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+====== The native TeX Live integration ======
+Tex Live is nowadays the last maintained TeX distribution. Due to its size,
+it is not provided in the Slackware's official repository. That's why many
+(most of?) people use the dedicated SlackBuild from
+[[http://slackbuilds.org/|SlackBuilds.org]] to get it as a huge complete
+monolithic package.
+Of course, this solution is a good one, as everybody will then get a
+perfectly integrated package, able to feed far more needs than you would
+look for. Nevertheless, as always there are two faces on the coin. First,
+it's huge, //really// huge, easily more than a whole customized system.
+Second, it's not flexible: once it's installed, you can't update its
+contents, which means you are stuck with the potential bugs you may
+encounter until the next major release, possibly for a whole year.
+That's why this tutorial will try to show you how to obtain a more
+updatable and customizable installation, using the native upstream TeX Live
+distribution. The idea is to put it in its dedicated directory, then manage
+it with its own tools. Of course it will not be as proper as an orthodox
+package, but, we will see, not as dirty as it sounds first.
+===== Prepare the TeX Live sanctuary =====
+Here, we will make a place for the future TeX Live installation. The first
+thing we need is someone to manage it, a user which will be the only one
+to deal with the TeX package repositories. We could of course use ''root''
+for this, but this is not a good idea, because granting the right to write
+everywhere to a third party system is not secure at all. That's why we'll
+create a dedicated system user (ie. a user without any shell to login):
+<code># useradd -rU -c "The TeX Live user" -d / -s /bin/false tluser</code>
+Right. Now, we make the unique place where our new ''tluser'' will be
+allowed to write (YYYY refers to the TeX Live's version, which is the year
+each one is released, replace it with the one you aim):
+<code># mkdir /opt/texlive-YYYY/
+# chown tluser:tluser /opt/texlive-YYYY/
+# ln -sf texlive-YYYY /opt/texlive</code>
+The last command creates a generic symlink, which will be useful when
+upgrading the installation, allowing the old release to temporarily stand
+beside the new.
+Installed here though, our TeX Live will be almost useless, because no one will
+have it in his ''PATH''. We therefore add the two suitable scripts into
+''/etc/profile.d'', respectively named ''texlive.sh'' and ''texlive.csh'':
+<file bash texlive.sh>#!/bin/sh
+if [ ! "$(id -u)" = "0" ]; then
+  PATH=$(echo $PATH | sed 's#:\.\?$##;s#$#:/opt/texlive/bin/i386-linux:.#')
+  export PATH
+fi
+</file>
+<file bash texlive.csh>#!/bin/csh
+if ( `id -u` != "0" ) then
+  setenv PATH `echo $PATH | sed 's#:\.\?$##;s#$#:/opt/texlive/bin/i386-linux:.#'`
+endif
+</file>
+As you can see, in both we insert the new directory at the end of the
+''PATH''. This is because we want to use our system's binaries rather than
+the ones shipped by the TeX live distribution.
+You've maybe also noticed this addition won't be made to the ''root'''s
+''PATH''. It's once again normal, because ''root'' is not intended to
+execute these binaries, we want to use him only to administer our TeX Live
+installation. More precisely, we want him to use the ''tluser'' we created to
+perform this. That's why the only thing ''root'' should have in his path is a
+wrapper for ''tlmgr'', the native TeX Live manager. Here it is:
+<file bash tlmgr>#!/bin/sh
+if [ $(id -u) -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo "(E) Only root can use this script." >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+# tluser must use the TeX Live binaries rather than the system's ones.
+export PATH=/opt/texlive/bin/i386-linux:/bin:/usr/bin
+exec sudo -u tluser tlmgr "$@"
+</file>
+We put it in ''/usr/sbin'', then we ensure it is executable:
+<code># chmod 755 /usr/sbin/tlmgr</code>
+This completes the last step to setup our sanctuary. Now let's see how to
+get the lion into it.
