
\chapter{Projects}

In the future, I intend to consolidate the existing implementation by
performing the changes as explained in \subsubmenu{Help}{projects}{changes}.
Besides these changes, I personally plan to extend {\TeXmacs} in
the directions which are described in this chapter.
All (at least most) other changes will then be left to others...

\section{Typesetting}

Some major typesetting facilities which have not yet been implemented
are the following
\begin{itemize}
  \item Floating objects, such as pictures.
  \item Footnotes and marginal notes.
  \item Multi column styles
  \item Tables of contents, indexes, glossaries, bibliographies, etc.
  \item Separation of a document in several parts.
  \item Dynamical objects like in HTML.
  \item Environments for computer algebra system interfaces.
\end{itemize}
Many minor facilities should also be completed. We list a few of them:
\begin{itemize}
  \item	Consider fractions as operators $\Rightarrow$ spaces before and after.
        Similarly for scripts $\Rightarrow$ small space before
        left scripts and after right scripts.
  \item ¤\left.¤ and ¤\right.¤.
  \item An operator ¤\big.¤ (which does not exist in {\TeX}) to
        close the scope of a big operator. Such a construction would
        be very desirable both for semantical and typesetting reasons.
        For instance, a small extra space might be inserted at
        the location of ¤\big.¤ and for alternative fonts,
        big operators might behave like brackets.
\end{itemize}

\section{Extra facilities for editing texts}

Although cursor movement, selections, etc. have already been implemented,
some other standard editing facilities have not yet been completed.
Let us mention a few of these:
\begin{itemize}
  \item Searching texts, formulas, certain environments etc.
  \item Query replace.
  \item Mathematical facilities: simplification of a selected region,
        substitutions of formulas in other formulas, etc.
  \item Version control.
  \item Data compression and protection.
\end{itemize}

\section{Technical pictures}

I also would like to include a facility for drawing technical pictures.
In this implementation you should be able to benefit from
the fact that you can define macros for making geometrical constructions.
It would for instance be possible to write a style file for drawing
electronic circuits or chemical components with a nice icon bar
for selecting circuits or components, just as you select lines and
circles in usual pictures.

\section{Interface with computer algebra systems}

The following improvements should still be made in order to link
{\TeXmacs} to computer algebra systems:
\begin{enumerate}
  \item Improving the layout of computer algebra sessions.
  \item Add extra features to increase the interoperability between
        {\TeXmacs} and computer algebra systems and
        to give additional control over the layout of big output.
  \item More semantics for the objects being communicated.
        This may either be hight level information
        (like Openmath or HTML 4.0 mathematical markup)
        or low level information
        (including information about the representation of data),
        depending on the required speed.
  \item Further possibilities for evolution concern highlighting,
        debugging facilities and so on.      
\end{enumerate}

\section{Interaction with other GNU-like projects}

It might be nice to increase the interaction between {\TeXmacs}
and other GNU-like projects, such as Gnome or multiplatform GUI's.
This might facilitate the incorporation of extern data into
{\TeXmacs} documents or increase the number of supported platforms.
On the other hand, several {\TeXmacs} features, such as its font handling,
might be interesting for other projects too.
