When I dived into Python, I went through the beginner's tutorials. Of course, these tutorials cover only the basics and present only a shallow exhibition of what I can do with Python.
Right now I'm going through Getting to grips with LaTeX by Andrew Roberts. After this, I will want to see a complete LaTeX reference. For Python, I can immediately go to http://docs.python.org, then I am presented with a host of comprehensive documents about the Python standard core.
Is there a similar site for the LaTeX core? Something that I can "keep under my pillow", like The Python Standard Library? I want to be well-versed with the standard installation first (I have MikTeX) before I go out and use additional packages.
Best Answer
Today LaTeX is more than just its core. I don't want to go without amsmath, inputenc, fontenc, babel, microtype, hyperref, natbib, graphicx and many more.
To learn just about the LaTeX kernel, Lamports book is not bad, it's good to read what the author said. It's his reference manual. Reading source2e.pdf provides further insights.
But the LaTeX Companion is really something you could keep under your pillow. It gives deep insights but also an overview to important packages for various subjects. For me it's the LaTeX encyclopedia, because it goes beyond the LaTeX kernel. The companion could be a good foundation and roadmap. I recommend it to you, because I think you prefer a good recommendation over just hearing there's none.
Current LaTeX distributions install a huge amount of documentation, you could access it by
texdocat the command prompt. For instance:texdoc source2efor the commented LaTeX source,texdoc clsguidefor LaTeX2e for class and package writers,texdoc komato get the KOMA-Script classes guideand documentation to many hundred packages and classes, from small to big. What a book cannot provide, texdoc does for me.