TeXPilot
TeXPilot is a professional LaTeX workspace for students and researchers in Visual Studio Code. Write, compile, inspect logs, and review PDFs in one focused environment.
Table of Contents
Why TeXPilot
- Designed for academic writing: assignments, reports, theses, and research manuscripts
- One workspace for source editing, compile execution, logs, and PDF review
- Stable workflow for both single-file and multi-file LaTeX projects
- Optional local-first AI assistance through Ollama
Features
Control Center for active compiler and target file managementProject Files views in Activity Bar and Explorer- Streamed compile logs with in-app compile controls
- Built-in PDF preview powered by bundled
pdf.js
- Revision tracking for saved manual and AI-assisted edits
- Workspace search for file names and content
Install
- Visual Studio Marketplace: TeXPilot
- Open VSX: TeXPilot
- Naming note: Open VSX uses
abhineet-pandey.texpilot; VS Marketplace uses AbhineetPandey003.texpilot-vscode.
Or install from command line:
code --install-extension AbhineetPandey003.texpilot-vscode
Quick Start
- Open your LaTeX workspace in VS Code.
- Open
TeXPilot from the Activity Bar.
- In
Control Center, select compiler and compile target.
- Open a
.tex file from Project Files.
- Save with
Ctrl/Cmd+S.
- Compile with
Ctrl/Cmd+Enter.
- Review compile logs and PDF preview in the same window.
Requirements
- VS Code
^1.90.0
- Local LaTeX project opened as a folder/workspace
- Local LaTeX distribution available on
PATH
- One supported compiler:
latexmk, pdflatex, xelatex, lualatex, or tectonic
Optional:
synctex for improved source/PDF navigationollama with a local model for AI-assisted commands
If VS Code does not inherit your shell PATH, configure latexCompiler.executableSearchPaths.
Commands
| Command |
Description |
TeXPilot: Open Control Center |
Open the TeXPilot control panel |
TeXPilot: Refresh Project Files |
Refresh LaTeX project tree |
TeXPilot: Open File |
Open selected file from project views |
TeXPilot: Compile Selected File |
Compile selected .tex target |
Configuration
| Setting |
Type |
Default |
Description |
latexCompiler.executableSearchPaths |
string[] |
[] |
Additional directories for LaTeX and runtime binaries |
latexCompiler.compile.timeoutSeconds |
number |
300 |
Compile process timeout |
latexCompiler.preview.renderTimeoutSeconds |
number |
60 |
PDF preview render timeout |
latexCompiler.preview.syncTexTimeoutSeconds |
number |
15 |
SyncTeX lookup timeout |
latexCompiler.ollama.enabled |
boolean |
true |
Enable AI tools in editor workspace |
latexCompiler.ollama.baseUrl |
string |
http://127.0.0.1:11434 |
Ollama endpoint |
latexCompiler.ollama.model |
string |
"" |
Preferred local model |
Example:
{
"latexCompiler.executableSearchPaths": [
"/usr/local/bin",
"/opt/homebrew/bin"
],
"latexCompiler.compile.timeoutSeconds": 300,
"latexCompiler.preview.renderTimeoutSeconds": 60,
"latexCompiler.preview.syncTexTimeoutSeconds": 15,
"latexCompiler.ollama.enabled": true,
"latexCompiler.ollama.baseUrl": "http://127.0.0.1:11434",
"latexCompiler.ollama.model": "llama3.1"
}
Troubleshooting
- No compiler found: install a supported compiler and add its binary path to
latexCompiler.executableSearchPaths.
- Wrong file is compiling: reselect the compile target in
Control Center.
- Preview not updating: save, compile again, and verify output is generated under
.texpilot/.
- Ollama model list is empty: ensure Ollama is running and at least one local model is installed.
Privacy
By default, AI requests target local Ollama at http://127.0.0.1:11434.
If latexCompiler.ollama.baseUrl points to a remote host, selected document content and related metadata may be sent to that host.
TeXPilot writes generated artifacts under .texpilot/, including compiler outputs, compile logs, run metadata, and revision history.
License
Apache License 2.0. See https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.
