transclusion
  • Categories and namespaces
  • Math via <math> tags (LaTeX subset)
  • Infoboxes and navigation boxes
Advantages
  • Intuitive and clean syntax
  • Fast incremental compilation
  • Helpful, clear error messages
  • Built-in scripting language
  • Professional typographic output
  • Native math support
  • Powers Wikipedia (6M+ English articles)
  • Collaborative editing with revision history
  • Built-in math support via LaTeX subset
  • Template system for reusable content
  • Automatic table of contents generation
  • Category and linking system
  • No compilation needed (server-rendered)
Disadvantages
  • Newer ecosystem with fewer packages
  • Not yet accepted by most journals
  • Smaller community compared to LaTeX
  • Limited backward compatibility guarantees
  • Fewer templates available
  • Complex table syntax
  • No formal specification
  • Requires MediaWiki server to render
  • Limited offline editing tools
  • Template debugging can be difficult
  • Not suitable for print documents
Common Uses
  • Academic papers and reports
  • Homework and course assignments
  • Technical documentation
  • Personal notes and letters
  • Presentations and slide decks
  • Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects
  • Fandom wikis and gaming wikis
  • Corporate and organizational wikis
  • Knowledge base articles
  • Collaborative documentation
  • Encyclopedia and reference content
Best For
  • Quick professional document creation
  • Projects needing fast compilation
  • Users wanting simpler syntax than LaTeX
  • Documents with scripting needs
  • Collaborative encyclopedia content
  • Wiki-based knowledge management
  • Content with heavy interlinking
  • Community-maintained documentation
Version History
Introduced: 2023 (Typst GmbH)
Written In: Rust
Status: Active development, growing adoption
Origin: Master's thesis at TU Berlin
Introduced: 2002 (with MediaWiki software)
Used By: Wikipedia since January 2001
Status: Actively maintained
Evolution: UseModWiki → Phase II → MediaWiki → VisualEditor
Software Support
Editors: Typst app, VS Code (Tinymist), Neovim
Compiler: typst CLI (Rust-based, open source)
Online: typst.app (official web editor)
Packages: Typst Universe (community packages)
Platforms: Wikipedia, Fandom, Miraheze
Editors: VisualEditor, WikiEditor, VS Code
Converters: Pandoc, mw2latex, wiki2latex
Other: MediaWiki API, Parsoid parser

Why Convert Typst to MediaWiki?

Converting Typst to MediaWiki markup bridges modern document creation with the world's largest collaborative knowledge platform. Wikipedia and thousands of other wiki sites use MediaWiki markup to organize and present information. When you convert your Typst documents to MediaWiki format, you make your content ready for publication on any wiki-powered website, enabling collaborative editing and community-driven improvement.

Typst's clean syntax translates naturally to MediaWiki markup. Typst's = headings become == wiki headings ==, *bold* becomes '''bold''', and _italic_ becomes ''italic''. Mathematical expressions from Typst are wrapped in <math> tags, which MediaWiki renders using its built-in LaTeX math support. This means your equations are preserved in a form that Wikipedia and other wikis can display correctly.

This conversion is especially valuable for researchers and educators who want to share their knowledge on Wikipedia or institutional wikis. If you have written detailed technical content in Typst, converting to MediaWiki eliminates the manual work of rewriting content in wiki syntax. You can focus on reviewing and adapting the content for a wiki audience rather than reformatting it from scratch.

For organizations maintaining internal knowledge bases on MediaWiki platforms, converting Typst documents provides an efficient way to populate wikis with well-structured content. Technical documentation, training materials, and research summaries written in Typst can be quickly converted and published to organizational wikis, making knowledge accessible to the entire team.

Key Benefits of Converting Typst to MediaWiki:

  • Wikipedia Contribution: Convert documents into wiki articles ready for Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects
  • Math Preservation: Mathematical equations transfer to MediaWiki's <math> tags
  • Collaborative Editing: Enable wiki communities to collaboratively improve your content
  • Knowledge Sharing: Make specialized content accessible to a global audience
  • Institutional Wikis: Populate organizational knowledge bases with converted materials
  • Structured Content: Preserve headings, lists, tables, and formatting in wiki markup
  • No Manual Rewriting: Automate the translation from Typst syntax to wiki markup

Practical Examples

Example 1: Scientific Article to Wikipedia Draft

Input Typst file (article.typ):

= Black Holes
A *black hole* is a region of
spacetime where gravity is so strong
that nothing can escape.

== Types
- Stellar black holes
- Supermassive black holes
- Intermediate black holes

== Schwarzschild Radius
The radius is given by:
$ r_s = (2 G M) / c^2 $

Output MediaWiki file (article.mediawiki):

== Black Holes ==
A '''black hole''' is a region of
spacetime where gravity is so strong
that nothing can escape.

