Fastest Way To Compile LaTeX Projects (TeXLive vs Tectonic vs Octree Benchmarks)
Date Published
Compilation Speed Matters
Every second you wait for compilation is a second not writing. We benchmarked the major LaTeX compilation methods to find the fastest approach.
The Contenders
TeXLive (Traditional)
The standard LaTeX distribution. Comprehensive but not optimized for speed.
Tectonic
A modern engine focused on reproducibility and speed. Written in Rust.
Octree Cloud Compilation
Our distributed cloud infrastructure with intelligent caching.
Overleaf
The incumbent cloud solution. Shared infrastructure.
Test Methodology
We compiled the same documents on each platform:
• Small: 5-page article, 2 figures
• Medium: 25-page report, 10 figures, equations
• Large: 100-page thesis, 50 figures, 200 citations
• Complex: 40-page paper with heavy TikZ diagrams
Each test was run 10 times, averaged, measured in seconds.
Results: Initial Compilation
First compile with no cache:
| Document | TeXLive | Tectonic | Octree | Overleaf |
|----------|---------|----------|--------|----------|
| Small | 3.2s | 2.1s | 1.8s | 8.5s |
| Medium | 12.4s | 8.3s | 3.2s | 24.1s |
| Large | 45.2s | 28.7s | 8.5s | 62.3s |
| Complex | 68.3s | 41.2s | 12.1s | 95.4s |
Winner: Octree (cloud parallelization advantage)
Results: Incremental Compilation
Compiling after a small change:
| Document | TeXLive | Tectonic | Octree | Overleaf |
|----------|---------|----------|--------|----------|
| Small | 2.8s | 1.9s | 0.3s | 6.2s |
| Medium | 11.2s | 7.4s | 0.4s | 18.5s |
| Large | 42.1s | 25.3s | 0.6s | 48.7s |
| Complex | 64.5s | 38.1s | 0.8s | 72.1s |
Winner: Octree (intelligent caching)
Why Octree Is Faster
1. Incremental Compilation
We track what changed and only recompile affected parts. Change one word? We don't rebuild your entire bibliography.
2. Cloud Parallelization
Heavy tasks (BibTeX, makeindex, TikZ) run in parallel on our infrastructure.
3. Smart Caching
Compiled auxiliary files are cached. Figures are cached. Fonts are cached. Only new content compiles.
4. Optimized Pipeline
No legacy compatibility constraints. We use the fastest available tools.
Why Overleaf Is Slower
1. Shared Infrastructure
Your compile shares resources with thousands of other users.
2. Full Recompilation
Limited incremental compilation. Most changes trigger full rebuilds.
3. Queue Time
Peak hours mean waiting in line before compilation even starts.
4. Legacy Compatibility
Supporting every package configuration requires conservative approaches.
Local vs Cloud Trade-offs
Local (TeXLive/Tectonic)
Pros:
• No internet required
• Full control
• One-time setup
Cons:
• Uses your computer's resources
• Manual package management
• No collaboration
Cloud (Octree/Overleaf)
Pros:
• No local setup
• Always up-to-date
• Collaboration features
Cons:
• Requires internet
• Depends on service
Practical Impact
For a 100-compile day (normal for active writing):
| Platform | Time Compiling | Time Saved vs Overleaf |
|----------|---------------|------------------------|
| Overleaf | 48 min | - |
| TeXLive | 42 min | 6 min |
| Tectonic | 25 min | 23 min |
| Octree | 1 min | 47 min |
47 minutes saved per day = 4+ hours per week
Our Recommendation
For maximum speed: Octree
For offline work: Tectonic (local)
For legacy compatibility: TeXLive
Experience instant compilation. Try Octree at https://useoctree.com and stop waiting for your PDF.