Enhancing Medium with MathJax: A Call for Change
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The Need for MathJax in Medium
Medium has become a popular platform for sharing written content, yet it lacks an essential feature: the integration of MathJax.
The Issue at Hand
While I truly appreciate Medium for its user-friendly interface and its potential as a writing platform, I find it perplexing that there is no dedicated compiler for mathematical notation in their markdown editor. Many mainstream markdown editors, such as Obsidian, Notion, and Jupyter Notebook, have embraced MathJax, making it easier for users to incorporate mathematical expressions. Unfortunately, Medium's editor has yet to adopt a LaTeX compiler.
Why MathJax Matters
- A Technical Community Exists on Medium
Medium hosts a significant community focused on science, technology, and data, all of which often require mathematical notation. How can we effectively discuss advancements in fields like deep learning without a capable mathematics compiler? The inability to easily include mathematical expressions impacts how these communities communicate on the platform. We cannot simply encode every mathematical equation using Unicode or resort to JPEG images.
- Community Demand for Enhanced Editing Tools
Numerous posts circulating on Medium express the frustrations of users who wish to write mathematics. Many have shared tips, but these often lead back to the same limitations—primarily converting to JPEG or Unicode characters. The only viable workaround I've found involves using an external service to generate a PDF from LaTeX, forcing me to split my articles into two categories: one for standard content and another for mathematical notation.
- The Limitations of Unicode
Recently, I discussed my initiative to create mathematical content on Medium with a friend. He was eager to contribute until I mentioned the absence of MathJax. The realization that writing everything in Unicode would be impractical led him to withdraw from the project. The incorporation of MathJax would significantly streamline the process of writing mathematical formulas, not to mention that the resulting expressions would be visually appealing.
Conclusion
I am a fan of Medium and believe it has the potential to be the premier writing platform for all. Let's advocate for the integration of MathJax to support mathematical expression! #MATHJAXISCOOL
Chapter 1: Understanding MathJax
This video provides a comprehensive overview of using MathJax within the [[Obsidian]] environment, illustrating its capabilities for rendering mathematical equations.
Chapter 2: MathJax in HTML
Explore how to utilize MathJax in HTML documents through this informative tutorial, showcasing its integration and functionality.