LaTeX is a code-first typesetting system that separates your content from its visual styling. Instead of manually dragging elements around a screen, you write your logic and let the engine render pixel-perfect, consistently formatted PDFs automatically.

We just posted a new course on the freeCodeCamp YouTube channel will take you from absolute beginner to an advanced LaTeX programmer. This course was created by Ammar Taha.

This comprehensive course spans over 41 hours and is broken into six clear, practical phases:

• Phase I: Core Document Setup & Text Formatting – Master basic document architecture, paragraph flows, column layouts, custom margins, and running headers or footers.

• Phase II: Cross-Referencing & Mathematics – Learn to typeset flawless, complex mathematical equations (fractions, matrices, arrays) and automate proofs and theorems.

• Phase III: Code, Algorithms & Figures – Cleanly display source code blocks, format pseudo-code, and manage external images.

• Phase IV: Advanced Tabular Customization – Build beautifully formatted tables complete with cell wrapping, row highlighting, and multi-page layouts.

• Phase V: TikZ Graphics & Vector Drawing – Unlock LaTeX’s built-in vector drawing engine. Learn to program shapes, curves, automated loops, and data plots directly in your document, plus build slide decks using the Beamer class.

• Phase VI: Advanced LaTeX Programming & Bibliographies – Automate dynamic citations, script your build files, and write your own custom packages (.sty) using conditional logic.

Head over to the freeCodeCamp channel and learn how to write documents like a programmer (41-hour watch).

LaTeX is not a word processor like Microsoft Word – rather, it’s a document preparation system that allows you to focus on the content of your writing while it handles the formatting. If you use LaTeX to write your formal documents (like a CV, résumé, or research paper), then you don’t need to worry about the formatting and structure, as everything can be done using LaTeX scripts.

If you use LaTeX to write your academic or research papers, you might be familiar with website-based applications like Overleaf. Overleaf is a website that allows anyone to read, write, and compile LaTeX scripts online.

These sites are okay for small tasks or compilations, or if you need only a little bit of free collaboration. But if you need to work on bigger projects or need to conduct many collaborative tasks, then the free tier may be insufficient. And in my opinion, the paid subscription costs too much.

But don’t worry: running LaTeX locally may be the perfect solution for you. I know this because I also faced a similar situation, and this simply changed my life! I also keep all of the tracks in Git (GitHub, GitLab, and so on) along with unlimited collaboration opportunities and compilation. And the great thing is, all of these are completely free as it’s all happening on my local machine.

So in this article, I am going to discuss the methods in detail. I have also created an in-depth video for you to understand how this works.

Video Tutorial

Resources You’ll Need:

1. GitHub Repository

This entire guide is available in one of my GitHub projects named Install-LaTeX. The live website is available here (fahimfba.github.io/Install-LaTeX) as well. I would highly appreciate it if you star (⭐) the repository. Also, you can create issues there if you face any problems. Any kind of good contribution is also welcome here.

2. Operating System

You can install LaTeX on any major operating system (Windows, MacOS, and Linux-based OSes). But in this article, I am only going to talk about the Windows operating system.

Here, I’m using the latest Windows 11 operating system, but the same procedure should be applicable to all of the Windows-based operating systems that are going to come out in the future. Windows 10 should also be okay too.

3. Editor

I am going to use the popular Visual Studio Code as my editor. It is a 100% free and robust editor that’s very popular among devs all over the world. If you don’t already have it, go ahead and install it before proceeding further.

4. LaTeX Compiler/IDE

To work on LaTeX files, you’ll need a specific compiler. I am going to use MikTeX. There are other tools out there, but this is the best tool right now (according to me!). It is completely free and supports all major operating systems as well. It also has a built-in IDE, but we are going to use VS Code as our main editor.

Download the Windows executable file from the Download section.

After the download is finished, install the executable. At the end of the installation, keep the tick in “Check for updates now”.

You will find the MikTeX console in your taskbar. Open that.

Go to the “Updates” tab and click “Update now”. It will install all of those packages.

At the end, it will prompt you to close the console. Click “OK”. Open MiKTeX again.

That’s it for this tool.

5. Perl

The commands we are going to execute for building the LaTeX files are dependent on Perl. As the Windows operating system doesn’t come with a built-in Perl compiler, we are going to install the Strawberry Perl.

