How to Collaborate on LaTeX Projects in Real-Time Using VS Code Live Share

Introduction

Collaboration is a crucial part of academic research, especially when multiple people contribute to the same document. One of the most common tools for writing LaTeX documents is Overleaf, a popular online LaTeX editor. However, it comes with limitations that can become a bottleneck when working in larger teams. This article explores how you can use Visual Studio Code (VS Code) along with its Live Share extension to collaborate on LaTeX files in real time—without paying for Overleaf’s premium features.

Why Overleaf’s Free Plan Falls Short for Larger Teams

Overleaf’s free plan is widely used because it offers a user-friendly interface and cloud-based LaTeX editing. However, it restricts collaboration to only two people per project—the owner and one invited collaborator. This limitation can be a serious issue for larger teams, such as university thesis groups or research labs, where multiple contributors need access to the same file simultaneously.

In our case, we had five group members working on a single thesis file. Buying a premium plan just to accommodate extra collaborators wasn’t ideal for us. We needed a free, scalable, and real-time solution.

Why We Chose VS Code for LaTeX Editing

Visual Studio Code is a powerful and flexible code editor that supports numerous programming languages and file types—including LaTeX. Its extensive extension library and customization options make it a great tool for collaborative writing.

Here’s why we chose VS Code:

• Free and Open-Source: No licensing issues or payment barriers.

• Extensible via Extensions: Supports LaTeX-specific extensions like LaTeX Workshop.

• Local Compilation Support: Enables offline access and local control over the compilation process.

• Real-Time Collaboration with Live Share: Allows multiple users to work on the same document live, even without syncing through GitHub.

Installing TeX Live for Local Compilation

To compile LaTeX files locally, you need a LaTeX distribution. TeX Live is one of the most popular and widely supported distributions. It enables you to compile .tex files directly on your computer without needing an internet connection.

However, TeX Live is a very large download—often several gigabytes in size. Since our group was under time pressure, we couldn’t afford to download it on all five computers. Instead, we decided to install it only on the computer with the fastest internet connection. This saved time and allowed us to get started with writing and compiling almost immediately.

Problem of Real-Time Collaboration Without GitHub

While GitHub is a powerful version control and collaboration platform, it has a learning curve and requires setting up repositories and syncing. Because of our limited time, we couldn’t implement Git-based collaboration effectively.

We needed a tool that allowed instant, real-time editing, without the need for frequent commits or manual syncing. That’s where VS Code Live Share came in as a perfect solution.

Introducing the VS Code Live Share Extension

Live Share is an extension developed by Microsoft that enables real-time collaboration inside Visual Studio Code. With it, multiple users can:

• Edit files simultaneously

• Share terminals and servers

• Navigate code collaboratively

It’s lightweight, free, and doesn’t require all participants to have the project files on their local machines. This made it ideal for our team setup.

Step-by-Step: How to Install Live Share on VS Code

1. Open Visual Studio Code on your computer.

2. Click on the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the side.

3. In the search bar, type Live Share.

4. Look for the extension named Live Share by Microsoft.

5. Click Install.

After installation, you will notice a Live Share button added to the Activity Bar and also in the status bar at the bottom.

How to Start a Live Share Session in VS Code

Once Live Share is installed, starting a session is easy:

1. Click the Live Share icon in the Activity Bar or the status bar.

2. Choose one of the following options:

   • Share (Read/Write): Allows full editing access.

   • Share (Read): View-only access for participants.

3. A collaboration link will be generated and copied to your clipboard automatically.

4. Share this link with your team members through chat or email.

You can also start and manage Live Share sessions directly from the status bar.

How Collaborators Can Join a Live Share Session

Team members who want to join the session should:

1. Open Visual Studio Code.

2. Click the Live Share icon in the Activity Bar.

3. Choose the Join option.

4. Paste the link that was shared by the host.

After connecting, they will have immediate access to the shared workspace and can begin collaborating in real time.

Collaborative Features of Live Share for LaTeX Projects

Live Share offers several features that make it an excellent choice for LaTeX project collaboration:

• Simultaneous Editing: Everyone in the session can edit the .tex files in real time.

• Terminal Sharing: The host can share a terminal session so others can view compilation logs or run scripts together.

• Context Awareness: Participants can follow the host’s cursor or navigate files independently.

• Commenting and Review: Although not built-in, Live Share supports code comments through other extensions or shared terminal notes.

These capabilities provide the same level of collaboration you would expect from a cloud-based editor, with more control and flexibility.

Best Practices for Using Live Share in a Group

To make the most of Live Share, follow these best practices:

• Define Roles Clearly: Assign who is responsible for editing, compiling, and reviewing.

• Communicate Actively: Use an external chat platform or integrated voice features to coordinate.

• Avoid Overlapping Edits: Work in different sections to prevent overwriting changes.

• Save Often: While Live Share autosaves changes, it's still good to manually save progress frequently.

• Stay Synced: Ensure all participants are working from the same initial version of the LaTeX files.

Conclusion

Collaborating on LaTeX files with a team of more than two people can be challenging if you rely solely on Overleaf’s free version. By using VS Code with the Live Share extension and TeX Live for local compilation, you can enable real-time, multi-user collaboration without spending a dime.

This setup offers speed, flexibility, and control—ideal for students and research teams working under tight deadlines.