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Lesson 01 — Setup & Environment

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Summary

Installing TeX Live/MacTeX, choosing an editor (VS Code + LaTeX Workshop), the compile workflow, Overleaf, and using AI carefully.

Goal

In this first lesson we set up the environment: install TeX, pick an editor, learn the compile workflow, and look at online options (Overleaf) plus how to use AI to speed up writing.

1. Local installation (TeX Live)

1.1 What is TeX Live?

The most widely used LaTeX distribution. Includes the compiler (pdfTeX, XeTeX, LuaTeX), packages and utilities (bibtex, makeindex, latexmk).

brew install --cask mactex

Verify the install:

pdflatex --version
latexmk --version

Disk space

TeX Live (MacTeX) takes up 4-5 GB. If you need a smaller install, use basictex.

1.3 Windows

  • TeX Live: full installer (recommended if you need many packages).
  • MiKTeX: installs packages on demand.

1.4 Linux

Use your distro’s package manager (e.g. sudo apt install texlive-full on Ubuntu) or the official installer.

  • Multi-language support, Git integration.
  • The LaTeX Workshop extension adds compile-on-save, integrated PDF preview, and error/warning detection.

Recommended settings.json:

{
  "latex-workshop.latex.autoBuild.run": "onSave",
  "latex-workshop.latex.outDir": "%DIR%/build",
  "latex-workshop.view.pdf.viewer": "tab"
}

3. Basic compile workflow

  1. Write the .tex.
  2. Compile (via latexmk, VS Code, or Overleaf).
  3. Review the PDF.
latexmk -pdf -interaction=nonstopmode main.tex

Tip

-interaction=nonstopmode avoids getting stuck on errors, but always check the log.

4. Overleaf (online environment)

No install needed, real-time collaboration, automatic version history — at the cost of compile limits on the free plan and needing a connection.

  1. Create an account (Google, GitHub, email).
  2. Start a project from a template (article, report, ABNT, etc.).
  3. Upload files (.tex, .bib, images).
  4. Compile and view the PDF on the side.

5. Using AI with LaTeX (carefully)

  • Always ask for output as .tex or “LaTeX code”.
  • Review the result: AI can get commands or syntax wrong.
  • Improve the text step by step and keep the original file backed up.

🔗 References and related

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