Author: Andrew S. Wixom

The goal of this project is to provide a simple interface enabling collaboration between authors of a Latex document using Git. To some extent, this is an already solved problem: see the excellent ShareLatex/Overleaf software. And, further, it should be noted that PyGitLatex is not a replacement for ShareLatex/Overleaf. However, for some users (meaning at least the author) the ShareLatex/Overleaf framework has a few disadvantages. PyGitLatex aims to correct these by providing the following features:

• Direct control of project history (i.e. git respository)
• Allowing the user's preferred/existing Latex toolchain
• No required cloud-based storage or computing

To do so, PyGitLatex provides a simple graphical interface including some of the basic features of both Git and Latex. Advanced users of either software are free to make changes using whatever toolchain they are familiar with. History will be tracked through a standard Git repository and therefore may be manipulated using any appropriate commandline or GUI either alongside or instead of PyGitLatex. Similarly, the goal is to require no particular Latex packages, settings, or editor/viewer. The only constraint is that all collaborators on a particular project are familiar enough with their chosen environment to compile the package independently.

PyGitLatex requires three main softwares to be installed on a user's computer, all three of which are available on all popular operating systems although at times under slightly different names.

• Python3 interpreter with the following packages:
  • pyforms
  • gitpython
• Git
• Latex

Once these have been installed, PyGitLatex may be run by invoking the python3 interpreter on the python script in this repository.

At some point in the future, self installer packages may be provided.

... will be included later...