+===== Install the native TeX Live =====
+As you probably don't plan to install all of its components, it is better
+to perform a network installation.
+[[http://www.tug.org/texlive/acquire-netinstall.html|Get the Unix network
+installer tarball]], untar it, enter the directory and run it **as
+''tluser''** (this last step requiring to be ''root''):
+<code>$ tar xf install-tl-unx.tar.gz -C /tmp
+$ cd /tmp/install-tl-YYYYMMDD
+$ su
+Password:
+# sudo -u tluser ./install-tl
+</code>
+A text menu will be displayed, providing configuration items you select by
+passing letters or numbers. The only required setting is the
+final installation directory: enter the ''directories'' section then
+specify our sanctuary (''/opt/texlive-YYYY'') as ''TEXDIR''. Beyond, you're
+the cook! Personally, I select the basic scheme in ''installation scheme'',
+deselect all the languages except mine in ''language collections'', and
+disable source and doc tree installation in ''option''. Once I've
+installed the few packages and fonts I need over this, I get a ~80M big TeX
+Live installation. If you nevertheless prefer a more complete
+thing, you can pick up in ''installation scheme'' a replacement for the
+teTeX historically provided by Slackware. Once you are done, order to
+''start installation to hard disk''.
+===== Manage the native TeX Live =====
+It is time to learn a little bit more about ''tlmgr'', the //TeX Live
+Manager//. This section is just a kick-starter explaining how to perform
+the more common tasks, though. To get a complete description, read ''tlmgr
+<nowiki>--</nowiki>help''.
+The first thing you may want to have is a list of the installed
+packages. Try:
+<code>$ tlmgr info --only-installed</code>
+To get an extension you miss, first identify the package it belongs to
+(here we look for the ''fullpage'' extension):
+<code>$ tlmgr search --global --file fullpage
+tlmgr: package repository http://...
+context-fullpage:
+    texmf-dist/doc/context/third/fullpage/README
+    texmf-dist/doc/context/third/fullpage/fullpage-doc.pdf
+    texmf-dist/tex/context/interface/third/t-fullpage.xml
+    texmf-dist/tex/context/third/fullpage/t-fullpage.mkii
+    texmf-dist/tex/context/third/fullpage/t-fullpage.mkiv
+context-gnuplot:
+    texmf-dist/doc/context/third/gnuplot/fullpage-example.pdf
+    texmf-dist/doc/context/third/gnuplot/fullpage-example.tex
+preprint:
+    texmf-dist/doc/latex/preprint/fullpage.pdf
+    texmf-dist/tex/latex/preprint/fullpage.sty
+    texmf-dist/source/latex/preprint/fullpage.drv
+    texmf-dist/source/latex/preprint/fullpage.dtx
+    texmf-dist/source/latex/preprint/fullpage.ins
+</code>
+Then, once you've found (in our example, we need the ''preprint'' package),
+install it (remember you have to be ''root'' to add or modify anything):
+<code># tlmgr install preprint</code>
+To make a general update, first check for the potential ones:
+<code>$ tlmgr update --list</code>
+If there are some, order to first update ''tlmgr'' itself (it's always
+better), then to perform the general updating of the packages:
+<code># tlmgr update --self --all</code>
+In the case you don't want to update all the packages, replace the
+''<nowiki>--</nowiki>all'' option with the name(s) of the package(s) you aim. Last, removing
+a package is trivially done with:
+<code># tlmgr remove <package></code>
+As you can see, there's not much to know in order to deal with a native TeX
+Live installation, and it allows to really precisely specify what should be
+done.
+===== Getting it packaged however =====
+Let's rather call this a //snapshot// then, a package you will keep
+for you, to perform quick re-installations (keep in mind it doesn't make
+sense to distribute it as long as it ships ''tlmgr''). Assuming you've
+rigourously followed the instructions given all along this tutorial, here
+is a ''tlshot'' named script, which should do the job:
+<file bash tlshot>#!/bin/sh
+#
+# TLSHOT - make a package from the current native TeX Live installation.
