compile-publist-from-bib

name	compile-publist-from-bib
description	Compiles a publication list PDF from a BibTeX file using a local LaTeX template directory (XeLaTeX + biber). Supports project defaults or custom bib_file, publist_dir, and output paths. Use when updating My-Publications.bib, rebuilding pubs.pdf, static/uploads/pubs.pdf, publication list PDF, biblatex publist, local LaTeX template without Overleaf, or when make update-publist fails silently.

Compile publication list from BibTeX

Scope

This skill covers one task: turn a .bib file into a publication list PDF using a local LaTeX project (template directory). It does not run publication checks, renaming, or OpenAI abstract extraction unless the user asks separately.

Overleaf is optional (sync template to disk if you use it); a purely local publist/ directory is enough.

Parameters

Parameter	Meaning	Defaults in this repo
bib_file	Path to the master BibTeX file	My-Publications.bib at repository root
publist_dir	Directory containing main.tex and LaTeX resources	publist/
output_pdf	Where to place the final PDF for the site or user	static/uploads/pubs.pdf

If the user does not specify paths, use the table defaults relative to the project root.

Preconditions (check before compiling)

1. publist_dir exists and contains main.tex (or the entry file your template uses; this skill assumes main.tex as in this project).
2. bib_file exists and is readable.
3. \addbibresource{...} in main.tex matches the filename you copy into publist_dir (this repo expects the copied file to match BIB_FILE, e.g. My-Publications.bib).
4. Toolchain: xelatex and biber on PATH (biblatex workflow).
5. Output directory for output_pdf exists or can be created (e.g. static/uploads/).

Primary workflow (this repository)

1. From the repository root, prefer:

   make update-publist
   

2. If compilation fails with little output (stdout is suppressed in the default target), run:

   make update-publist-verbose
   

   Then read the terminal and publist/main.log for errors.

3. Confirm output_pdf was updated (e.g. static/uploads/pubs.pdf).

Generic workflow (any local template)

When make is unavailable or paths are custom:

1. Copy bib_file into publist_dir using the name expected by main.tex (e.g. cp /path/to/papers.bib "$PUBLIST_DIR/My-Publications.bib" if \addbibresource{My-Publications.bib}).

2. In publist_dir, run:

   xelatex -interaction=nonstopmode main.tex
   biber main
   xelatex -interaction=nonstopmode main.tex
   xelatex -interaction=nonstopmode main.tex
   

3. Copy the generated PDF (usually main.pdf) to output_pdf:

   cp main.pdf /path/to/output.pdf
   

Makefile overrides (this repo)

You can override variables on the command line without editing files:

make BIB_FILE=Other.bib PUBLIST_DIR=/path/to/template PUBLIST_OUTPUT_PDF=/path/to/out.pdf update-publist

If BIB_FILE includes directories (e.g. exports/papers.bib), the Makefile copies it into publist_dir as papers.bib (basename). Ensure main.tex uses \addbibresource{papers.bib}.

See reference.md for variable names and mapping to output_pdf.

Failure recovery

1. Silent failure: Use make update-publist-verbose or run xelatex/biber manually in publist_dir without redirecting output.
2. Missing publist_dir: Obtain or create a local LaTeX publist template; align \addbibresource with the copied .bib filename.
3. Stale pubs.pdf: If main.pdf is missing, the Makefile reports failure; if unsure, compare timestamps or git diff on output_pdf.
4. Wrong Bib name: Ensure the copied file in publist_dir matches what main.tex references.

Additional resources

• Details and repo-specific mapping: reference.md
• Example prompts: examples.md