The beamer class is a latex class that allows you to create a beamer presentation. it can also be used to create slides. it behaves similarly to other packages like prosper, but has the advantage that it works together directly with pdflatex, but also with dvips.

once you have installed the beamer class, the basic steps to create a beamer presentation are the following:
- specify beamer as document class instead of article.
- structure your latex text using \section and \subsection commands.
- place the text of the individual slides inside \frame commands.
- run pdflatex on the text (or latex and dvips).
the beamer class has several useful features: you don't need any external programs to use it other than pdflatex, but it works also with dvips. you can easily and intuitively create sophisticated overlays. finally, you can easily change the whole slide theme or only parts of it.