Local-first scientific writing

From idea to paper, without losing the Typst source.

Hilbert is an unofficial desktop IDE for Typst. Write in Monaco, preview the PDF live, build the annoying scientific parts visually, run optional code cells, and keep the project as ordinary files on your machine.

Download latest release GitHub source Handbook PDF

Windows 10/11, macOS Intel and Apple Silicon, Linux AppImage/deb/rpm.

Typst CLI 0.15+ is required for compiling and PDF preview.

tinymist is recommended for hover docs, autocomplete, diagnostics, rename, and formatting.

Hilbert app showing a Typst editor and live PDF preview — Source on the left. Live PDF on the right. Last good preview stays visible if a compile fails.

No cloud account. No lock-in. Your folder stays your folder.

Note 01

Choose a tool, build it visually, keep the Typst.

Hilbert's visual tools are meant to remove repetitive syntax work, not hide the document. The output lands back in the source so you can edit, review, commit, export, and move the project elsewhere.

Pick the hard part

Matrix Studio, Plot Studio, cetz Canvas, Slide Studio, Feynman builder, Flowchart to Code, physics snippets, page setup, tables, figures, citations, or references.

less syntax recall

Fill it by hand

Drag, type values, choose columns, set colors, arrange shapes, preview the diagram, and adjust details while the app keeps the source form in mind.

visual, but not trapped

Write normal Typst

Generated material is inserted into your document as Typst, cetz, cetz-plot, fletcher, bibliography entries, or assets that the project can carry.

editable after insert

Preview while drafting

The PDF recompiles as you type. Problems show diagnostics, and Hilbert keeps the previous good PDF visible when the current edit breaks compilation.

tight feedback loop

Export and move on

Export PDF, PNG, SVG, HTML, plain Typst, or a whole project folder. Use Git, local-folder sync, Google Drive, WebDAV, Nextcloud, or ownCloud if configured.

ordinary files survive

Note 02

A proper scientist's toolbox.

Real screenshots from the app documentation. These are the features that should be visible on the page because they explain why Hilbert is more than a plain text editor.

Plots

Plot Studio

2D functions, 2D data, implicit and parametric plots, 3D surfaces, plus launchers for the interactive 3D studio and Python/matplotlib runner.

Equations

Matrix Studio

Build matrices and equation structures visually, including augmentation lines and bracket styles, then insert editable Typst math.

Physics

Feynman builder

Draw vertices and propagators visually. Hilbert emits editable cetz source for Feynman diagrams instead of a throwaway sketch.

Logic

Flowchart to Code

Turn drawn logic into structured while, if, and for code when a visual plan needs to become executable structure.

Slides

Slide Studio

Edit 16:9 decks with templates, shapes, curves, arrows, equations, alignment, thumbnails, undo/redo, and grid snapping.

References

Citations and labels

Look up DOI or arXiv records, save BibTeX, cite keys, add bibliographies, and catch undefined, duplicate, or unused labels.

Note 03

It does not only typeset maths. It can run the maths.

Code execution is optional. If the interpreters exist on your machine, Hilbert can run snippets, write results below code blocks, insert generated figures, or convert symbolic output into typeset equations.

Python

SymPy, NumPy, matplotlib

Run a selection or a code block. Insert text output, a plot, or equation-mode math such as a derivative.

diff(sin(x**2), x) # equation mode inserts: 2*x*cos(x**2)

Julia

Notebook sessions

Julia cells can share variables during Run Notebook. Latexify support is used for equation-mode output when installed.

```julia x = range(0, 2pi, length=200) y = sin.(x) ```

Wolfram

Optional WolframScript

Hilbert can call WolframScript for snippets. The handbook notes Wolfram is not OS-confined and keeps the source-pattern screen instead.

Integrate[Sin[x]^2, x]

Guardrails

Timeout and output caps

Notebook runs have a wall-clock timeout, 45 seconds by default, plus output truncation at 8 MB and OS limits on CPU and file size.

Sandbox

Depends on the platform

Linux uses bubblewrap when available. macOS uses Seatbelt. Windows and disabled-sandbox runs use a pattern screen for process, network, shell, and destructive calls.

Disable

Can be turned off

Set ALLOW_CODE_EXECUTION=0 to disable code execution completely. EXEC_TIMEOUT_MS changes the per-run timeout.

Note 04

The rest of the desk.

The everyday tools matter too: file handling, imports, templates, collaboration, performance, and export paths.

Files

Project folders

Open a folder, set the main Typst file, work with multi-file projects, use typst.toml, detect external edits, and choose what to keep when local unsaved edits conflict.

File tree

Operations included

New file/folder, rename, duplicate, delete, drag/drop moves, cut/copy/paste, upload assets, compress to zip, reveal in file manager, and full-text search.

Templates

Start from structure

Typst Universe templates with rendered preview, plus offline templates including a two-column journal paper and LaPreprint-style preprint.

Import

Data files

CSV, TSV, Excel, JSON, YAML, and TOML previews can become Typst tables, plots, or variables. Fonts can be imported from TTF and OTF files.

Export

Outputs

PDF with page ranges, PDF/A options, tagging, and pretty printing. Also PNG, SVG, HTML, plain Typst, and whole-project folder export.

Collab

Experimental sharing

Encrypted Yjs updates, presence, cursors, and preview sharing can run on LAN or through a standalone relay. The host must stay online.

More real screens

Not just claims on a page.

Data

Import data

Preview spreadsheets and structured files, then insert them into the document as tables, plots, or variables.

Physics

Equation gallery

Bra-kets, commutators, Dirac and Klein-Gordon equations, QED, Einstein equations, FRW metrics, and more.

Collab

Session sharing

Experimental offline-first collaboration for projects, generated plots, cursors, whiteboards, and preview state.

Install

Install Hilbert, Typst, and the language server.

Hilbert is the editor. Typst compiles. tinymist gives the richer editor intelligence. Python, Julia, and WolframScript are only needed for optional code execution.

Windows 10/11

winget

The handbook lists winget as the quick path. Release installers are also available on GitHub.

winget install --exact --id Aburousan.Hilbert winget install --exact --id Typst.Typst winget install --exact --id Myriad-Dreamin.Tinymist

macOS

DMG or Homebrew

Choose Apple Silicon for M-series Macs and Intel for older Macs. The app is not notarised, so the handbook includes a first-launch signing workaround.

brew install typst brew install tinymist brew install --cask aburousan/hilbert/hilbert

Linux

apt, AppImage, rpm

Debian/Ubuntu can use the apt repository. Other distros can use AppImage or rpm. Install bubblewrap for confined code execution.

sudo apt install hilbert sudo apt install bubblewrap

Open releases Feature list Collaboration docs

Honest notes

Independent

Not an official Typst app

Hilbert is an independent, community-built editor for Typst. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or maintained by the Typst team.

Offline-first

Local project by default

The default workflow is a local desktop app editing a folder on disk. Browser hosting and collaboration exist, but they are separate modes with their own setup and tradeoffs.

Updater

Platform behavior differs

The Tauri build checks for updates and asks before installing. AppImage can auto-update. deb installs are expected to update through apt.

Backups

Collaboration is experimental

Encrypted collaboration is useful, but the handbook still recommends backups for serious work and notes the host must stay online.