A New Typst Template for Pandoc (2025)

A new Typst template for Pandoc was released in 2025, offering enhanced capabilities for PDF document formatting and layout customization. This development addresses compatibility issues caused by recent updates to Typst and Pandoc, providing users with a more robust and flexible workflow for converting markdown to PDF.

The developer behind the template, active since last summer, redesigned it to work with the latest versions of Typst (v0.13) and Pandoc (currently at v3.6.4). The new setup leverages Pandoc’s default Typst output template, which is minimal and now works seamlessly with a dedicated Typst template file, named ‘article.typ’. This approach separates Pandoc’s logic from Typst’s, enhancing long-term stability.

The template processes document metadata such as title, author, and date, and supports detailed styling options, including headers, footers, font features, block quotations, headings, and labeled sections like epigraphs and references. It allows customization of page layout, font styles, and document structure directly within the Typst code, making it suitable for academic articles, reports, and other professional documents. The setup is designed to be easily adaptable, with users able to disable or modify sections as needed. The developer emphasizes that this new approach improves robustness compared to previous templates, which broke after software updates.

Why It Matters

This development matters because it provides users with a more reliable and customizable workflow for generating PDF documents from markdown using Pandoc and Typst. As both tools have evolved rapidly, previous templates became incompatible, causing disruptions for users relying on automated, high-quality typesetting. The new template addresses these issues, enabling more precise control over document layout and typography, which is especially valuable for academics, publishers, and technical writers seeking professional output.

Background

Last summer, the developer created an initial Typst template for Pandoc, aiming to improve document layout and typography. Since then, both Typst and Pandoc have undergone multiple updates, with Typst reaching v0.13 and Pandoc at v3.6.4. These updates introduced changes that rendered earlier templates incompatible, prompting the developer to revisit and overhaul the workflow in spring 2025. This effort resulted in a new, more modular template system that leverages Pandoc’s native template variable passing, separating Pandoc’s logic from Typst’s styling code. The development reflects ongoing efforts within the open-source community to maintain compatibility amid rapid software evolution.

“This new setup is designed to be more robust long-term, separating Pandoc’s logic from Typst’s styling, making it easier to adapt to future updates.”

— the developer

“The template processes all recognized metadata and offers detailed styling options for headers, footers, fonts, and layout, making it highly customizable.”

— the developer

What Remains Unclear

It is not yet clear how widely adopted this new template will become or how it will perform with future versions of Typst and Pandoc. The developer notes that the current implementation is tailored for specific versions and workflows, and compatibility with future updates remains to be tested.

What’s Next

Next steps include community testing and feedback, potential integration into broader workflows, and ongoing updates to ensure compatibility with future versions of Typst and Pandoc. The developer plans to provide further documentation and support for users customizing the template.

Key Questions

How do I use the new Typst template with Pandoc?

Run Pandoc with the command: pandoc file.md -o file.pdf -V template=article.typ --pdf-engine=typst. Ensure your markdown file contains metadata blocks for title, author, and date.

What customization options does the template support?

The template allows customization of headers, footers, fonts, headings, block quotes, citations, and layout styles directly within the Typst code. You can disable or modify sections to suit your needs.

Will this template work with future versions of Typst and Pandoc?

The current version is optimized for Typst v0.13 and Pandoc v3.6.4. Compatibility with future updates will depend on ongoing maintenance and community feedback.

Can I modify the styling within the Typst template?

Yes, the template is designed to be customizable. You can adjust styles for headings, block quotes, references, and other elements by editing the Typst code directly.

Source: Hacker News