How to use with typst

[toihr]

Hello everyone I am new to using this tool and in the install it says that you have to install an entire latex distribution. Is it also possible to just run everything over typst instead?

[CasperKristiansson]

Yes, for document generation, but not by switching the bundled templates: those remain LaTeX. Install Typst, then run /add-template twice—once with a Typst CV template and once with a Typst cover-letter template. For a .typ source it defaults to typst compile <file>.typ <file>.pdf, test-compiles it, and activates that command for /apply.

With both templates active, /apply uses their declared compile commands instead of lualatex or xelatex, so that workflow no longer needs a LaTeX compiler. You do need Typst versions of both documents; /add-template registers templates, but does not convert the bundled moderncv and cover.cls files.

[CasperKristiansson]

Not that I could find, unfortunately. Typst support here is more of a “bring your own template” setup. /add-template can register and compile .typ files, but there doesn’t seem to be a ready-made CV and cover-letter pair yet. You’d need to choose or adapt those yourself, then register each one.

[MadsLorentzen]

Confirming this answer - it's exactly right, and I verified each claim against add-template.md before marking it: a .typ source defaults to typst compile <file>.typ <file>.pdf, registration always ends in a mandatory test compile, and once both a CV and a cover-letter template are active, /apply uses their declared compile commands instead of the bundled LaTeX ones. The bundled moderncv/cover.cls templates stay LaTeX - /add-template registers, it doesn't convert - so you do need (or need to write) Typst versions of both documents, but after that no LaTeX distribution is required for the application workflow.

[toihr]

thank you both very much for helping me out here helps me tremendously.

[MadsLorentzen]

Update for anyone landing here: a community Typst CV + cover-letter template pair now exists - announced in #78 (#78 (reply in thread)). Both templates screened placeholder-only; register each with /add-template and the mandatory test compile will confirm they build on your machine. @toihr this is exactly what you were asking about.

[toihr]

Absolute Banger thank your for shooting me a notice.