LaTeX PDF MCP Server
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides tools for converting LaTeX source code into PDF documents. This server enables AI assistants to generate high-quality PDF documents from LaTeX markup with professional formatting capabilities.
Features
- LaTeX to PDF Conversion: Convert LaTeX source code directly to PDF format
- Professional Document Generation: Supports all standard LaTeX features for academic and professional documents
- Local File Generation: Creates PDF files in a specified directory for easy access
- HTTP Server Integration: Generates downloadable links for created PDFs
- Error Handling: Comprehensive error reporting for LaTeX compilation issues
Prerequisites
Before using this MCP server, ensure you have:
- Node.js (version 18 or higher)
- LaTeX Distribution: A complete LaTeX installation such as:
- latexmk: Usually included with LaTeX distributions
Installation
From npm (Recommended)
npm install -g latexpdf-mcp
From Source
- Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/ihor-sokoliuk/latexpdf-mcp.git
cd latexpdf-mcp
- Install dependencies:
pnpm install
- Build the project:
pnpm run build
Configuration
Claude Desktop Configuration
Add the server to your Claude Desktop configuration file:
Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Linux: ~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"latexpdf-mcp": {
"command": "latexpdf-mcp",
"env": {
"LATEXPDF_OUTPUT_DIR": "/path/to/your/pdf/directory"
}
}
}
}
Output Directory
By default, PDFs are generated in: C:\Users\Admin\Documents\GeneratedPDF
You can customize the output directory by setting the LATEXPDF_OUTPUT_DIR environment variable in your MCP configuration.
Example configurations:
Windows:
{
"mcpServers": {
"latexpdf-mcp": {
"command": "latexpdf-mcp",
"env": {
"LATEXPDF_OUTPUT_DIR": "C:\\Users\\YourName\\Documents\\MyPDFs"
}
}
}
}
macOS/Linux:
{
"mcpServers": {
"latexpdf-mcp": {
"command": "latexpdf-mcp",
"env": {
"LATEXPDF_OUTPUT_DIR": "/home/yourname/Documents/PDFs"
}
}
}
}
Usage
Once configured, you can use the server through your MCP-compatible client:
Available Tools
create_pdf
Converts LaTeX source code into a PDF document.
Parameters:
file_name(string, required): Name of the output PDF file (must end with .pdf)latex_source(string, required): LaTeX source code to convert
Example:
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\title{Sample Document}
\author{Your Name}
\date{\today}
\begin{document}
\maketitle
\section{Introduction}
This is a sample LaTeX document generated via MCP.
\subsection{Features}
\begin{itemize}
\item Professional formatting
\item Mathematical expressions: $E = mc^2$
\item Cross-references and citations
\end{itemize}
\end{document}
PDF Access
After generating a PDF, you can access it via HTTP server:
- Navigate to the output directory (default:
C:\Users\Admin\Documents\GeneratedPDF, or your customLATEXPDF_OUTPUT_DIR):
cd [YOUR_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY]
- Start a local HTTP server:
python -m http.server
- Access your PDFs at
http://localhost:8000/[filename].pdf
The server automatically provides download links in this format when PDFs are generated.
Development
Project Structure
latexpdf-mcp/
├── index.ts # Main server implementation
├── package.json # Package configuration
├── tsconfig.json # TypeScript configuration
├── pnpm-lock.yaml # Dependency lock file
└── dist/ # Compiled JavaScript output
Building
pnpm run build
Development Mode
pnpm run watch
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
- LaTeX not found: Ensure LaTeX is properly installed and
latexmkis in your PATH - Permission errors: Check write permissions for the output directory
- Compilation errors: Review LaTeX syntax and required packages
Error Messages
The server provides detailed error messages for:
- Missing LaTeX installation
- Compilation failures
- File system permissions
- Invalid input parameters
Contributing
- Fork the repository
- Create a feature branch
- Make your changes
- Add tests if applicable
- Submit a pull request
License
This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.
Links
- Repository: https://github.com/ihor-sokoliuk/latexpdf-mcp
- Issues: https://github.com/ihor-sokoliuk/latexpdf-mcp/issues
- Model Context Protocol: https://modelcontextprotocol.io
Author
Ihor Sokoliuk - GitHub Profile
This MCP server enables seamless LaTeX to PDF conversion within AI-assisted workflows, perfect for generating academic papers, technical documentation, and professional reports.