List of LaTeX Editors and Compilers on Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa Linux

Table of Contents#

1. Prerequisites
2. LaTeX Compilers on Ubuntu 20.04
   • TeX Live
   • MiKTeX (Linux Version)
   • LaTeX Engines: pdfLaTeX, XeLaTeX, LuaLaTeX
3. LaTeX Editors on Ubuntu 20.04
   • GUI Editors
     • TeXmaker
     • TeXstudio
     • Kile
     • LyX
     • Gummi
     • Overleaf (Web-Based)
   • Terminal/IDE-Based Editors
     • Emacs with AUCTeX
     • Vim with vim-latex
     • VS Code with LaTeX Workshop
4. How to Compile a LaTeX Document on Ubuntu 20.04
5. Conclusion
6. References

Prerequisites#

Before installing LaTeX tools, ensure your Ubuntu 20.04 system is up-to-date:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

You’ll also need sudo privileges to install packages.

LaTeX Compilers on Ubuntu 20.04#

A LaTeX compiler converts your .tex source code into a readable format (e.g., PDF). Ubuntu 20.04 supports two primary compiler distributions: TeX Live (most common) and MiKTeX (less common on Linux but available).

1. TeX Live#

TeX Live is the gold standard for LaTeX on Linux. It includes all major LaTeX engines, packages, and utilities.

Installation#

Ubuntu 20.04’s default repositories include TeX Live. Install the full distribution (recommended for most users) with:

sudo apt install texlive-full -y

Note: texlive-full is large (~6 GB) but includes all packages. For a minimal installation (basic tools only), use:

sudo apt install texlive-base texlive-latex-recommended -y

To install additional packages later (e.g., for fonts or languages), use:

sudo apt install texlive-fonts-extra texlive-lang-english  # Example: extra fonts + English support

Key Features#

• Includes engines: pdfLaTeX, XeLaTeX, LuaLaTeX, and LaTeX (DVI output).
• Pre-installed with thousands of packages (e.g., amsmath, graphicx).
• Regular updates via Ubuntu’s package manager.

2. MiKTeX (Linux Version)#

MiKTeX is a lightweight, Windows-centric LaTeX distribution, but it offers a Linux port. It differs from TeX Live by installing packages on-demand (useful for limited disk space).

Installation#

MiKTeX isn’t in Ubuntu’s default repos. Use the official PPA:

# Add MiKTeX GPG key
wget -qO - https://miktex.org/download/keyring.gpg | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/miktex-keyring.asc > /dev/null
 
# Add MiKTeX repository
echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/miktex-keyring.asc] https://miktex.org/download/ubuntu focal universe" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/miktex.list > /dev/null
 
# Install MiKTeX
sudo apt update && sudo apt install miktex -y
 
# Complete setup (run as regular user)
miktexsetup finish

Key Features#

• On-demand package installation (reduces initial disk usage).
• GUI and command-line package managers.
• Less common on Linux; may have compatibility issues with some Ubuntu tools.

3. LaTeX Engines: pdfLaTeX, XeLaTeX, LuaLaTeX#

TeX Live and MiKTeX include engines to compile .tex files. Here’s when to use each:

LaTeX Editors on Ubuntu 20.04#

Editors provide a user-friendly interface to write, edit, and preview LaTeX code. We’ll cover GUI editors (best for beginners) and terminal/IDE-based tools (for advanced users).

GUI Editors#

These tools offer point-and-click interfaces, live previews, and built-in compilation.

TeXmaker#

TeXmaker is a lightweight, cross-platform LaTeX editor with a clean interface. It’s ideal for beginners and casual users.

Installation#

TeXmaker is in Ubuntu’s repos:

sudo apt install texmaker -y

Key Features#

• Live PDF preview (synchronized with code).
• Auto-completion for LaTeX commands.
• Built-in spell checker and syntax highlighting.
• Support for pdfLaTeX, XeLaTeX, and LuaLaTeX.

Pros/Cons#

• Pros: Lightweight, fast, no bloatware.
• Cons: Fewer advanced features than TeXstudio.

TeXstudio#

TeXstudio is a fork of TeXmaker with enhanced features (e.g., better auto-completion, debugging tools). It’s widely regarded as the best GUI editor for LaTeX.

Installation#

TeXstudio is in Ubuntu’s universe repo (enabled by default on most systems):

sudo apt install texstudio -y

Key Features#

• Intelligent auto-completion (suggests commands, labels, and references).
• Built-in PDF viewer with forward/backward search (click PDF to jump to code).
• Syntax checking and error highlighting.
• Customizable keyboard shortcuts.

Pros/Cons#

• Pros: Feature-rich, beginner-friendly, active development.
• Cons: Slightly heavier than TeXmaker (~100 MB vs. 50 MB).

Kile#

Kile is a KDE-integrated LaTeX editor, perfect if you use the KDE desktop environment (e.g., Kubuntu).

Installation#

sudo apt install kile -y

Key Features#

• Tight integration with KDE (uses KDE themes, file managers).
• Project management tools (organize multi-file documents).
• LaTeX wizard for generating templates (e.g., articles, theses).

