some first thoughts, some lecturing needed

README.md

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+Template Confusion
+=========
+
+
+Many beginners are searching for a good template to help them
+start using LaTeX. But the internet is a strange place and a lot
+of stuff is going on. 
+
+There are many templates around, many different templates for
+different use cases. The word template can't even be pinned to
+one special meaning, there are lots of instances that are called
+*a template*. 
+
+
+Everyday, LaTeX helpers all over the world get questions based on
+a bad template. Bad in this case means unmaintained, no license
+statement, obsolete packages and practices, in parts even
+completely wrong input that leads to warnings from the very
+beginning. 
+
+As we can't get in touch with every maintainer of a web-page
+providing template-like stuff, does that mean the helpers should
+team up and start provide templates themselves? Team-maintained
+and up to date? Sean Allread started a [github repository called
+*texample*](https://github.com/vermiculus/texample) a while back
+with the idea of providing templates, or rather examples.
+
+Clemens Niederberger expressed some thoughts on templates in [The
+Template
+Story](http:https://www.mychemistry.eu/2015/07/the-template-story/) and
+[pinged](https://twitter.com/LaTeX_Chemistry/status/619135236560039937)
+services like [Overleaf](http:https://overleaf.com/) and [LaTeX
+Templates](http:https://www.latextemplates.com/) for opinions. 
+
+[Dmitry from
+Papeeria](http:https://www.mychemistry.eu/2015/07/the-template-story/#comment-870)
+said "Many templates are quick and dirty hacks, but very often
+they don’t need to be polished, because they are just fine for
+their job." If i understand him correctly, he is talking about
+documentclasses there.
+
+[Vel from LaTeX templates]() on the other hands states his
+motives for setting up the web page: Getting new users started by
+providing easy usable commented tex-files where the user can
+input his/her own content. Every template is commented, *i.e.* a
+short note what a package does and why it is loaded.
+
+The last [comment by
+Clemens](http:https://www.mychemistry.eu/2015/07/the-template-story/#comment-888)
+is the following:
+
+>It came to me that this discussion seems to miss one thing:
+ there are templates on CTAN like classicthesis, tufte-book or
+ even my cnltx-doc. Seems like a natural place: a genuine LaTeX
+ template is a document class. In a way every document class is a
+ LaTeX template. Maybe what we are talking about are not so much
+ templates but examples for LaTeX usage…
+
+It seems, there are two general categories of templates.
+
+
+Fixed Output
+-------
+
+LaTeX classes and packages have a special license, most important
+to keep names unique. There are multiple university thesis
+packages on CTAN, each setting up a titlepage (hopefully using
+variables), setting the page layout in general, i.e. margins,
+fonts, chapter/section headings. The layout is fixed. 
+
+
+`classicthesis` sets very specific design ideas. The author
+explains those ideas, what they are based on and asks the user
+not to change the margins. In my experience, changing the margins
+is quite the first thing a `classicthesis`-user is changing. So
+... no fixed output. `classicthesis` (the package) is licensed (good thing)
+and every change to the original code has to be done by
+redefining or patching, which i think is quite scary and
+outputting for a new user. I think my point here is: Actually
+using a template might be easy, customizing it for own needs can
+be harder comparing to not using a template.
+
+One more thing to consider are package incompatibilities. If some
+package like `subfigure` or `hyperref` are loaded early in a
+class file, trouble is to be expected. 
+
+Those fixed templates usually come with own documentation and how
+to use it. Additionally introducing new commands if necessary.
+
+One of those fixed templates is the [Thesis Template by Sunil
+Patel](http:https://www.sunilpatel.co.uk/thesis-template/) which i
+think we all are familiar with to some extend. .From the FAQ
+section of the web site 
+
+> Why do I need to use this LaTeX Thesis Template?
+
+>It is not compulsory to use the LaTeX Thesis Template or any
+other LaTeX template, but here is one, ready, tested and
+documented for you to use. It is a template and structured
+framework and written to keep you organised and let you start
+writing your thesis straight away without spending time worrying
+about the formatting and layout.
+
+>Of course, you can do all of this yourself manually, but why
+re-invent the wheel?
+
+Non-fixed Output
+--------------
+
+No design decisions are hidden in a class or package file, maybe
+put in a file called `config.tex` or `structure.tex`. The user
+sees the whole bunch of stuff, comments behind. There might be
+packages loaded to suit almost all users. Three for table stuff,
+`tikz` for TikZ, `pgfplots` for diagrams, additional loading of
+package `color`, 4 different packages that set the font of the
+document, and finally package `xcolor` with some option. To top
+it off, several independent blocks of redefining internal
+commands using the `\makeatletter`/`\makeatother` combo
+Actually, that was made up, but that doesn't mean there is a
+template out there doing this. 
+
+Merely a small fraction here would be actually useful for a
+beginner. And that wall of code is scary once more. 
+
+
+----
+
+Either fixed or non-fixed layout, a template seems to be a
+prepacked bunch of files (at least one), something like a black
+box for a starter, you cannot judge what's inside.
+
+*A LaTeX template is like a box of chocolates - you never know
+what you're gonna get.*
+
+
+
+Does the life of a template end? 
+-------------
+
+When does a template stop being a template? Consider the most
+minimal template you can think of:
+
+ % report template
+ \documentclass{report}
+ \begin{document}
+ This is a very basic setup for writing a report, for example a
+ PhD thesis.
+ \end{document}
+
+I can use that basic template and i can make
+changes, for example define new commands and i can even do this:
+
+ % report template
+ \documentclass{report}
+ \begin{document}
+ This is a very basic setup for writing a report, for example a
+ PhD thesis. Use \texttt{\textbackslash\textbackslash} to get a new paragraph.\\\\%Nonsense
+ New paragraph
+ \end{document}
+
+Sadly, the internet is full of that non-truth and i could
+distribute that by uploading it to a prominent place and give it
+to friends. A newcomer looking for a template to get started
+sees it and believes that to be true. Every template is correct,
+right? 
+Is the above a template, or rather a (bad) example. Should i (the
+user working based on the initial template) remove the comment
+line before starting to work? 
+
+
+
+Best before end?
+---------------
+
+
+LaTeX moves on every day. Does code have a *best before end* life
+span? What happens to unmaintained code? How can a community
+assure that code is up to date?
+
+
+-----
+
+As part of one of the best communities of the world `;-)` i think
+we can work together to establish some common standards of *best
+practice* (What does that even mean?) to improve the initial
+state of future templates and improve the current situation. 
+
+What do you think? It this worth the effort and something cane
+be done? Can the questions above be answered? Are there more
+questions concerning templates? The good news is, we have the
+guys from [ShareLaTeX](https://www.sharelatex.com/),
+[Overleaf](https://www.overleaf.com/) and [LaTeX
+Templates](http:https://www.latextemplates.com/) on board willing to
+make improvements. Those improvements will (hopefully) improve
+the overall image, accessibility and user experience.