Useful books:

Lamport introductory book

LaTeX Companion

You might check out ~ruml/lib/tex

AAAI paper templates

for finding the tex name of a symbol you know how to draw: detexify

For Talks

the powerdot class and its manual

Wheeler has some powerdot samples

We've got a thesis template as well

Figures

graphicx

ps-tricks trees

Inkscape - vector drawing, snazzier than xfig

xfig

Dia?

tikz+pgf

gnuplot - yuck

Psuedo-code in Papers

Wheeler uses macros like this

\newcommand{\bncode}{
\begin{tabbing}
0. nn\=nn\=nn\=nn\=nn\=nn\=nn\=nn\=nn\=nn\kill
}
\newcommand{\ecode}{\end{tabbing}}

to format code like this

\begin{figure}

\bncode

1. while there is an \nblock\ with open nodes \\

2. \> lock; $b \leftarrow$ best free $n$block; unlock \\

3. \> while $b$ is no worse than the best free \nblock\ or \\

4. \> \> \> we've done fewer than $m$ expansions \\

5. \> \> $n \leftarrow$ best open node in $b$ \\

6. \> \> if $f(n) > f(\myit{incumbent})$, prune all open nodes in $b$ \\

7. \> \> else if $n$ is a goal \\

8. \> \> \> if $f($n$) < f(\myit{incumbent})$ \\

9. \> \> \> \> $\myit{incumbent} \leftarrow n$ \\

10. \> \> else for each child $c$ of $n$ \\

11. \> \> \> insert $c$ in the open list of the appropriate \nblock

\ecode

\caption{A sketch of the PBNF search framework.}

\label{fig:pbnf}

\end{figure} 

Some people like the algorithmicx package.

Configuring Latex

setenv TEXINPUTS .:~ruml/lib/tex/unhletter:~ruml/lib/tex/powerdot/run:~ruml/lib/tex/xkeyval/run:~ruml/lib/tex/xcolor:~ruml/lib/tex:

setenv DVIPSHEADERS ~ruml/lib/tex/pstricks/dvips:

setenv BSTINPUTS :.:~ruml/lib/tex:

For Posters

If you happen to use inkscape to produce your posters, it is possible to include latex directly:

At the menu bar at the top, go through the following, extensions -> render -> latex formula

This will allow you to input latex in math mode, and get an equation out.