Paper Compilation Skill for Claude
Compile LaTeX papers to PDF with automatic error detection, chktex style checking, and citation/reference validation. Runs the full pdflatex + bibtex pipeline. Use when the user wants to compile a paper, fix compilation errors, or debug LaTeX.
Install
one command, takes just this skill from the repositorynpx skills add https://github.com/lingzhi227/agent-research-skills --skill paper-compilationThe instruction itself
16 sections, as written by the authorPaper Compilation
Compile a LaTeX paper to PDF with error detection and correction.
Input
$ARGUMENTS— Path to the main.texfile
Scripts
Compile paper
python ~/.claude/skills/paper-compilation/scripts/compile_paper.py paper/main.tex
python ~/.claude/skills/paper-compilation/scripts/compile_paper.py paper/main.tex --check-style
python ~/.claude/skills/paper-compilation/scripts/compile_paper.py paper/main.tex --output paper/output.pdf
Reports: compilation status, page count, warnings, citation/reference stats, style issues.
Validate citations before compiling
python ~/.claude/skills/citation-management/scripts/validate_citations.py \
--tex paper/main.tex --bib paper/references.bib --check-figures --figures-dir paper/figures/
Auto-fix LaTeX errors
python ~/.claude/skills/paper-compilation/scripts/fix_latex_errors.py \
--tex paper/main.tex --log compile.log --output paper/main_fixed.tex
Fixes: HTML tags in LaTeX, mismatched environments, missing figures. Key flags: --dry-run, --auto-detect
Compile with auto-fix retry
python ~/.claude/skills/paper-compilation/scripts/compile_paper.py paper/main.tex --auto-fix
Runs fix_latex_errors.py + recompile up to 3 rounds until compilation succeeds.
Workflow
Step 1: Pre-Compilation Validation
Run validate_citations.py to catch issues before compiling:
- Every
\cite{key}has a matching.bibentry - Every
\includegraphics{file}exists - No duplicate labels or sections
Step 2: Compile
Run compile_paper.py which executes: pdflatex → bibtex → pdflatex → pdflatex
Step 3: Error Correction Loop (up to 5 rounds)
If compilation fails, read the error output and fix:
! Undefined control sequence→ Add missing package or fix typo! Missing $ inserted→ Wrap math in$...$! Missing } inserted→ Fix unmatched braceCitation 'key' undefined→ Add to .bib or fix\cite</end{figure}>→ Replace with\end{figure}(HTML syntax in LaTeX)
Apply minimal fixes. Do not remove packages unnecessarily. Recompile after each fix.
Step 4: Post-Compilation Report
Check: page count vs venue limit, remaining warnings, chktex style issues.
Troubleshooting
pdflatex not found
# macOS
brew install --cask mactex-no-gui
# Ubuntu
sudo apt install texlive-full
Alternative: latexmk (auto-handles multiple passes)
latexmk -pdf -interaction=nonstopmode main.tex
Related Skills
- Upstream: latex-formatting, citation-management, figure-generation, table-generation
- Downstream: self-review
- See also: paper-assembly
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How to use it
Take lingzhi227/paper-compilation from the repository into ~/.claude/skills for personal
use, or into .claude/skills inside a project.
The agent identifies a skill by the name field in its header. Two skills with the
same name cannot sit side by side — one of them will be ignored.
The instructions reference brew.
Without those the skill loads but fails at the first command.