Description
This workshop introduces participants to the automated creation of scientific documents using Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, with an additional focus on workflows where Markdown files are converted and compiled using LaTeX. Instead of manually building documents on local machines, source files written in Markdown are automatically transformed into LaTeX and compiled to PDF in a controlled, reproducible environment whenever changes are committed.
The workshop places Markdown–LaTeX–CI/CD workflows in the context of Research Data Management and Open Science. Text-based source formats, automated builds, and transparent pipelines improve traceability, versioning, and long-term reproducibility, and facilitate the publication of both source files and final documents in open repositories.
Objective
The aim of this workshop is to enable participants to design and use CI/CD pipelines for creating LaTeX-based documents from Markdown sources. After the workshop, participants will be able to set up and understand a complete workflow that converts Markdown to LaTeX and automatically compiles the resulting documents.
Participants will gain the skills required to automate document creation, ensure consistent outputs across systems, and integrate Markdown–LaTeX pipelines into collaborative research projects, following good scientific practice and the principles of Open Science.
Methods
Live demo and exercises
Content
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Motivation for automated document workflows
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Overview of Markdown, LaTeX, and their respective roles in scientific writing
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Introduction to CI/CD concepts and terminology
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Repository structure for Markdown- and LaTeX-based projects
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Converting Markdown to LaTeX (e.g. using Pandoc)
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Writing and configuring CI/CD pipelines for Markdown → LaTeX → PDF workflows
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Using containerized build environments for reproducibility
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Handling bibliographies, figures, and cross-references in automated builds
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Managing and publishing build artifacts (PDFs, logs, intermediate files)
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Debugging and maintaining CI/CD pipelines
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Best practices for collaborative, reproducible, and Open Science–oriented document workflows
Participation Requirements
Basic knowledge of LaTeX
Target Audience
CPL, Young Academics, everyone who is interested in LaTeX
Appointments
| Number | 2026-WIP-057 |
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| Date |
12.3.2026, 1pm - 4pm
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| Course Coordinator | Team Forschungsdatenmanagement an der RWTH Aachen University |
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| Place |
IT Center, Kopernikusstr. 6, Room 004
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| Slots | 5 up to 25 |
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| Cooperation | IT Center |
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| Registration | RWTH-SingleSignOn
External registration
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