How do I install the Latex Build skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add majiayu000/latex-build in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Latex Build safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Independent scanners report: SkillSpector: PASS, Skill Scanner: PASS. Capability flags: docs only. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Latex Build?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Latex Build free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Latex Build?

majiayu000 (@majiayu000) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Latex Build by majiayu000 — Agent Skill

Name: Latex Build
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: majiayu000

File contents

LaTeX Build Automation

Quick Reference

When to use this skill:

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

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 - Build options and output formats
Multi-File Projects - Automatic dependency tracking for complex documents
Configuration - .latexmkrc and Makefile integration
Troubleshooting - Common build issues and solutions
Advanced Patterns - 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

---name: latex-builddescription: LaTeX builds with latexmk and live preview. TRIGGERS - latexmk, LaTeX build, live preview, compilation.--- # LaTeX Build Automation ## Quick Reference **When to use this skill:** - Compiling LaTeX documents - Setting up live preview with auto-rebuild - Managing multi-file projects - Troubleshooting build failures - Cleaning build artifacts - Automating compilation workflows ## 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 ```bash latexmk -pdf document.tex # Result: document.pdf created ``` ### Live Preview (Watch Mode) ```bash 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 ```bash # 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

Frequently asked questions

Latex Build