Markdown to PDF

Convert markdown to PDF using pandoc with xelatex. Produces clean sans-serif output with syntax-highlighted code blocks.

Prerequisites

• pandoc (brew install pandoc)
• basictex (brew install --cask basictex)
• LaTeX packages: sudo tlmgr install fontspec unicode-math selnolig upquote microtype parskip xurl bookmark fancyvrb csquotes framed fvextra

Command

pandoc INPUT.md -o OUTPUT.pdf \
  --resource-path=DIRECTORY_CONTAINING_IMAGES \
  --pdf-engine=xelatex \
  -H ~/.claude/skills/md-to-pdf/wrap-code.tex \
  -V mainfont="Helvetica Neue" \
  -V monofont="Menlo" \
  -V fontsize=11pt \
  -V geometry:margin=1in \
  -V colorlinks=true \
  -V linkcolor=NavyBlue \
  -V urlcolor=NavyBlue \
  --syntax-highlighting=tango

Usage Notes

• --resource-path must point to the directory containing any images referenced in the markdown (relative paths). Usually the directory the markdown file lives in.
• -H wrap-code.tex loads fvextra and redefines pandoc's Highlighting environment with breaklines/breakanywhere, so long lines in code blocks wrap inside the page (with a ↪ continuation marker) instead of running off the right edge.
• On macOS, Helvetica Neue and Menlo are always available. On Linux, substitute with DejaVu Sans / DejaVu Sans Mono. On Windows, Segoe UI / Cascadia Code.
• Helvetica Neue lacks some glyphs (e.g. → U+2192). If pandoc warns Missing character, pre-process the source to render those glyphs as math, e.g. sed 's/→/$\\rightarrow$/g' IN.md > tmp.md, then convert tmp.md.
• If the output PDF lands in a sandboxed-unwritable directory (e.g. ~/Downloads), write to $TMPDIR first and mv it to the destination.
• The tango syntax highlighting theme works well with light backgrounds. Other options: kate, monochrome, espresso, haddock, zenburn.