basictex ☆
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Description:
Compact TeX distribution as alternative to the full TeX Live / MacTeX
Type: Cask  |  Latest Version: 2026.0301@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
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Mar 2, 2026 11:26am 2026.0301 0 VERSION_BUMP 0577cc53
Mar 21, 2023 9:01am 2023.0314 0 VERSION_BUMP b9556c52
Jun 30, 2022 8:45am 2022.0314 0 VERSION_BUMP c26fdf2a
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