SkillsAdd

smithery/terrylica

latex-build

LaTeX builds with latexmk and live preview. TRIGGERS - latexmk, LaTeX build, live preview, compilation.

Installation

$ npx skills add smithery/terrylica --skill latex-build
View on skills.sh ↗ Website ↗

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More details

Agent compatibility

Declared targets from SKILL.md / docs. Unmarked agents are not listed — the skill may still install via the CLI.

Claude Code Not declared
Cursor Not declared
Codex Not declared
GitHub Copilot Not declared
Windsurf Not declared
Gemini CLI Not declared
Cline Not declared
OpenCode Not declared

Skill metadata

Parsed from SKILL.md frontmatter.

Allowed toolsRead, Edit, Bash

Package contents

Files included with this skill beyond the listing page.

  • skill md SKILL.md 4,772 B
  • docs SUMMARY.md 122 B

History

  1. First recorded snapshot · 0 installs

SKILL.md

LaTeX Build Automation

Self-Evolving Skill: This skill improves through use. If instructions are wrong, parameters drifted, or a workaround was needed — fix this file immediately, don't defer. Only update for real, reproducible issues.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

  • Compiling LaTeX documents
  • Setting up live preview with auto-rebuild
  • Managing multi-file projects
  • Troubleshooting build failures
  • Cleaning build artifacts
  • Automating compilation workflows

Quick Reference

Why latexmk?

Industry standard build tool:

  • Auto-detects dependencies (bibliography, index, etc.)
  • Runs correct number of times (handles cross-references)
  • Live preview mode watches for file changes
  • Works with Skim for SyncTeX auto-reload
  • Bundled with MacTeX (no separate install needed)

Basic Usage

One-Time Build

latexmk -pdf document.tex
# Result: document.pdf created

Live Preview (Watch Mode)

latexmk -pvc -pdf document.tex

# What happens:
# - Compiles document initially
# - Watches for file changes
# - Auto-recompiles when files change
# - Auto-reloads PDF in Skim viewer

Stop watching: Press Ctrl+C

Quick Reference Card

# Build once
latexmk -pdf document.tex

# Live preview (watch mode)
latexmk -pvc -pdf document.tex

# Build with SyncTeX
latexmk -pdf -synctex=1 document.tex

# Clean artifacts
latexmk -c              # Keep PDF
latexmk -C              # Remove PDF too

# Force rebuild
latexmk -gg -pdf document.tex

# Non-interactive (for CI)
latexmk -pdf -interaction=nonstopmode document.tex

Build Checklist

  • Verify latexmk installed: which latexmk
  • Test basic build: latexmk -pdf document.tex
  • Enable SyncTeX: Add -synctex=1 flag
  • Test live preview: latexmk -pvc -pdf document.tex
  • Configure Skim for auto-reload
  • Create Makefile for common tasks (optional)
  • Create .latexmkrc for project-specific settings (optional)
  • Test clean: latexmk -c removes artifacts

Reference Documentation

For detailed information, see:

  • [Common Commands](./references/common-commands.md) - Build options and output formats
  • [Multi-File Projects](./references/multi-file-projects.md) - Automatic dependency tracking for complex documents
  • [Configuration](./references/configuration.md) - .latexmkrc and Makefile integration
  • [Troubleshooting](./references/troubleshooting.md) - Common build issues and solutions
  • [Advanced Patterns](./references/advanced-patterns.md) - Parallel builds and CI/CD integration

Official Docs: Run man latexmk or latexmk -help for complete reference

See Also:

  • Use latex/setup skill for installing LaTeX and configuring environment
  • Use latex/tables skill for creating tables with tabularray

Troubleshooting

Issue Cause Solution
latexmk not found Not in PATH Add /Library/TeX/texbin to PATH
Undefined control sequence Missing package Check \usepackage statements for required packages
References show ?? Need multiple runs latexmk handles this automatically; ensure no errors
Live preview not updating Skim auto-reload disabled Skim Preferences → Sync → Check for file changes
Build hangs Input prompt in nonstop mode Use -interaction=nonstopmode flag
PDF not updating Build error preventing output Check .log file for specific error
SyncTeX not working Missing -synctex=1 flag Add -synctex=1 to build command
Too many aux files Normal build artifacts Run latexmk -c to clean (keeps PDF)

Post-Execution Reflection

After this skill completes, check before closing:

  1. Did the command succeed? — If not, fix the instruction or error table that caused the failure.
  2. Did parameters or output change? — If the underlying tool's interface drifted, update Usage examples and Parameters table to match.
  3. Was a workaround needed? — If you had to improvise (different flags, extra steps), update this SKILL.md so the next invocation doesn't need the same workaround.

Only update if the issue is real and reproducible — not speculative.