Download the latest MSI package from it.

Install the executable after it gets finished downloading the application.

We need to add Perl’s path to the system environment. To do that, go into the location where it has been installed. By default, it gets installed inside C:\Strawberry\perl\bin directory. Copy the path.

Now search for “env” in the Windows search bar until you find something called “Edit the system environment variable”.

Now click on “Environment Variables…”.

Now select “Path” from “System variables” and click “Edit”.

Click “New”. Paste the path. Now exit every windows sequentially by clicking on “OK” in each window.

Visual Code Studio Extensions

We need some extensions in VS Code to streamline our workflow.

First, let’s get LaTeX Workshop. It is the core extension for working with LaTeX files inside VS Code Studio.

Next, you’ll need Rewrap. It is an amazing tool that lets you wrap longer lines. It helps you work in a long line in separate lines without breaking any structure or sentence.

Build the LaTeX File

Whenever you want to build any LaTeX file inside VS Code studio, simply open that file in it. Then open the command palette using Ctrl + Shift + P.

Search for “LaTeX Workshop: Build with recipe” and go there. It will start building the file. Whenever it prompts you to install any missing package, untick the box that says “Always show this dialog” and press “Install”. I do this because clicking on “Install” on hundreds of prompt windows for building a LaTeX file is very difficult for me.

After it finishes building the LaTeX file, you will get the output PDF file inside VS Code. You can open the PDF file directly in VS Code.

If you want to go into any specific line in the code from the output PDF file like Overleaf, simply click on that specific portion in the PDF by pressing the Ctrl key. It will immediately take you to the code part where it belongs.

That’s it! It’s now running on your local machine and there are no restrictions or limitation to it, literally! Also, for collaboration and keeping track of the history, using Git is the best option, like I do.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading this short tutorial. I hope it helped you interact more easily with LaTeX.

You can follow me on GitHub, LinkedIn, and YouTube to get more content like this. Also, my website is always available for you!

We just published a beginner's course on the freeCodeCamp.org YouTube channel that will teach you the basics of LaTeX and help you become comfortable with its many features.

Michelle Krummel created this course. She is a National Board Certified Teacher with two Master's Degrees plus additional certification in Gifted Education. She has 20 years of teaching experience and has taught Advanced Placement courses for 16 years.

The course consists of nine sections.

Section 1: Creating a LaTeX Document

This section is perfect for those who are new to LaTeX. You will learn how to create a document from scratch, including how to create a title, sections, and subsections. Additionally, you will be introduced to the basics of LaTeX syntax.

Section 2: Common Mathematical Notation

LaTeX is widely used in academia, and mathematical notation is a key component of many documents. This section will teach you how to use LaTeX to create complex mathematical formulas and equations with ease.

Section 3: Brackets, Tables, and Arrays

LaTeX offers a wide range of formatting options, including brackets, tables, and arrays. This section will teach you how to use these formatting options to make your documents more readable and organized.

Section 4: Creating Lists

LaTeX allows you to create a variety of lists, including bulleted, numbered, and descriptive lists. In this section, you will learn how to create and format lists in LaTeX.

Section 5: Text Document Formatting

LaTeX is not just for mathematical notation; it can also be used to format text documents. This section will teach you how to format your text documents using LaTeX, including font size and style, text alignment, and more.

Section 6: Packages, Macros, and Graphics

LaTeX offers a range of packages and macros that can enhance your documents. This section will teach you how to use packages and macros, as well as how to include graphics in your documents.

Section 7: Errors and Debugging

No matter how experienced you are with LaTeX, you are bound to encounter errors at some point. This section will teach you how to identify and fix common LaTeX errors.

Section 8: TeXmaker and Overleaf Tips

TeXmaker and Overleaf are popular LaTeX editors. This section will provide you with tips and tricks for using these editors to their full potential.

Section 9: Calculus Notation

Calculus notation can be complex, but LaTeX makes it easy. This section will teach you how to use LaTeX to create calculus notation, including integrals and derivatives.

Conclusion

LaTeX is a powerful tool for creating professional-looking documents, and this beginner's course is the perfect place to start. Whether you are new to LaTeX or looking to expand your knowledge, this course will give you the skills you need to create impressive documents.

Watch the full course on the freeCodeCamp.org YouTube channel (4.5 hour watch).