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I proposed in chat that we put together a "Best of TikZ on TeX-SX" package. There have been some really neat answers to problems developed on the site, and I think it would be nice to put them together in to some sort of easily usable state. My reasons are:

  1. It's easier to download a single package/style file than to cut and paste a load of code from here, there, and everywhere into ones preamble.
  2. Some of the code could do with a bit of polishing (for example, putting in to a macro, hiding internal bits) that are standard when making a package, but not when posting an answer here.
  3. Publicity: Ideally, these would get used and the people who used them would find out about us.

By doing this as a collective venture, I hope that:

  1. It is a real community project. I'm not so naive that I think that loads of people will do the necessary work, but hopefully lots of people will see what's going on and at least feel as though it's based on the community's collective work.
  2. It isn't loads of work for any one person. Most of the stuff I'm thinking of is already workable, so I'm hoping it won't take too much work to put it together.
  3. This is only the first of many ...

On that last note, I'm picking TikZ because it's the area I think I've contributed most to. Also, there's a reasonable volume of TikZ answers here to choose from, and a good number of people contributing them.

First Steps: We need some code to put in the package, and some volunteers willing to take part. I think that we can adapt the SE software to gather all that information here! So:

  1. If you like or dislike the idea, vote on this question accordingly.
  2. Propose (and link to) TikZ/PGF answers on the main site that you would like to see in such a package in answers to this question, one link per answer. Also vote for those you like (but the people who volunteer to put it together will have the final say). Please bear in mind that to be worth putting in a package, it has to be something that you can envision being used several times. Proposing your own answers is not only acceptable but actively encouraged. If, when reading an answer, something occurs to you as a possible improvement, please make a note of it (just the idea at this stage).
  3. In one answer, we can collect names of volunteers who are willing to do a bit of extra work polishing the answers. I'll start this off, make it CW, and "accept" it (when I can) to ensure that it is easily distinguished from the rest.

Template for proposals

### TikZ/PGF Answer:

### Brief Description:

### Possible Improvements:

Further discussion on this topic is available here:

TikZ/PGF answer package, Part 2

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    this is great! let us know if there's anything the community team can do to assist.
    – Jeff Atwood
    Apr 1, 2011 at 8:56
  • @Andrew: Your acceptance won't make it stay on top; that doesn't work for self-accepts.
    – Hendrik Vogt
    Apr 1, 2011 at 8:56
  • @Hendrik: Didn't know that! Nonetheless, the important thing is to distinguish the volunteers answer from the rest and "accepting" it will at least do that.
    – Andrew Stacey
    Apr 1, 2011 at 9:19
  • @Hendrik: I've edited accordingly.
    – Andrew Stacey
    Apr 1, 2011 at 9:20
  • @Andrew: Do you want me to make the answer or the whole thread a CW?
    – Martin Scharrer
    Apr 1, 2011 at 9:51
  • @Martin: Whoops! I forgot to make that answer CW (done). As for the whole thread, I don't see any advantage in it being CW, but I don't see any disadvantage either.
    – Andrew Stacey
    Apr 1, 2011 at 10:03
  • @Martin: On second thoughts, I thought of a use for CW mode so, yes please hit it with Mjolnir.
    – Andrew Stacey
    Apr 1, 2011 at 10:10
  • 1
    I also have some other TikZ solutions I was planning to publish as part of a bundle. They are no questions here on TeX.SX which ask about it (yet) (but with great foresight I already coded them ;-) ). One would add more anchors to existing standard node shapes like rectangle, like east north east, for points at 25% and 75% of the height and width.
    – Martin Scharrer
    Apr 1, 2011 at 11:05
  • @Martin: If you're pondering including them in this, I'd say that that was fine. So long as the majority come from TeX-SX then I think that adding a few extra is fine. You could always tell me what they are and I'll ask a question for you!
    – Andrew Stacey
    Apr 1, 2011 at 11:22
  • @Martin: I definitely want to see your idea about the extra nodes for standard shapes, I needed something exactly like that earlier today and ended up using coordinate calculations. tex.stackexchange.com/questions/14769/…
    – Jake
    Apr 1, 2011 at 21:04
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    this is an interesting project. in my opinion, it could use a manual (which i will volunteer to proofread). and when it's done, i would like to solicit an overview article for tugboat.
    – barbara beeton
    Sep 14, 2011 at 14:34
  • @barbara: Thanks for your support and offer of help. At the moment, the project is proceeding in more of a piecemeal way than as one huge project (in particular, I don't think we'll ever declare it "done"!). The first "package" is already on CTAN (braids) and I have a couple of others that just need polishing. Other things keep getting in the way!
    – Andrew Stacey
    Sep 14, 2011 at 17:45
  • 2
    @Andrew -- even if it's piecemeal, there will probably come a time when it reaches a critical mass. i'd like to reiterate my suggestion to present it, when it reaches that point, in a tugboat article. although i recognize a lot of tugboat readers among the members of tex.sx, there's still likely to be a residue that haven't yet found there way here. some free publicity wouldn't hurt.
    – barbara beeton
    Sep 16, 2011 at 15:15

39 Answers 39

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TikZ/PGF Answer:

How can I draw a cake using TikZ?

Brief Description:

Proof that you can do everything with TikZ, even the invitations for the birthday party of your children.

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TikZ/PGF Answer:

Surface of Revolution

Brief Description:

Drawing the surface created by rotating a curve around an axis.

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TikZ/PGF Answer:

TikZ - multi-color double circle node

Brief Description:

Drawing nodes with a double circular border, connectable by both circles.

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TikZ/PGF Answer:

Spirograph, Continuous Rotations in TikZ or PSTricks

Brief Description:

Drawing rotatinally symmetric objects.

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TikZ/PGF Answer:

Drawing simple 3D cylinders in TikZ

Brief Description:

Drawing cylinders correctly, independant of the orientation of the coordinate axes.

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TikZ/PGF Answer:

Topological Quantum Field Theory diagrams with pstricks or tikz

Brief Description:

Drawing diagrams about topological quantum field theory.

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  • This one has actually already been done (not sure if you're aware of that) - and while I'm commenting, are you on some sort of mission, here! I just got 15 notifications in my SE inbox.
    – Andrew Stacey
    Feb 19, 2012 at 19:30
  • Caffeine is not a drug! No, it's not! NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
    – Tom Bombadil
    Feb 19, 2012 at 23:02
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TikZ/PGF Answer:

Triangular numbers in TikZ

Brief Description:

Drawing a number of spheres perfectly aligned in a triangle.

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TikZ/PGF Answer:

How to change the line width of the lines connecting spies and the spied region

Brief Description:

influencing both the line conncting the spy and the spied region, as well as the border of the spied region.

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TikZ/PGF Answer:

How can we draw a Christmas tree with decorations, using TikZ?

Brief Description:

Drawing a decorated christmas tree.

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