paper-compilation

name	paper-compilation
description	Compile LaTeX papers to PDF with automatic error detection, chktex style checking, and citation/reference validation. Runs the full pdflatex + bibtex pipeline. Use when the user wants to compile a paper, fix compilation errors, or debug LaTeX.
argument-hint	["tex-file-path"]

Paper Compilation

Compile a LaTeX paper to PDF with error detection and correction.

Input

• $ARGUMENTS — Path to the main .tex file

Scripts

Compile paper

python ~/.claude/skills/paper-compilation/scripts/compile_paper.py paper/main.tex
python ~/.claude/skills/paper-compilation/scripts/compile_paper.py paper/main.tex --check-style
python ~/.claude/skills/paper-compilation/scripts/compile_paper.py paper/main.tex --output paper/output.pdf

Reports: compilation status, page count, warnings, citation/reference stats, style issues.

Validate citations before compiling

python ~/.claude/skills/citation-management/scripts/validate_citations.py \
  --tex paper/main.tex --bib paper/references.bib --check-figures --figures-dir paper/figures/

Auto-fix LaTeX errors

python ~/.claude/skills/paper-compilation/scripts/fix_latex_errors.py \
  --tex paper/main.tex --log compile.log --output paper/main_fixed.tex

Fixes: HTML tags in LaTeX, mismatched environments, missing figures. Key flags: --dry-run, --auto-detect

Compile with auto-fix retry

python ~/.claude/skills/paper-compilation/scripts/compile_paper.py paper/main.tex --auto-fix

Runs fix_latex_errors.py + recompile up to 3 rounds until compilation succeeds.

Workflow

Step 1: Pre-Compilation Validation

Run validate_citations.py to catch issues before compiling:

• Every \cite{key} has a matching .bib entry
• Every \includegraphics{file} exists
• No duplicate labels or sections

Step 2: Compile

Run compile_paper.py which executes: pdflatex → bibtex → pdflatex → pdflatex

Step 3: Error Correction Loop (up to 5 rounds)

If compilation fails, read the error output and fix:

• ! Undefined control sequence → Add missing package or fix typo
• ! Missing $ inserted → Wrap math in $...$
• ! Missing } inserted → Fix unmatched brace
• Citation 'key' undefined → Add to .bib or fix \cite
• </end{figure}> → Replace with \end{figure} (HTML syntax in LaTeX)

Apply minimal fixes. Do not remove packages unnecessarily. Recompile after each fix.

Step 4: Post-Compilation Report

Check: page count vs venue limit, remaining warnings, chktex style issues.

Troubleshooting

pdflatex not found

# macOS
brew install --cask mactex-no-gui
# Ubuntu
sudo apt install texlive-full

Alternative: latexmk (auto-handles multiple passes)

latexmk -pdf -interaction=nonstopmode main.tex

Related Skills

• Upstream: latex-formatting, citation-management, figure-generation, table-generation
• Downstream: self-review
• See also: paper-assembly