LaTeX

LaTeX

 * Original author(s): Leslie Lamport
 * Initial release: 1984; 31 years ago
 * Platform: Cross-platform
 * Type: Typesetting
 * License: LaTeX Project Public License (LPPL)
 * Website: latex-project.org
 * Is aword processor and document markup language. It is distinguished by typical  word processors such as  Microsoft Office.

About

 * LaTeX is used for the communication and publication of scientific documents in many fields, including mathematics, physics, computer science, statistics, economics, and political science
 * LaTeX is intended to provide a high-level language that accesses the power of TeX. LaTeX comprises a collection of TeX macros and a program to process LaTeX documents. Because the plain TeX formatting commands are elementary, it provides authors with ready-made commands for formatting and layout requirements such as chapter headings, footnotes, cross-references and bibliographies.

Licensing

 * LaTeX is typically distributed along with plain TeX. It is distributed under a free software license, the LaTeX Project Public License (LPPL). The LPPL is not compatible with the GNU General Public License, as it requires that modified files must be clearly differentiable from their originals (usually by changing the filename); this was done to ensure that files that depend on other files will produce the expected behavior and avoid dependency hell.