mtxrun(1)

📦 version 2025.221.svn74241, in opensuse-leap 16.0

✨ mtxrun(1) — the ConTeXt TDS Runner Tool ✨

okay bestie, sit down, hydrate, because this is the tool. it's mtxrun, from the ConTeXt TDS Runner Tool family, and it's basically the group chat admin of your TeX installation. 💅

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

mtxrun [ OPTIONS ...  ] [ FILENAMES ]

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

ConTeXt TDS Runner Tool. that's it, that's the whole description, and honestly? iconic. it runs stuff. it resolves stuff. it finds stuff. it's giving main character energy for your whole texmf tree. 🫶

💖 OPTIONS 💖

  • --script — run an mtx script (lua prefered method) (--noquotes). no script given and it just gives you a list instead. a little menu, a little moment. ✨
  • --evaluate — run code passed on the commandline (between quotes) (=loop). exit or quit aborts it, so you can escape, no cap.
  • --execute — run a script or program (texmfstart method) (--noquotes).
  • --resolve — resolve prefixed arguments.
  • --ctxlua — run internally (using preloaded libs).
  • --internal — run script using built in libraries (same as --ctxlua). twins fr fr.
  • --locate — locate given filename in database (default) or system (--first --all --detail).
  • --tree=pathtotree — use given texmf tree (default file: setuptex.tmf).
  • --path=runpath — go to given path before execution. a lil pre-game stroll. 🚶‍♀️
  • --ifchanged=filename — only execute when given file has changed (md checksum).
  • --iftouched=old,new — only execute when given file has changed (time stamp).
  • --makestubs — create stubs for (context related) scripts.
  • --removestubs — remove stubs (context related) scripts.
  • --stubpath=binpath — paths where stubs wil be written. (yes, "wil", we keep the typo, we respect the typo 🎀)
  • --windows — create windows (mswin) stubs.
  • --unix — create unix (linux) stubs.
  • --addbinarypath — prepend the (found) binarypath to runners.
  • --verbose — give a bit more info. just a bit. a sprinkle. 🌈
  • --trackers=list — enable given trackers.
  • --progname=str — format or backend.
  • --systeminfo=str — show current operating system, processor, etc.
  • --edit — launch editor with found file.
  • --launch — launch files like manuals, assumes os support (--all, --list).
  • --timedrun — run a script and time its run. ⏱️ speedrun era.
  • --autogenerate — regenerate databases if needed (handy when used to run context in an editor).
  • --usekpse — use kpse as fallback (when no mkiv and cache installed, often slower).
  • --forcekpse — force using kpse (handy when no mkiv and cache installed but less functionality).
  • --prefixes — show supported prefixes.
  • --generate — generate file database.
  • --variables — show configuration variables.
  • --configurations — show configuration order.
  • --directives — show (known) directives.
  • --trackers — show (known) trackers.
  • --experiments — show (known) experiments.
  • --expand-braces — expand complex variable.
  • --resolve-path — expand variable (completely resolve paths).
  • --expand-path — expand variable (resolve paths).
  • --expand-var — expand variable (resolve references).
  • --show-path — show path expansion of ...
  • --var-value — report value of variable.
  • --find-file — report file location.
  • --find-path — report path of file.
  • --pattern=string — filter variables.
lowkey that's a lot of flags and every single one of them is here, bestie. no skipping, no summarising, we ate. 👑

🎀 AUTHOR 🎀

More information about ConTeXt and the tools that come with it can be found at:

and that's a wrap on mtxrun(1), the ConTeXt TDS Runner Tool page 💜 this one's version 1.33, dated 01-01-2025 — happy new year to everyone except people who don't read the docs. go run something, bestie, you've got this. ✨🦋💖

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