Overview
This section describes how to install the basic LaTeX packages as well as additional tools such as LaTeX editors on your OS.
New to LaTeX?
“Installing LaTeX” means installing a distribution (e.g. TeX Live) that bundles the TeX compiler, style sheets, and packages. See Terms if you want the full picture before continuing.
Installation Procedure
Though slightly different, the procedure remains ultimately the same for both installation methods mentioned below:
Install LaTeX and its package manager or a way to run it (this document)
Install the BFH CI packages (see BFH LaTeX Installation)
Install an editor of your choice (see Tools and Editors)
Installation
There are two ways to install LaTeX and the BFH LaTeX packages. Pick one, if in doubt, choose Docker:
Choose Docker if you
want one setup that works the same on every OS
are fine with using VS Code as your editor
are a BFH member (the image is available to BFH members only)
are comfortable running a few commands in a terminal and learning basic Docker concepts
On your machine
Only Docker (and an editor) is installed. TeX Live, fonts, tools and the BFH LaTeX packages live in the image, and removing the image removes all of them.
Choose Native if you
already have TeX Live installed and use it regularly
want to use a standalone editor such as TeXstudio
cannot or do not want to run Docker on your machine
are comfortable following longer, OS-specific installation steps
On your machine
TeX Live, fonts, tools and the BFH LaTeX packages are installed directly on your system, and you remove each of them separately.
Note
Using BFH Windows (managed)? You may use the same steps as described in this manual for plain Windows. Just run “Make Me Admin” first (see FAQ)
Native
Note
Native installation requires you to install packages to your OS manually.
What You will Install
There are multiple things you will need to install to the correct location, depending on the operating system you use, making the process more complex than Docker, which comes with everything pre-installed.
Package |
Status |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
TeX Live distribution |
Required |
The TeX compiler, style sheets, and base packages |
|
Required |
Fallback font used by the BFH CI if BFH-Fonts is not installed |
Latexmk |
Recommended |
CLI tool to compile LaTeX documents |
Inkscape |
Recommended |
Converts SVG figures to PDF at build time |
Biber |
Recommended |
Generates bibliographies |
Make |
Optional |
Convenience for Makefile-based builds (GNU/Linux only, below) |
(LaTeX) Editor |
Recommended |
A way to edit your LaTeX files |
Continue with the native installation →
Docker
Note
The usage of Docker simplifies the installation steps in many ways, since only two things need to be installed.
What You will Install
Unlike the native installation, you will only need two things on your machine, and the workflow is the same on every OS. After installing Docker, you can immediately start developing LaTeX documents.
Package |
Status |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
Docker |
Required |
The engine allowing you to run our pre-built images coming with all LaTeX build dependencies |
(LaTeX) Editor |
Recommended |
A way to edit your LaTeX files |
Read more about Docker on docker.com.