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2012, Sébastien Boillod <sbb at tuxfamily dot org>.
+#
+# Permission to use copy, modify, and/or distribute this software for any
+# purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
+# copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
+#
+# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES
+# WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
+# MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY
+# SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
+# WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
+# ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR
+# IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE
+snapvrs () {
+    ls -1 "/var/log/packages/$1" 2>/dev/null | \
+        awk -F- -v s="abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz" \
+            '($2 ~ /[a-z]$/){sub(/[0-9]+/,"",$2);l=substr(s,index(s,$2)+1,1)}
+            END{print "'"$1"'" ((l"") ? l : "a")}'
+}
+export LC_ALL="C"
+umask 022
+set -e
+tl="$(ls -l /opt/texlive | awk '{print $NF}')"
+echo "Packaging /opt/$tl..."
+root="$(mktemp -d /opt/pkg-XXXXXX)"
+mkdir -p "$root/opt" "$root/usr/sbin" "$root/etc/profile.d" "$root/install"
+ln -s "$tl" "$root/opt/texlive"
+cp /usr/sbin/tlmgr "$root/usr/sbin"
+cp /etc/profile.d/texlive.*h "$root/etc/profile.d"
+chmod +x "$root/etc/profile.d"/* "$root/usr/sbin"/*
+cat >"$root/install/slack-desc" <<EOF
+       |-----handy-ruler------------------------------------------------------|
+texlive: texlive (native TeX Live distribution)
+texlive:
+texlive: This is a snapshot of the current native TeX Live installation.
+texlive:
+texlive:
+texlive:
+texlive:
+texlive:
+texlive:
+texlive:
+texlive:
+EOF
+cd "$root"
+# The installation might be *huge*. That's why we just move it
+# in the FS (rename) instead of copying it.
+mv "/opt/$tl" "$root/opt"
+if ! /sbin/makepkg -l y -c n "${TMPDIR:-"/tmp/"}/$(snapvrs "$tl")-i386-1.txz"; then
+    mv "$root/opt/$tl" /opt # ^^^ we ALWAYS move back the Tex Live.
+else
+    mv "$root/opt/$tl" /opt
+fi
+rm -rf "$root"
+# EoF</file>
+The result should be a package in ''/tmp'' (or the directory you've specified
+through the ''TMPDIR'' environment variable), named
+''texlive-YYYYX-i386-1.txz'', where ''YYYY'' is as usual the TeX Live's
+version, and ''X'' is a lower letter dynamically attributed to distinguish a
+snapshot from another. The TeX Live directory packaged is the one pointed
+by the ''/opt/texlive'' symlink.
+If you choose to use snapshots, you'll probably want to disable the
+automatic backups performed by ''tlmgr'' (it won't be very useful, while
+consuming space and making the snapshots bigger):
+<code># tlmgr option autobackup 0</code>
+This time, we have reached the end of this tutorial. I hope you've
+found something useful here, at least as a basis for your own cleverer
+solutions. If what you've read so far has globally convinced you, it should not require
+too much work to tune it according to your tastes. So, play with it and find
+your perfect TeX Live installation!
+====== Sources ======
+<!-- If you are copying information from another source, then specify that source -->
+<!-- * Original source: [[http://some.website.org/some/page.html]] -->
+<!-- Authors are allowed to give credit to themselves! -->
+  * Originally written by [[wiki:user:vaporseb | Sébastien Boillod]] for the Slackware Documentation Project.
+<!-- * Contributions by [[wiki:user:yyy | User Y]] -->
+<!-- Please do not modify anything below, except adding new tags.-->
+<!-- You must remove the tag-word "template" below before saving your new page -->
+{{tag>howtos texlive LaTeX author_vaporseb}}

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