=== Types ===
* Stellar black holes
* Supermassive black holes
* Intermediate black holes

=== Schwarzschild Radius ===
The radius is given by:
<math>r_s = \frac{2GM}{c^2}</math>

[[Category:Astrophysics]]
{{See also|Event horizon}}

Example 2: Course Material to Institutional Wiki

Input Typst file (course.typ):

= Introduction to Algorithms

== Sorting Algorithms
+ Bubble Sort: $O(n^2)$
+ Merge Sort: $O(n log n)$
+ Quick Sort: $O(n log n)$ average

== Comparison
#table(
  columns: 3,
  [Algorithm], [Best], [Worst],
  [Bubble], [$O(n)$], [$O(n^2)$],
  [Merge], [$O(n log n)$], [$O(n log n)$],
  [Quick], [$O(n log n)$], [$O(n^2)$],
)

Output MediaWiki file (course.mediawiki):

== Introduction to Algorithms ==

=== Sorting Algorithms ===
# Bubble Sort: <math>O(n^2)</math>
# Merge Sort: <math>O(n \log n)</math>
# Quick Sort: <math>O(n \log n)</math> average

=== Comparison ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Algorithm !! Best !! Worst
|-
| Bubble || <math>O(n)</math> || <math>O(n^2)</math>
|-
| Merge || <math>O(n \log n)</math> || <math>O(n \log n)</math>
|-
| Quick || <math>O(n \log n)</math> || <math>O(n^2)</math>
|}

Example 3: Technical Summary for Knowledge Base

Input Typst file (summary.typ):

= CRISPR Gene Editing

== Overview
*CRISPR-Cas9* is a molecular tool for
editing DNA sequences with unprecedented
_precision_.

== Applications
- Disease treatment
- Agricultural improvement
- Basic research
- Drug development

== Mechanism
The guide RNA directs Cas9 to the
target DNA, where it creates a
double-strand break for editing.

Output MediaWiki file (summary.mediawiki):

== CRISPR Gene Editing ==

=== Overview ===
'''CRISPR-Cas9''' is a molecular tool for
editing DNA sequences with unprecedented
''precision''.

=== Applications ===
* Disease treatment
* Agricultural improvement
* Basic research
* Drug development

=== Mechanism ===
The guide RNA directs Cas9 to the
target DNA, where it creates a
double-strand break for editing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is MediaWiki markup?

A: MediaWiki markup is the formatting language used by Wikipedia and thousands of other wiki sites. It uses readable syntax like == for headings, ''' for bold, '' for italic, * for bullet lists, and # for numbered lists. It also supports complex tables, templates, categories, and internal/external linking.

Q: Are Typst math equations preserved in MediaWiki output?

A: Yes, Typst math expressions are converted to LaTeX notation wrapped in <math> tags, which MediaWiki renders using its built-in math rendering engine. This means formulas, fractions, summations, and integrals display correctly on Wikipedia and other MediaWiki installations.

Q: Can I directly paste the output into Wikipedia?

A: The converted markup can serve as a starting point for Wikipedia articles. However, Wikipedia has specific guidelines for formatting, sourcing, and neutral point of view. You will need to adapt the content to meet Wikipedia's Manual of Style, add reliable sources with citation templates, and ensure the content meets notability guidelines.

Q: How are Typst tables converted to MediaWiki tables?

A: Typst's #table() function is converted to MediaWiki's pipe-based table syntax with the "wikitable" CSS class. Column headers use !! separators and data rows use || separators. Basic alignment is preserved. Complex Typst table features may be simplified since MediaWiki tables have different styling capabilities.

Q: Can I use this for Fandom or other MediaWiki-based wikis?

A: Yes! The output markup is compatible with any site running MediaWiki software, including Fandom, Miraheze, ShoutWiki, and self-hosted MediaWiki installations. The core wiki markup syntax is the same across all MediaWiki instances. Some advanced templates may be specific to Wikipedia, but basic formatting works universally.

Q: What happens to Typst's scripting constructs?

A: Typst scripting (#let, #if, #for) is resolved during conversion, so the MediaWiki output contains the final rendered text content. Variable definitions are expanded, conditionals are resolved, and loops produce their iterated output. MediaWiki has its own template system for dynamic content.

Q: How does Typst's = heading syntax map to MediaWiki?

A: Typst's = maps to MediaWiki's == == (level 2 heading), == maps to === === (level 3), and so on. This offset occurs because MediaWiki's = = (level 1) is reserved for the page title. The heading hierarchy is preserved correctly in the conversion.

Q: What about Typst figures and images?

A: Typst's #image() and #figure() constructs are converted to MediaWiki file syntax ([[File:name.ext|caption]]). However, the actual image files need to be uploaded separately to the wiki. Captions are preserved in the markup. For wiki publication, images should be uploaded through the wiki's Special:Upload page.