LyX is a graphical document processor that combines the capabilities of LaTeX with an editing environment focused on document structure rather than visual formatting.
Unlike conventional word processors, LyX encourages writers to identify the purpose of each part of a document, such as a heading, paragraph, quotation or mathematical expression. The application then applies formatting rules consistently throughout the document.
LyX is particularly suited to technical and academic writing, including research papers, books and dissertations. Its document classes also extend to creative writing, with the Hollywood class providing screenplay formatting.
The application is useful for preparing documents that require precise typesetting, mathematical notation, bibliographies or extensive cross-references.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Graphical editor with menus, toolbars and configurable keyboard shortcuts.
- Document classes for articles, books, letters, presentations and Hollywood screenplays.
- Structured headings, nested lists and automatically generated tables of contents.
- Interactive mathematical formula editor with LaTeX support.
- Equation numbering, mathematical symbols, matrices, theorems and custom macros.
- Interactive tables with configurable alignment and formatting.
- Insert figures, captions, footnotes and margin notes.
- Labels, internal references and hyperlinks.
- BibTeX integration for managing bibliographies and citations.
- Support for multilingual documents and right-to-left writing systems.
- Import and export LaTeX documents.
- Generate PDF, PostScript and DVI output.
- Spell checking, undo and redo, and document navigation.
- Document branches for maintaining alternative sections of a manuscript.
- Multiple editing areas, split views and fullscreen editing.
- Extensive documentation, including a beginner’s tutorial.
- Cross-platform support – runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Website: www.lyx.org
Support:
Developer: The LyX team
License: GNU General Public License v2.0
LyX is written in C++. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
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|---|---|
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| Script Writing Tools | |
|---|---|
| Trelby | Simple, powerful, full-featured program for writing movie screenplays |
| Manuskript | Use the snowflake method to grow your ideas |
| Pago | Screenwriting plugin for the Vim text editor |
| Screenwriter-mode | A plug-in for Emacs |
| Screenplain | Plain text to readable screenplay |
| KIT Scenarist | Fully-featured studio for creating movie screenplays |
| LyX | The Hollywood document class equips LyX for script writing |
| Afterwriting | Post-processing tools for Fountain screenplay |
| Story Architect | Reinventing the screenwriting software |
| lottie | Fountain screenplay editor |
| obsidian-fountain | Fountain support for Obsidian |
| Barefoot | Convert Fountain screenplay files to plain text |
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| LaTeX Tools | |
|---|---|
| LyX | The power and flexibility of TeX/LaTeX with an intuitive graphical interface |
| KBibTeX | Reference management software primarily for BibTeX |
| TeXstudio | Fully featured open source LaTeX editor |
| VimTeX | Vim and Neovim filetype and syntax plugin |
| TeXmacs | WYSIWYG mathematical text editor using TeX fonts |
| JabRef | Graphical frontend to manage BibTeX databases |
| Biber | BibTeX replacement for users of BibLaTeX |
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| Tectonic | Modernised, self-contained TeX and LaTeX engine |
| TeXworks | Simple front-end modeled on TeXShop |
| Atom-LaTeX | Typesetting with GitHub's Atom text editor |
| SiSU | Documents - structuring, publishing in multiple formats and search |
| Kile | KDE Integrated LaTeX Environment |
| BibLaTex | Programmable bibliographies and citations |
| Enter TeX | Integrated LaTeX Environment for the GNOME desktop |
| AUCTeX | Environment for editing LaTeX, ConTeXt, docTeX, Texinfo, and TeX files |
| TexMaths | LaTeX equation editor for LibreOffice |
| Setzer | Full-featured LaTeX editor |
| Gummi | Simple LaTeX editor |
| TexLab | Cross-platform implementation of the Language Server Protocol for LaTeX |
| Pybliographer | Tool for managing bibliographic databases |
| LaTeXDraw | Graphical drawing editor for LaTeX |
| latexindent.pl | Highly configurable formatter for LaTeX source code |
| tex-fmt | Fast formatter for LaTeX source files |
| Latexmk | Automates the process of compiling LaTeX documents |
| KLatexFormula | Useful utility for creating images from LaTeX equations |
| Hieroglyphic | Find LaTeX symbols |
| Hand TeX | Handwritten LaTeX symbol classifier |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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