TL;DR
In 2025, a new Typst template for Pandoc was released, allowing users to generate styled PDFs from markdown with greater flexibility. The update responds to recent software changes and improves workflow robustness.
A new Typst template designed for Pandoc was released in 2025, enabling users to produce well-formatted PDFs from markdown documents with customizable styles. The update addresses compatibility issues caused by recent software upgrades and offers a more robust workflow for document authors.
The developer behind the new template initially created a workflow last summer using Typst v0.11 and Pandoc, but subsequent updates to Typst (v0.13) and Pandoc (currently at v3.6.4) rendered the previous templates incompatible. In response, they rebuilt the template to align with Pandoc’s default Typst output template, which now relies on an actual Typst template file, ‘article.typ’. This approach separates Pandoc’s logic from Typst’s, making the process more resilient to future updates.
The new setup involves passing a variable to Pandoc (-V template=article.typ), which instructs Pandoc to load the specified Typst template. The template itself handles document metadata, page layout, headers, footers, font styling, and section formatting, with options for customization. It supports features like different headers for left and right pages, font ligatures, and styled block quotes, code blocks, and references. The template is designed to be flexible, allowing users to disable or modify specific sections according to their needs. The developer has provided detailed instructions and the template file for download, encouraging users to adapt it for their projects.
Why It Matters
This development matters because it improves the stability and flexibility of markdown-to-PDF workflows, especially for academic and technical writers who rely on consistent formatting. By updating the template to work with recent software versions, the developer ensures that users can continue producing high-quality documents without technical disruptions. Additionally, the separation of Pandoc and Typst logic enhances long-term maintainability, making future updates easier to manage.
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Background
Last summer, the developer created an initial Typst template for Pandoc to improve document styling. Since then, both Pandoc and Typst have undergone significant updates — Pandoc at least three times, and Typst twice — which broke the compatibility of earlier templates. Recognizing the need for a more robust solution, the developer revised the workflow in early 2025, leveraging Pandoc’s default Typst output template and a dedicated Typst template file. This approach aligns with recent changes in both tools and reflects ongoing efforts within the community to streamline markdown-based publishing workflows.
“The new templates use Pandoc’s default Typst output template, which itself does very little in terms of formatting, but now utilize an actual Typst Template written for Typst, not for Pandoc.”
— the developer
“This ought to be a little more robust long-term, too.”
— the developer
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What Remains Unclear
It is not yet clear how widely adopted the new template will become or how it will perform with different document types and complex layouts. Further testing by the community is expected to reveal potential limitations or areas for enhancement.
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What’s Next
Next steps include community testing, feedback collection, and potential customization options. The developer may release updates based on user input, and broader integration into publishing workflows is anticipated.
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Key Questions
How do I use the new Typst template with Pandoc?
Download the ‘article.typ’ template file, then run Pandoc with the command: pandoc file.md -o file.pdf -V template=article.typ --pdf-engine=typst. Ensure your markdown file includes metadata like title, author, and date for best results.
What customization options are available in the template?
The template supports customization of headers, footers, fonts, section styles, and more. You can modify the Typst code within the template to suit your specific formatting needs.
Is this template compatible with older versions of Pandoc or Typst?
No, the new template is designed to work with Pandoc v3.6.4 and Typst v0.13. Future updates may be needed if either tool changes significantly.
Can I use this template for non-academic documents?
Yes, the template is flexible enough for various document types, including reports, proposals, and articles, with some customization.
Source: Hacker News
