MiKTeX

MiKTeX is a free, open-source distribution of TeX/LaTeX designed to provide a complete TeX environment on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It includes the core TeX engines, macro packages, fonts, and utilities needed to compile LaTeX documents and related formats.

A key feature of MiKTeX is its on-the-fly package installation capability. When a document references a package that is not currently installed, MiKTeX can download and install it automatically. This behavior is configurable through the MiKTeX Console, the graphical tool used for maintenance, updates, package management, and configuration. MiKTeX maintains a central package repository and can fetch updates from its own repository or from CTAN-based sources.

MiKTeX supports multiple TeX engines, including pdfTeX, XeTeX, and LuaLaTeX, enabling a variety of workflows and font technologies. It can produce PDF or DVI output and easily integrates with common editors such as TeXworks (bundled with many MiKTeX installations), TeXstudio, LyX, and Kile, among others.

In typical use, a user installs MiKTeX, selects an editor, writes a document, and compiles it. If a required package is missing, MiKTeX can install it automatically if configured. MiKTeX is maintained by an open-source community and is a prominent alternative to other cross-platform TeX distributions. It is widely used in academic settings and supports both single-user and multi-user installations.