I am currently writing my thesis, and for typesetting/layout I use a great free tool called LaTeX. To create the latex files I use a great, nonfree editor called TextMate. It has a great free latex bundle that makes the whole typesetting process an easy and straightforward thing. Today it took me a moment to find out how to change bundle preferences in TextMate.

I use LaTeX whenever I have to create Documents that will eventually be printed. Since I'm on a Mac, I use TextMate to write the LaTeX documents (I like it's LaTeX support better than TexShop). My usual setup is the LaTeX file on one screen, the PDF viewer on the other screen. Click the screenshot below to check it out. The usual workflow was 1) edit LaTeX document on the left screen, 2) save it and 3) finally call TextMate's "Typeset and view" command to view the changes in my PDF viewer on the right screen. By the way: I use PDFView, it's a whole lot better than apple's preview application or TeXniscope.

While looking through the TextMate mailing list today, I found a really cool command by Robin Houston called Latex Watch. It's what we have all been waiting for: a live pdf preview of the LaTeX document you're editing that automatically updates while you make changes. Well. Almost. It updates the PDF whenever you save your LaTex document and triggers the PDF viewer of your choice to display the changes. Now I use the normal "edit and save" workflow and have an almost live preview of the generated PDF document on my right screen. According to the postings on the list, the newest version appears to be 2.1 - it works great for me.

For those who wonder why the text on the large screen looks so weird: I am using a self made TextMate theme that attempts to emulate the look and feel of WriteRoom. It's a really neat application for distraction free writing: For Mac users who enjoy the simplicity of a typewriter, but
live in the digital world. WriteRoom is a full-screen, distraction-free
writing environment. Unlike the cluttered word processors you're used
to, WriteRoom is just about you and your text. While it's good for plain text, It wasn't so useful for mee, because it misses TextMate's LaTeX support. Apart from that, it's too expensive for what it can do. If you're interested in the WriteRoom theme for TextMate: You can give it a shot, download the dmg here. Tell me if you like it or when there's stuff to enhance :-)