Is there a timeline graphic for TeX and TeX-based/inspired systems (and perhaps contributed components?), along the lines of the (normally vertical) timelines for Unix-derived systems that one sometimes sees (e.g. Éric Lévénez's http://www.levenex.com/unix/)? Many such systems are included in TeXLive, of course, and I think something like this would be a useful aid for beginning users to help them understand how the particular system they are using fits into the TeX world. Perhaps systems (such as Omega) would be distinguished from formats (such as LaTeX). Might formats, contributions of fonts etc, be shown as lines merging into a line representing a system, and new systems as lines diverging from the parent system line?
I might draw up an initial draft (for comment) of such a timeline if there isn't already one - except that I'm about to go on holiday for two weeks, so someone can beat me to it. Also. I'm not a real TeX expert, despite many years of using TeX and associated systems! What notation would be most suitable? Éric Lévénez uses FrameMaker on NeXTSTEP (http://www.levenez.com/gen/build.html). I'm not putting myself foward as a qualified volunteer for such a project, mind you! John A. Murdie Department of Computer Science University of York UK
