basictex ☆

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Description:
Compact TeX distribution as alternative to the full TeX Live / MacTeX

Type: Cask | Latest Version: 2025.0308@0 | Tracked Since: Dec 17, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: Developer tools

Tags: latex texlive typesetting document-compilation scientific-computing

Install: brew install --cask basictex

About:
BasicTeX is a minimal TeX Live distribution designed for users who need core typesetting capabilities without the full MacTeX installation. It provides essential packages for compiling LaTeX documents while maintaining a small footprint. Users can extend its functionality by installing additional packages via the tlmgr tool as needed.

Key Features:

Minimal installation footprint compared to full MacTeX
Includes tlmgr for on-demand package management
Supports standard LaTeX document compilation
Provides essential TeX Live utilities

Use Cases:

Compiling LaTeX documents for academic papers or reports
CI/CD pipelines requiring LaTeX compilation
Systems where disk space is limited

Alternatives:

mactex – Full TeX Live distribution with all packages pre-installed
texlive – Unix-like TeX distribution installed via package managers

Version History

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