Pros/Cons#

• Pros: Great for KDE users, robust project support.
• Cons: Less polished on non-KDE desktops (e.g., GNOME).

LyX#

LyX is a “WYSIWYM” (What You See Is What You Mean) editor. Instead of writing raw LaTeX, you edit a visual document, and LyX generates LaTeX code in the background.

Installation#

sudo apt install lyx -y

Key Features#

• Visual editing (no need to memorize LaTeX commands).
• Drag-and-drop equation editing.
• Export to PDF, HTML, and Office formats.

Pros/Cons#

• Pros: Best for LaTeX beginners, intuitive for non-technical users.
• Cons: Limits control over raw LaTeX code (can be disabled).

Gummi#

Gummi is a minimalist editor focused on live preview. It’s ideal for quick document drafting.

Installation#

Gummi is in Ubuntu’s repos:

sudo apt install gummi -y

Key Features#

• Instant live preview (updates as you type).
• Distraction-free mode (hides toolbars).
• Lightweight (~20 MB).

Pros/Cons#

• Pros: Fast, simple, great for short documents.
• Cons: Lacks advanced features (e.g., project management).

Overleaf (Web-Based)#

Overleaf is a cloud-based LaTeX editor (no installation needed). It’s perfect for collaboration (share documents with others in real time).

Usage#

Access Overleaf via your browser: overleaf.com. Free accounts include basic features; paid plans add more storage and collaboration tools.

Key Features#

• Real-time collaboration (like Google Docs for LaTeX).
• Template gallery (e.g., IEEE papers, Beamer presentations).
• Automatic backups and version history.

Pros/Cons#

• Pros: No setup required, excellent for teamwork.
• Cons: Requires internet, limited offline access.

Terminal/IDE-Based Editors#

These tools are for users comfortable with the terminal or code editors like VS Code.

Emacs with AUCTeX#

Emacs is a powerful text editor; when paired with the AUCTeX package, it becomes a full-featured LaTeX IDE.

Installation#

sudo apt install emacs auctex -y

Key Features#

• Advanced code folding (collapse sections, environments).
• Interactive debugging (jump to errors with C-c ).
• Support for multi-file projects and BibTeX (citations).

Pros/Cons#

• Pros: Extremely customizable (via Emacs Lisp).
• Cons: Steep learning curve for new Emacs users.

Vim with vim-latex#

Vim users can add LaTeX support with the vim-latex plugin (also called latex-suite).

Installation#

1. Install Vim:

   sudo apt install vim -y

2. Install vim-latex via Vim’s package manager (e.g., vim-plug):
   • Add to ~/.vimrc:

     call plug#begin()
     Plug 'lervag/vim-latex'
     call plug#end()

   • Run :PlugInstall in Vim.

Key Features#

• Command abbreviations (e.g., ii expands to \item).
• PDF preview via :LLPStartPreview.
• Integration with pdflatex and BibTeX.

Pros/Cons#

• Pros: Fast, keyboard-driven workflow for Vim enthusiasts.
• Cons: Requires Vim proficiency; setup is non-trivial.

VS Code with LaTeX Workshop#

VS Code, a popular IDE, can be transformed into a LaTeX editor with the LaTeX Workshop extension.

Installation#

1. Install VS Code:

   sudo snap install code --classic  # Or use .deb from Microsoft’s site

2. Open VS Code → Extensions → Search for “LaTeX Workshop” → Install.

Key Features#

• Live PDF preview with sync (click code to jump to PDF).
• IntelliSense for LaTeX commands.
• Build automation (configurable via settings.json).

Pros/Cons#

• Pros: Familiar interface for VS Code users, rich ecosystem.
• Cons: Heavier than dedicated LaTeX editors.

How to Compile a LaTeX Document on Ubuntu 20.04#

Once you’ve installed an editor and TeX Live, here’s how to compile a simple document:

1. Write a .tex file (e.g., document.tex):

   \documentclass{article}
   \title{My First LaTeX Document}
   \author{John Doe}
   \date{\today}
   \begin{document}
   \maketitle
   Hello, \LaTeX!
   \end{document}

2. Compile with pdfLaTeX (via terminal or editor):

   • Terminal:

     pdflatex document.tex  # Generates document.pdf

   • GUI editors: Click “Build” or “Compile” (e.g., F5 in TeXstudio).

Conclusion#

Ubuntu 20.04 offers a wealth of LaTeX tools for every workflow:

• Beginners: Start with TeXstudio (feature-rich, easy) or LyX (visual editing).
• KDE Users: Use Kile for seamless desktop integration.
• Advanced Users: Try Emacs+AUCTeX (customizable) or VS Code+LaTeX Workshop (modern IDE).
• Collaboration: Use Overleaf (cloud-based, real-time editing).

Pair any editor with TeX Live (the default compiler) for the best experience.

References#

• TeX Live Official Site
• TeXstudio Documentation
• Ubuntu LaTeX Wiki
• LaTeX Workshop (VS Code)
• Overleaf