# ConTeXt

> general-purpose document processor

**Wikidata**: [Q1123462](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1123462)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ConTeXt)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/context

## Summary
ConTeXt is a general-purpose document processor and TeX macro package distributed as free software. Created around 1991 by Hans Hagen and Ton Otten of Pragma ADE in the Netherlands, it was developed specifically to address the need for educational typesetting material. It is licensed under the GNU General Public License, version 2.0.

## Key Facts
- **Nature:** ConTeXt is a general-purpose document processor and a TeX macro package.
- **Developers:** It was created by Hans Hagen and Ton Otten (Pragma ADE, Netherlands).
- **Inception:** Development began around 1991.
- **License:** Distributed under the GNU General Public License, version 2.0.
- **Dependency:** It depends on the TeX typesetting system (created in 1978).
- **Distinction:** It is different from the software "ConTEXT."
- **Aliases:** Also known as "Context" or "ConTeXt Minimals."
- **Availability:** It is available as a package for Debian (stable), Ubuntu, and Gentoo (`dev-texlive/texlive-context`).

## FAQs
### Q: Who created ConTeXt and why?
A: ConTeXt was created by Hans Hagen and Ton Otten of Pragma ADE in the Netherlands around 1991. It was developed specifically to meet the need for educational typesetting material.

### Q: What licensing does ConTeXt use?
A: ConTeXt is free software distributed under the GNU General Public License, version 2.0. This allows users to freely run, study, change, and distribute the software.

### Q: What is the relationship between ConTeXt and TeX?
A: ConTeXt is classified as a TeX macro package. It functions as a document processor that depends on the TeX typesetting system, which was originally created in 1978.

## Why It Matters
ConTeXt serves as a robust, general-purpose document processor that bridges the gap between the complex capabilities of the TeX typesetting system and practical user needs. Its creation in the early 1990s provided a dedicated tool for educational typesetting, filling a specific niche in the academic and technical publishing landscape. By being free software, it ensures that users have the liberty to modify and distribute the code, fostering a community-driven approach to document engineering. It remains a significant tool for users requiring precise typographical control, distinct from other text editors or word processors due to its deep integration with TeX. Its continued availability across major Linux distributions like Debian, Ubuntu, and Gentoo highlights its enduring relevance in the software ecosystem.

## Notable For
- **Educational Focus:** Originally developed to fulfill specific needs in educational typesetting.
- **Creator:** Developed by Hans Hagen, a notable German professor of computer science and engineer.
- **Free Software:** Fully compliant with free software principles under the GPL v2.0.
- **Cross-Platform Packaging:** Maintained across multiple software repositories including CTAN, Debian, Ubuntu, and Gentoo.
- **Independence:** Distinct from the similarly named text editor "ConTEXT."

## Body

### Development and History
ConTeXt was created by Hans Hagen and Ton Otten of Pragma ADE, a company based in the Netherlands. The project inception occurred around 1991. The primary motivation for its development was the specific need for educational typesetting material. Hans Hagen, born in 1953, is a German professor of computer science, engineer, and university teacher credited with the creation of the software.

### Technical Classification
ConTeXt is classified as a TeX macro package and a general-purpose document processor. It is technically dependent on the TeX typesetting system, which was originally inceptioned in 1978. The software is designed to allow users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it, adhering to the definition of free software.

### Distribution and Licensing
The software is distributed under the GNU General Public License, version 2.0. It is accessible via its official website, the ConTeXt wiki (English), and is included in various operating system repositories:
- **Debian Stable:** `context`
- **Ubuntu:** `context`
- **Gentoo:** `dev-texlive/texlive-context`
- **CTAN:** `context`

### Identity and Branding
The software is sometimes referred to by the aliases "Context" or "ConTeXt Minimals." It maintains a specific logo and is categorized under "ConTeXt" on Wikimedia Commons. It is explicitly listed as being "different from" ConTEXT, a separate entity. The official Wikipedia description is "general-purpose document processor."

## References

1. [Source](https://www.contextgarden.net/Read_Me)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013