Cross-platform editing for LaTeX documents?

Question

What solutions are there for working on a LaTeX document on both Windows and Linux?

It's a large document, and I will be working daily on both platforms so compatibility is essential if it's two different pieces of software.

Bonus points for a solution that includes easy previewing.

Answer 1

Writing text is not very different from writing software. Similar management techniques apply when scaling up.

• Modularity: Split the document to smaller pieces e.g. a separate .tex file for each chapter. I also like to keep the preamble and other LaTeX set-up separate from the body text. My chapter files themselves just have the body text with some markup but do not define any new commands.

• Source control: Keep all the source files in a version control tool such as subversion. Transfer files between systems using the tool.

• Builds: Have a Makefile or similar to control the build process: it should be consistent and repeatable. Build regularly and fix build problems as soon as possible. If you want easy previews, you can set up a Makefile rule to launch e.g. a PDF viewer after the target PDF has been compiled.

• Editing: Use whatever you're compatible with. It does not matter that much, though some good advice has been given by other answerers.

• Communication: If there's more than one person working on the same stuff, no tool is a substitute for interpersonal communication.