1.1 What Is groff?

groff belongs to an older generation of document preparation systems, which operate more like compilers than the more recent interactive WYSIWYG¹ systems. groff and its contemporary counterpart, TeX, both work using a batch paradigm: The input (or source) files are normal text files with embedded formatting commands. These files can then be processed by groff to produce a typeset document on a variety of devices.

groff should not be confused with a word processor, an integrated system of editor and text formatter. Also, many word processors follow the WYSIWYG paradigm discussed earlier.

Although WYSIWYG systems may be easier to use, they have a number of disadvantages compared to troff:

• They must be used on a graphics display to work on a document.
• Most of the WYSIWYG systems are either non-free or are not very portable.
• troff is firmly entrenched in all UNIX systems.
• It is difficult to have a wide range of capabilities within the confines of a GUI/window system.
• It is more difficult to make global changes to a document.

“GUIs normally make it simple to accomplish simple actions and impossible to accomplish complex actions.” –Doug Gwyn (22/Jun/91 in comp.unix.wizards)