The project was originally started by Sebastian Rahtz in 1996 in collaboration with the TeX user groups worldwide, including the TeX Users Group. Today, it is maintained by Karl Berry, Akira Kakuto, Luigi Scarso and many other people.[15]
Up to version 2009, TeX Live could be run directly, or "live", from a CD-ROM, from a DVD-ROM, or from any other mobile device, hence its name. As of TeX Live 2010, it was no longer possible to run the distribution from the TeX Collection DVD due to restrictions in storage space. TeX Live follows the TeX Directory Structure.
For macOS there is MacTeX,[17] which comprises the full TeX Live distribution as well as some additional tools for using TeX on the Mac, most notably the editor TeXShop and the bibliography manager BibDesk. Similar to Basic MikTeX in MikTeX, a substantially smaller download, BasicTeX, can also be used for Mac as well.[18] TeX Live can also be compiled and installed through MacPorts or Homebrew.
Release history
Legend:
Old version
Old version, still maintained
Latest version
Latest preview version
Future version
Version
Release date
Significant changes
Latest version:2024
12 March 2024
Old version, not maintained: 2023
19 March 2023
Windows version starts and only provides 64-bit binaries.[19]
Old version, not maintained: 2022
4 April 2022
Old version, not maintained: 2021
1 April 2021
Old version, not maintained: 2020
10 April 2020
Old version, not maintained: 2019
19 April 2019
New interface for TeX Live Manager.
Old version, not maintained: 2018
28 April 2018
Case-insensitive file name matching on Unix by default. LaTeX default input encoding now UTF-8.
Automatic EPS conversion for pdfTeX. PDF 1.5 output by default. XeTeX have margin kerning.[23] LuaTeX 0.60.[20] Can no longer be run live from a DVD.[21]