Following on from yesterday's post, I've updated my MacBook to Big Sur and it's a lot more comfortable. Since I'm installing software from a clean slate, I've removed some of the lesser-used software. One tool/system that I rarely use, but definitely use, is LaTeX. Many generations may not have heard of LaTeX, but I still recommend it over Microsoft Word if you want to sit alone and write your PhD thesis. As the TeX files are text files, they are less fragile and easier to fix if the formatting breaks. It is also easy to exchange the many figures you have inserted in a document in one go.
Not many people use it unless they are hardcore scholars, so it isn't easy to write a book with other people in LaTeX. Moreover, these days, it is common to simultaneously work on the same file, for example, using Google Docs or Microsoft's online services. So if you don't work alone, LaTeX is useless.
That's why I don't use LaTeX for more than one thing. And that is writing CVs. I made an automated CV making environment with LaTeX. I have created my own style of BibTeX class so that my publications are the newest ones on top, for example. It is useful to create a CV in a text file-based document, as some parts are easy to be commented out make a tailor-made CV. There are probably already companies offering similar services online, and I have all my carrier history on LinkedIn, it's time to put my LaTeX-based CVs to bed. But, I don't think I'll be working for many more years as an environmental consultant, so my carrier may be over with LaTeX. I don't think I'll be working for many more years. By the way, I don't submit my CV to look for a job; I submit it to apply for consultancy or research projects (^^;). So, I use LaTeX to update my CV several times a year.
There are several ways to install LaTeX on your MacBook; one is to install the full MacTeX, which will take up about 6 GB. I don't want a tool that I use only a few times a year to take up 6 GB. I prefer to use a smaller LaTeX package and install packages as needed. It would be easier to use the command-line interface, but I don't do any programming at the moment. In such a situation, installing Xcode, which takes up 12GB of space, is not a good idea. I looked for a way to include just the command-line tool and found a strong person who made it available to the public. He said that if I put this tool in, it will get command-line tools and Homebrew, which install open source software and other tools easily. That's great!
I watched YouTube once and put the following script into the terminal as described.
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL http://bit.ly/homebrew_techdecode)"The command-line tool is installed, but Homebrew was not, so I had to install it by myself. Homebrew is also easy to install, just put the following script into the terminal.
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"Now, let's install BasicTeX, a LaTeX environment with only about 300 MB, with the following script in a terminal with Homebrew.
brew install --cask basictexA LaTeX packaging management tool with a graphic user interface makes it easy to manage LaTeX.
brew install --cask tex-live-utilityThere are many different editors for LaTeX. I only use it for my CV anymore, so anything is fine.
Since I've been using Big Sur, TexWorks doesn't work anymore. I installed TexShop, which seems lighter. I was able to compile my CV file without any problems.
All the necessary packages were installed automatically, and I don't think I used more than 1 GB to create this environment. Now that I have the command line tools, I might start programming again.
I'm starting a blockchain and carbon offset project next year (tomorrow is the new year), and I thought that image recognition is the way to go in the project. Would anyone like to learn with me?
Have a good new year!!