A Node.js web application that allows LaTeX math equations to be entered and converted to PNG/JPG/SVG images.
For each conversion, an isolated Docker container with a LaTeX installation is started; it compiles the generated .tex file and converts it to an SVG vector image. If required, the SVG file is then converted to a raster image format for PNG/JPG.
Bootstrap and jQuery are used in the web interface, with AJAX calls made to the conversion API endpoint.
The application is accessible at https://latex2image.joeraut.com
I made use of Ubuntu 18.04. Other Linux distributions should work without problems.
2020-05-09 Confirmed working on Windows 10 build 18363.778
Docker CE with non-root user support.
Docker image containing the required LaTeX packages preinstalled.
Pull the image:
docker pull blang/latex:ubuntu
I made use of v10.14.2, anything newer should be fine.
2020-05-09 Confirmed working on Node.js v10.20.1
After cloning or downloading this project, run the following to install local dependencies from npm:
cd latex2image-web/
npm install
SVG files can be generated as-is, but for PNG and JPG export support, the two global Node.js packages svgexport and imagemin-cli are required:
npm install svgexport -g
npm install imagemin-cli -g
For Windows users, in %AppData%\npm\node_modules\svgexport\render.js
Change the line
await page.goto('file://' + encodeURI(svgfile))
into
await page.goto('file:///' + encodeURI(svgfile).replace(new RegExp(/%5C/g),"/"))
To run:
node app.js
For Windows users, run:
node app_win.js
The web interface will be accessible at http://localhost:3001 by default. The port and HTTP URL can be modified inside app.js.
Enter a LaTeX equation, for example \frac{a}{b}, and press Convert. The result will be displayed below the button.
LaTeX is powerful, with the reading and writing of external files and execution of terminal commands possible. It was decided that a new isolated Docker container be launched for every conversion.
The container is only able to access the local temp/<id>/ (temp in Windows) directory and has no network access.
Additionally, the compilation process will be killed after 5 seconds if not complete; this is to safeguard against infinite loops and other troublesome LaTeX quirks.
Commands used:
latex- Converts.texsource file to.dviintermediatedvisvgm- Converts.dvifile to.svgvector imagesvgexport- Converts.svgto.pngor.jpgraster imagesimagemin- Compresses.pngand.jpgimages
- The directories
temp/andoutput/will be generated automatically inside thelatex2image-web/directory upon first launch. temp/stores temporary.tex,.dvi, and.svgfiles during compilation in an innertemp/<id>/directory (temp/in Windows), which is deleted upon completion of the conversion.- Final output images are stored in
output/, and are never deleted.
For any issues or bugs, please submit an issue or pull request.
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.