We pushed the first post texlive 2025 update. Apart from a few pending patches, we spend some time on what we call retrotex and retropost. retrotex: Due to external factors the decision was made to let luatex math default to a more conservative handling of fonts: we just assume that opentype fonts are implemented like traditional tex fonts. This makes math in the engine behave like xetex. The primitives that relate to controling some aspects of math rendering are obsolete (we also removed experimental additional italics mode code). This change doesn't affect ConTeXt (MkIV) because there we do things differently. The adapted engine will be used in texlive 2026 (but we already have it in the distribution). retropost: We had to spend some time on fixing a bug in the mp library, one that was introduced when the additional number models were implemented and that surfaced when testing files of a power user. It was a rather nasty one that only showed up when using equations with no viable solution. In the process we (MS and HH) had to consult the metafont books, because we basically had to check all relevant code, and then fell in love with bitmaps. That made us decide to bring back bitmaps in the mp engine even if it sounds somewhat going back in time. We actually had some other reasons but those will be revealed at the meeting. tariffs: Talking of the ctx meeting, we might have to make some decisions there. A recent post on the list indicated that some installations default to letter size paper format, which one canconsider a bad idea but let's put that aside. The fact that installations can adapt that way, makes that we can also implement a tex tariffs system (tts) in accordance with current and upcoming European guidelines. For instance we can make context run 25 percent slower when the main language is us-english or 50 percent when fonts originating at (spineless) big tech companies are used. It's not that hard to do this (via directives). We assume that at some point tex installations used in the usa have to provide similar means but we leave that to those responsible for the distributions. After all, they already have to deal with excluding files that show traces of support for commercial fonts. At the meeting we might also decide to default to Canadian English patterns or those used in GB. And who knows if and when we're forced to (or feel that we have to) remove software components from the engine that relate too much to big tech or come with unacceptable demands for conformance. The good news here is that we have no dependencies that can't be overcome. Maybe we should also support the euro as math marker or just ditch the dollar for that purpose. Mixed in with preparations for the upcoming BT we will come back to some issues reported on the list. We've been a bit silent for various reasons but Wolfgang made sure all went well which feels good. Hans & Mikael ----------------------------------------------------------------- Hans Hagen | PRAGMA ADE Ridderstraat 27 | 8061 GH Hasselt | The Netherlands tel: 038 477 53 69 | www.pragma-ade.nl | www.pragma-pod.nl -----------------------------------------------------------------