What is Marp?

• Markdown Presentation Ecosystem - Write slides in simple Markdown syntax
• Separates Content from Form - Content in Markdown, styling in single CSS file
• Multiple Output Formats - Generate HTML, PDF, and PowerPoint presentations
• Current Style - Emulates preferred NERSC style (PRs welcome for more standard NERSC style!)

# Example build command
marp slides.md --pdf --theme ./nersc-theme.css

Marp Capabilities: Text and Images

Normal text works as expected, with support for bold, italic, and inline code.

You can also include images easily:

The Doudna building at NERSC

Marp Capabilities: Formulas

Mathematical formulas work great for HPC content:

For a matrix multiplication where is and is :

Marp Capabilities: Python Code

# JAX linear algebra example
import jax.numpy as jnp
from jax import random

# Create random matrices
key = random.PRNGKey(42)
A = random.normal(key, (1000, 1000))
B = random.normal(key, (1000, 1000))

# Matrix multiplication
C = jnp.dot(A, B)
print(f"Result shape: {C.shape}")

Code blocks support syntax highlighting for many languages.

Marp Capabilities: Shell Commands

# SSH to Doudna and check system
ssh username@doudna.nersc.gov

# Check available modules
module avail

# Load your favorite compiler
module load gcc/11.2.0

# Run your HPC application
srun -N 4 -n 128 ./my_hpc_app

Installation and Setup

Install Marp CLI:

npm install -g @marp-team/marp-core @marp-team/marp-cli

Basic Commands:

# Generate HTML
marp "slide_decks/docs/slides.md"

# Generate PDF
marp "slide_decks/docs/slides.md" --pdf

# Live editing with preview
marp --watch --preview "slide_decks/docs/slides.md"

# Debug mode for troubleshooting
marp --debug "slide_decks/docs/slides.md"

Auto-deployment and Documentation

GitHub Pages Integration:

• Automatic deployment via GitHub Actions workflow
• Slides published automatically on push to main branch

Documentation Resources:

• marp.app - Marp's main page
• marp-cli - Command line tool documentation
• marpit.marp.app - Official Marpit documentation
• Context7 MCP - For LLM assistance

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Version Control - Full Git history for slides
• Pull Requests - Collaborative review process for slide content
• LLM Assistance - Spell check, clarity improvements, conciseness

Cons:

• Loss of Interactivity - No Google Slides collaborative editing
• System Rigidity - More structured approach required
• Basic Template - Current styling is minimal (PRs welcome!)

Note: Community contributions welcome to improve the template!

Overview

What We've Covered:

• Marp as a Markdown-to-slides solution
• Separation of content and presentation
• Rich formatting capabilities (text, images, formulas, code)
• Installation and basic usage workflows
• Trade-offs between flexibility and collaboration

Key Benefits:

• Version controlled presentation content
• Reproducible slide generation
• Integration with modern development workflows

Perspectives

Things Still To Do:

• Enhance NERSC theme to match official branding guidelines
• Add more slide layout options (two-column, comparison slides)
• Improve mobile/responsive viewing experience
• Expand code syntax highlighting support
• Create slide template library for common presentation patterns

Get Involved:

• Fork the repository and create your own slide_decks
• Submit PRs to improve the NERSC theme
• Share feedback on workflow and usability