\documentclass{about}
LaTeX compilation
without the infrastructure.
FormaTeX started from a simple frustration: LaTeX is the gold standard for technical documents, but running it anywhere — in production, in the browser, in an AI workflow — means fighting a 4 GB TeX Live installation, version drift, and a compilation sandbox that is easy to get wrong. We built the platform we wished existed: API, editor, AI assistant, and collaboration in one place.
50K+
Compilations served
4
LaTeX engines
<100ms
Average compile time
99.9%
Uptime
The problem we kept running into
LaTeX is the gold standard for typesetting — academic papers, technical reports, financial documents, certificates. The output quality is unmatched. But running it in production is a different story.
A full TeX Live installation is 4+ GB. Keeping it updated across environments creates version drift. Running user-supplied LaTeX safely requires sandboxing that is easy to get wrong. Scaling compilation workloads means building job queues from scratch. Most teams end up either shipping a fragile internal service or giving up on LaTeX entirely.
None of that complexity is the point. The point is the PDF.
What we built instead
The API is the foundation: send LaTeX, get PDF. All four major engines — pdflatex, xelatex, lualatex, latexmk — with sandboxed compilation, ephemeral file handling, and both synchronous and async modes. We run TeX Live, so you don't have to.
On top of the API, a full browser editor: syntax highlighting, multi-file projects, split-pane PDF preview, file history, and compilation logs — everything a LaTeX writer needs, without a local installation.
An AI assistant is wired directly into the editor and the API. It fixes compilation errors, explains them in plain English, and generates LaTeX from a text prompt. Real-time collaboration lets multiple people edit the same project simultaneously, with presence indicators and role-based access.
\subsection{Principles}
How we build and operate
Ephemeral by design
Your LaTeX source and compiled PDFs are never stored. They live in memory, serve their purpose, and disappear. We don't want your documents — we want to compile them.
Secure by default
Shell escape is disabled. Pipe commands are blocked. Workers have no internet access. Every compilation runs in an isolated container that is torn down after use. Security is not an add-on.
Developer-first
A clean REST API, clear error messages, predictable response formats, and an honest pricing page. No sales calls, no enterprise forms. Sign up, get a key, start compiling — or open the editor and write.
Honest about limits
Plan limits are documented clearly and enforced transparently. Response headers tell you exactly where you stand. No surprise overages, no hidden throttling.
Built for teams
Real-time collaboration, role-based access, and a notification inbox are built into the platform — not bolted on. Invite a collaborator, share a project link, and work together without leaving the browser.
\chapter{Use cases}
Who uses FormaTeX
AI tool builders
LLMs generate LaTeX. FormaTeX compiles it. Close the loop without shipping TeX Live into your AI stack. MCP integration lets agents compile directly.
Academics & researchers
Write papers, theses, and reports in the browser editor. Full LaTeX, no local installation, no version conflicts — just open and write.
Document automation
Invoice generators, certificate systems, and report builders. Use the Templates API to send JSON variables and get a typeset PDF back.
Developers & teams
Use the REST API for programmatic generation, or the browser editor for collaborative writing. One platform, one account, both workflows.