Trigger Tex file compilation with latexmk automatically when its content is changed and saved.

[Hongyi Zhao]

Hi here,

For the purpose of automatic compilation in Emacs using AUCTeX and
latexmk on Ubuntu Linux, I've the following configuration:

;;;;;;; begin config here
;; https://tam5917.hatenablog.com/entry/2021/04/10/134230
;; https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/auctex/2021-10/msg00013.html
(defvar hz/AUCTeX-process nil)
(use-package smart-compile
  :init
  (declare-function smart-compile-string "smart-compile")
  (defun run-latexmk ()
    (when (string-match ".tex$" (buffer-file-name))
      (unless (and (processp hz/AUCTeX-process)
           (eq (process-status hz/AUCTeX-process) 'run))
    (let ((buf (get-buffer-create "*Background TeX proccess*")))
      (with-current-buffer buf (erase-buffer)) ;; flush previous log
      (setq hz/AUCTeX-process
        (start-process-shell-command
         "Background TeX" buf
         ;; use an external application as the previewer
         (smart-compile-string "latexmk -pv %f")

         ;; use pdf-tools
         ;; (smart-compile-string "latexmk %f")
         ))))))
  (define-minor-mode AutoTeX-mode
    "Mode for compiling latex sources and creating PDFs after saving."
    :global nil
    :lighter " Auto"
    (if AutoTeX-mode
    (add-hook 'after-save-hook 'run-latexmk t t)
      (remove-hook 'after-save-hook 'run-latexmk t)))

  :hook (LaTeX-mode . (lambda () (AutoTeX-mode 1))))
;;;;;;; end config here

But after the TeX file has been changed and saved, I still haven't
observed the automatic compilation progress. Any tips/comments will be
appreciated.

Regards,
Zhao
-- 
Assoc. Prof. Hongsheng Zhao <hongyi.zhao@gmail.com>
Theory and Simulation of Materials
Hebei Vocational University of Technology and Engineering
No. 473, Quannan West Street, Xindu District, Xingtai, Hebei province