I’ve created a new latex style to mimic some old school UNIX manuals I’ve been reading the past few months. It’s a very plain style that keeps out of your face. This in contrast with the blockbook style

This is how it looks:

screenshot from atroff rendered page

You can read about it a small howto doc. To use it, you will also need the class file.

UPDATE I’ve updated the style file so that the description lists will be indented with the same amount of space, no so more

item1  explanation
longer item  explanation

but like this

item1        explanation
longer item  explanation
even longer item
             explanation

This was done with the help of the LaTeX Companion. This is more in the style of manpages (according to the Companion). See line 100 in atstyle.cls.