Decision Guidance ⇒ LaTeX for Linux

[vs140580]

Is there a miktex package for linux if so where can i download it from which linux i need to install is it any specific.

In short the system requirements if miktex is possible to be installed in linux

[Stefan Kottwitz]

Hi,

welcome to the board!

MiKTeX doesn't run on Linux, only Windows, see Prerequisites in the MiKTeX manual.

Of course there's LaTeX for Linux. Which version of Linux do you use? There are special packages for Ubuntu, Debian, Suse, and more. I recommend to install TeX Live, which works on Linux and other Unixes. Have a look at the Quick install page.

Stefan

[vs140580]

Can i use Red Hat Linux they say it has something called teTex similiar to tex here and is there any IDE for it. which Linux u recommend.

i went through the url

http://www.spy-hill.com/~myers/help/tex/REVTeX.html

it stated the below

Linux

The implementation of TeX on Linux (or at least on Red Hat Linux) is called teTeX (written by Thomas Escher, ie "T.E."). It comes packaged with the standard Red Hat distribution, so you just need to make sure it is installed. Here are the packages I recommend you install:
tetex-1.0.7-38.3
tetex-latex-1.0.7-38.3
tetex-fonts-1.0.7-38.3
tetex-xdvi-1.0.7-38.3
tetex-dvips-1.0.7-38.3
tetex-afm-1.0.7-38.3
(the version numbers may be later)
Unfortunately REVTeX does not come with teTeX, you have to get that separate. You can download REVTeX from the APS at:

to be continued...

[Stefan Kottwitz]

teTeX is obsolete and not maintained any more, since 2006, see teTeX homepage. The recommended successor is TeX Live, which also runs on Redhad Linux.

I use Ubuntu Linux with TeX Live 2012 at home and I'm very satisfied with it. I use Redhat Linux at work on servers, but not with TeX.

Stefan

[kaiserkarl13]

If you're looking to install Linux on a machine and want to know which GNU/Linux distribution is the best, that's a complicated question. If, on the other hand, you're looking to use TeX on an existing Red Hat Enterprise Linux machine, which version you'll get depends on which version of RHEL you have.

I have used TeX and friends on RHEL-like systems (actually CentOS, which is a non-commercial rebuild of RHEL) on RHEL 4 and RHEL 5, and I've run Fedora 12/13, which are the basis of RHEL 6. RHEL 4 and RHEL 5 both used teTeX, which means you'll have to install some of the newer packages manually. RHEL 6 should use TeXLIVE, though not the most recent version (perhaps the 2008 or 2009 version?) of course. Most packages should exist, though they might not be the latest versions as available on CTAN.

[vs140580]

That is right i am still to install an linux as i am to take a new laptop which Linux do u recommend as best for mathematical purpose Latex Texlive. I have to use may be Beamer class for creating my PhD viva voce slides in it may be.

[kaiserkarl13]

I would generally recommend against RHEL and its clones (CentOS, Scientific Linux) on laptops. This doesn't mean don't use them---just not on laptops! They are my choice for servers.

I run Fedora on my laptop (on which I type this message, run all my LaTeX stuff, including beamers, etc.), and I have been very satisfied with it. I know that others would swear by Ubuntu (others might swear AT it, but that's their thing). I had a friend who liked Linux Mint until he encountered a problem with a (non-LaTeX) program he needed that wasn't Linux Mint's fault but was a problem nonetheless.

Fedora, CentOS, Scientfic Linux, Mandriva, and a few others are Red Hat-based; Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and others are Debian-based. SUSE is Slackware-based, I think. I advise against SUSE in any flavor---I used OpenSUSE 10.2 and 10.3 when they were new, and had nothing but trouble. I had a coworker who said the same thing about version 11.x, I think it was. That's not a result of its Slackware heritage, by the way.

In terms of "mathematical purposes," I don't think there's a huge difference---GNU provides many tools that are handy for that sort of thing, including TeXLIVE, GNUplot, Grace, bc, octave, and many others.

These are all just my own opinions.

[vs140580]

So can u help me with a choice Fedora or ubuntu as u had mentioned. I will take it whatever your choice.
you have experience.

[kaiserkarl13]

Choosing an OS is not to be done by edict.

I recommend downloading the Fedora LIVE image and seeing whether you like it. If not, try the Ubuntu LIVE image. LIVE images are great, as they don't install anything on your computer, so you can test it without committing to it.

[localghost]

[…] I advise against SUSE in any flavor---I used OpenSUSE 10.2 and 10.3 when they were new, and had nothing but trouble. I had a coworker who said the same thing about version 11.x, I think it was. […]

That's no reason at all to advice against this distribution in general just because you (and another person) had problems. I use it for many years now (since SuSE 8.1). No major problems at least since version openSUSE 11.x and higher. And I know some more people who share my experience. So much for that. It is the only distribution shipped with an up-to-date TeX Live system.

And finally you can install TeX Live 2012 either from DVD or over the net for almost any distribution.


Thorsten