Why is Latex so big?

Question

On windows, MikTex comes in a DVD. It's several times bigger than a typical Linux distribution. This makes it impossible to carry Latex on a memory stick like I do with many other useful software.

Why is it so big? I thought it was just a language or system, but I've never seen any programming language with gigabytes of libraries.

It's just that there's a bad feeling when your Latex distribution takes up four gigabytes of space when you expect it to be more of, say, 200mb.

Solution 1

The full install of MikTeX includes loads of add-on packages, most of which you will never use, plus loads of fonts for lots of different alphabets. Rather than install it all, it is better to do a minimal install and allow MikTeX to install required packages and fonts on the fly (assuming you have an internet connection when you are using it).

The downloadable version of MikTeX (https://miktex.org/download) is just about 240Mb which isn't too bad.

PS: The portable version is exactly the same as a standard installer, just the instal procedures are different.

Solution 2

The portable version http://miktex.org/portable/about amounts to 100Mb (compressed) I guess that it's enough for typical use.

Comments

[quack quixote]

fonts. lots and lots (and lots) of fonts.

[DaveParillo]

I would argue that the whole point to latex is to carry around a text file on your memory stick. Edit it with anything and compile it when you get around to it. Do you carry the MS office executables around?

[Charles Stewart]

Similar to: superuser.com/questions/49722/… and superuser.com/questions/140528/…

[SamB]

@DaveParillo: that's probably illegal and bound to be a complete PITA (big MS products like that have a tendency to insist on being installed for some reason), but that doesn't mean one mightn't wish it were an option sometimes if one actually enjoyed using it...

[SamB]

Of course, the 100 MiB figure is only for the packed installer -- even if it wasn't actually compressed, those hordes of little files will take their toll according to your "cluster" size. Additionally, you'll probably find that you end up triggering a lot of packages to auto-install as you try to use them. (METAFONT-generated bitmaps might be expected to contribute a lot to this, but it doesn't seem like they're actually causing much trouble for me -- the entire font directory in my install is only 63.8 MiB.) But my current 400 MiB certainly beats 4 gigs!