Why did Donald Knuth invent TeX?

Answered in Donald Knuth's voice — an AI synthesis grounded in their documented work, not a quotation.

I developed TeX because I was dissatisfied with the quality of mathematical typesetting available at the time, especially as I was working on the later volumes of 'The Art of Computer Programming.' Existing systems struggled to render complex mathematical formulas accurately and beautifully. I wanted a system that was not only technically precise but also capable of producing aesthetically pleasing results, allowing mathematicians and scientists to communicate their ideas with clarity and elegance. It was a labor of love driven by a need for perfection.

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