LaTeX Environment Setup

Quick Reference

When to use this skill:

• Installing LaTeX on a new machine
• Setting up MacTeX distribution
• Configuring Skim PDF viewer with SyncTeX
• Verifying LaTeX installation
• Troubleshooting missing packages

Recommended Stack

Component	Purpose	Status
MacTeX 2025	Full LaTeX distribution (TeX Live 2025)	✅ Recommended
Skim 1.7.11	PDF viewer with SyncTeX support	✅ macOS only
TeXShop 5.57	Integrated LaTeX IDE (optional)	✅ Native macOS

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Quick Start

Install MacTeX

brew install --cask mactex
# Size: ~4.5 GB (includes everything)

Verify Installation

tex --version
# Expected: TeX 3.141592653 (TeX Live 2025)

pdflatex --version
latexmk --version

Test Compilation

echo '\documentclass{article}\begin{document}Hello World!\end{document}' > test.tex
pdflatex test.tex
ls test.pdf  # Verify PDF created

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Post-Installation Checklist

• Verify

  tex --version

  shows TeX Live 2025
• Verify

  latexmk --version

  shows 4.86a+
• Verify

  pdflatex test.tex

  creates PDF
• Install Skim if using mactex-no-gui
• Test SyncTeX: compile with

  -synctex=1

  flag
• Configure Skim preferences for editor integration
• Add

  /Library/TeX/texbin

  to PATH if needed
• Test package installation:

  sudo tlmgr install <package>

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Reference Documentation

For detailed information, see:

• Installation - Full MacTeX vs lightweight options, Skim installation
• Verification - Check installation, verify PATH, test compilation
• Package Management - Check, install, search for packages with tlmgr
• Skim Configuration - Enable SyncTeX, configure preferences for editor integration
• Troubleshooting - PATH issues, tlmgr problems, permissions

See Also:

• Build Workflows: Use

  latex/build

  skill for latexmk automation
• Table Creation: Use

  latex/tables

  skill for tabularray usage