Generate latexdiff documents and compiled PDFs directly from VS Code.
This extension supports two comparison flows:
Compare the active .tex file against Git history.
Compare the active .tex file against another .tex file on disk, which is useful for folder-based versioning such as v1/, v2/, or archived drafts.
Features
Editor title button and status bar entry for LaTeX files.
Quick pick flow for HEAD, recent commits, custom Git refs, or another file.
Automatic PDF compilation with latexmk, pdflatex, or tectonic.
Output isolation under a workspace-local .latexdiff directory by default.
Requirements
The extension shells out to local tools. Install the tools you plan to use:
latexdiff
One compiler tool: latexmk, pdflatex, or tectonic
git if you want Git-based comparisons
On macOS, the extension augments PATH with common TeX and package-manager locations such as /Library/TeX/texbin, /opt/homebrew/bin, and /usr/local/bin.
Usage
Open a workspace that contains your .tex file.
Trust the workspace.
Open a LaTeX file.
Click the Latexdiff editor button or status bar button.
Choose one of:
Compare with HEAD
Compare with Another Git Ref...
Compare with Another File...
The extension writes generated artifacts to the configured output directory and opens the compiled PDF when compilation succeeds.
Configuration
latexdiff.executablePath
Path to latexdiff. This is a machine-scoped setting and cannot be set by the workspace.
latexdiff.outputDirectory
Relative output directory inside the workspace. The extension rejects paths that escape the workspace folder.
latexdiff.compilerTool
Compiler used for PDF generation: latexmk, pdflatex, or tectonic.
Security Model
The extension is disabled in untrusted workspaces because it executes external tools.
The output directory must resolve inside the current workspace.
The latexdiff executable path is machine-scoped so the workspace cannot silently redirect it.
Status
This extension is currently marked as preview while the command surface and release packaging settle.
