GoKawiilTeXbrain lets users compile LaTeX to PDF entirely in the browser via WebAssembly
A developer released TeXbrain, a free open-source LaTeX editor that runs a WebAssembly port of pdfTeX (via SwiftLaTeX) so documents compile to PDF directly in the browser with no server involved. It also supports opening local project folders, syncing with git, and pushing to GitHub, all within a single browser tab. Packages beyond the common ones bundled with the app are fetched on demand from a TeX Live mirror and cached for offline reuse.
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Existing online LaTeX tools often paywall git integration, while local installs are cumbersome to keep consistent across machines; TeXbrain removes both friction points by keeping everything client-side and free. Running the compiler in-browser also means no user files are sent to a remote server, which is a meaningful privacy and simplicity improvement for academic and technical writers.
- Uses SwiftLaTeX's WebAssembly build of pdfTeX to compile documents locally in the browser
- Supports local folder access and git operations (commit, push to GitHub) without a backend
- Automatically fetches and caches CTAN packages from a TeX Live mirror on first use
The LaTeX Companion" by Frank Mittelbach — If TeXbrain gets you writing LaTeX in a browser tab with zero setup, this is the reference that helps you actually master the language. It's the go-to deep dive on packages, layout and typesetting tricks — perfect for thesis writers who'd rather spend time on content than on fighting tooling.
See The LaTeX Companion" by Frank Mittelbach on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: github.com, 2026-08-25
Published there as: “Show HN: TeXbrain, a LaTeX editor that runs pdfTeX in the browser via WASM”
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