On Wed, Nov 5, 2025 at 10:54 PM Arash Esbati <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hongyi Zhao <[email protected]> writes: > > > Thank you for your suggestion. Please also check here [1] for a > > comparison of several mainstream LSP clients in Emacs. BTW, based on > > the remarks here [1], I should give it a try on lsp-boosted [2] eglot > > & lsp-mode. > > Thanks. Actually, when I said "I don't use lsp-mode", I meant I don't > use a LSP-server when writing LaTeX documents (which happens rarely, and > that for decades now). I couldn't find the killer feature of a LaTeX > LSP-server compared with the combination of AUCTeX & RefTeX. I admit I > didn't spend much time finding that feature.
Thanks for the clarification, that makes perfect sense. The combination of AUCTeX and RefTeX is indeed incredibly powerful and has been the gold standard for decades for a very good reason. It's a highly refined and efficient workflow. I think the "killer feature" you were looking for has slowly emerged with the maturity of LaTeX LSP servers (like texlab). The main shift isn't about replacing AUCTeX's core strengths, but about adding a real-time feedback loop that changes the writing process from "write-compile-debug" to something more interactive. The most significant advantage I've found is the on-the-fly diagnostics. The server flags issues like undefined labels, incorrect command usage, or missing packages as you type, often before you even think about compiling. This shortens the feedback cycle dramatically and catches small mistakes instantly. Modern LSPs also add seamless "go to definition" for labels/citations and richer context-aware autocompletion (e.g., showing abstracts for \cite candidates), which feels very much like a modern IDE. Many people now seem to be adopting a hybrid approach: 1. Using LSP for the live error-checking and smart navigation. 2. Still relying on AUCTeX for its superior compilation process (C-c C-c) and the amazing preview-latex feature, which LSP can't replace. It's less of a replacement and more of a powerful enhancement. Just thought I'd share my perspective on how things have evolved recently. > Best, Arash Regards, Zhao
