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What are the current differences between MikTeX and TeXLive? This question has many answers, but most of them are quite old, and it isn't clear what is still relevant, especially since MikTeX has undergone significant changes recently (notably - added support for Linux and macOS). Please edit the first answer as community wiki, and add criteria for comparison. Feel free to add explanations regarding whether some criterion gives an advantage to one of the distributions

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    You are free to add new answers to that question but this is definitely a duplicate question that would normally be closed as duplicate.
    – David Carlisle
    Mar 2 at 11:59
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    @DavidCarlisle as I wrote, that question has answers which ar >10 years old, and I didn't get an answer as to whether they are still relevant. And some are simply now false. These answers have many upvotes, so they appear on top. Is there another way to highlight the current correct answers?
    – Ur Ya'ar
    Mar 3 at 14:54
  • But if you think it's better, I can move the updating answer to that question.
    – Ur Ya'ar
    Mar 3 at 14:59

1 Answer 1

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  • Supported operating system

    • TeXLive: Linux, macOS, Windows
    • MikTeX: Linux, macOS, Windows

  • Open source

    • TeXLive: Yes
    • MikTeX: Yes

  • Maintainer(s)

    • TeXLive: TUG (TeX Users Group)
    • MikTeX: Christian Schenk
    • Note: Some consider this an advantage of TeXLive as it makes it more future-proof.

  • GUI for package installation

    • TeXLive: Yes
    • MikTeX: Yes

  • On-the-fly package installation

    • TeXLive: No
    • MikTeX: Yes

  • Update scheme

    • TeXLive: Strict yearly releases
    • MikTeX: ?

  • Installation process

    • TeXLive:
    • MikTeX:

  • [Criterion]

    • TeXLive:
    • MikTeX:
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  • The TeX Live binaries have yearly releases but updates of packages are usually available one or two days after the CTAN release. With MiKTeX it often takes a little longer, sometimes even a few weeks.
    – cabohah
    Mar 2 at 12:30
  • TeX Live has texliveonfly. I've never used it, because I prefer not to need internet everywhere and therefore always do a full installation.
    – cabohah
    Mar 2 at 12:33
  • TinyTeX provides on-the-fly package installation for texlive
    – samcarter_is_at_topanswers.xyz
    Mar 2 at 13:05
  • @cabohah so I'll add a distinction between updates of binaries and packages.
    – Ur Ya'ar
    Mar 3 at 15:01
  • I didn't know about the onthefly options (add-ons? Packages?) I'll check them out, thx
    – Ur Ya'ar
    Mar 3 at 15:03

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