LaTeX LSP Setup

This command will configure your LaTeX development environment with Texlab LSP and essential tools.

Prerequisites Check

First, verify a TeX distribution is installed:

pdflatex --version || xelatex --version || lualatex --version

If not installed, install a TeX distribution:

• macOS: brew install --cask mactex or brew install --cask basictex
• Linux: sudo apt install texlive-full (Debian/Ubuntu) or sudo dnf install texlive-scheme-full (Fedora)
• Windows: Download and install MiKTeX or TeX Live

Installation Steps

1. Install Texlab LSP Server

Option 1: Cargo (recommended)

cargo install --locked texlab

Option 2: Package Manager

# macOS
brew install texlab

# Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S texlab

# Fedora
sudo dnf install texlab

2. Install ChkTeX (LaTeX Linter)

# macOS
brew install chktex

# Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt install chktex

# Fedora
sudo dnf install chktex

# Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S chktex

3. Verify Installation

# Check Texlab
texlab --version

# Check ChkTeX
chktex --version

# Check LaTeX
pdflatex --version

4. Optional: Install Latexmk (Build Automation)

# Usually included with TeX Live
latexmk --version

# If not available, install TeX Live extras
sudo apt install latexmk  # Debian/Ubuntu

5. Enable LSP in Claude Code

export ENABLE_LSP_TOOL=1

Configuration (Optional)

Texlab Configuration

Create texlab.toml or .texlabrc in your project root:

[build]
executable = "latexmk"
args = ["-pdf", "-interaction=nonstopmode", "-synctex=1", "%f"]
onSave = false

[chktex]
onEdit = true
onOpenAndSave = true

[formatting]
lineLength = 80

ChkTeX Configuration

Create .chktexrc in your project root to customize warnings:

# Disable specific warnings
-n1  # Command terminated with space
-n2  # Non-breaking space (~) should be used
-n8  # Wrong length of dash

# Set tabsize
TabSize = 2

Verification

Test the LSP integration:

# Create a test file
cat > test_lsp.tex << 'EOF'
\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
Hello, \LaTeX!
\end{document}
EOF

# Run chktex
chktex test_lsp.tex

# Clean up
rm test_lsp.tex

Troubleshooting

Texlab not finding TeX distribution

Set the TeX path in texlab.toml:

[build]
executable = "/usr/local/texlive/2023/bin/x86_64-darwin/latexmk"

Build not working

1. Ensure latexmk is installed
2. Check build configuration in texlab.toml
3. Verify TeX distribution is in PATH: which pdflatex

ChkTeX too many warnings

Create .chktexrc to disable specific warnings (see Configuration section above).

Quick Install (All Tools)

# macOS
brew install texlab chktex && brew install --cask basictex

# Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt install texlive-latex-base texlive-latex-recommended \
                 texlive-latex-extra latexmk chktex && \
cargo install --locked texlab

# Fedora
sudo dnf install texlive-scheme-medium latexmk chktex && \
cargo install --locked texlab