tlmgr-check

Check the consistency of the whole TeX Live installation

$ tlmgr check all

$ tlmgr check all -v

$ tlmgr check depends

$ tlmgr check executes

$ tlmgr check files

$ tlmgr check runfiles

tlmgr check [options]

--all
    Check all repositories, not just the main one.

--file
    Check a local file for updates. Value must be a filename.

--gui
    Operate with a graphical interface.

--json
    Output results in JSON format.

--list
    List available updates, rather than a summary.

--reinstall-forcibly
    Reinstall packages forcibly if there are issues. Use with caution!

--repository <URL>
    Use the specified repository instead of the default. The URL is the path of repository.

--verify-file-size
    Verify the file size to ensure integrity.

The tlmgr-check command is a crucial utility within the TeX Live distribution that serves to identify and report available updates for installed packages. It connects to the TeX Live repository, compares the versions of your locally installed packages with those available online, and presents a summary of any outdated packages. This allows users to keep their TeX Live installation up-to-date, ensuring access to the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches.

tlmgr-check is particularly important because TeX Live is a large and complex system, and updates are released regularly. By running this command periodically, users can maintain a stable and functional environment for typesetting documents. While tlmgr encompasses other functionalities like installing and removing packages, tlmgr-check specifically focuses on providing information regarding available updates. When updates are available, the user can then utilize tlmgr update to apply those changes.

The tool reduces issues that may appear if your installation is too old, especially when building shared projects or use environments with many packages.

Running tlmgr-check requires network connectivity to access the TeX Live repository. If you are behind a firewall or proxy, you may need to configure tlmgr with the appropriate settings. Results can vary depending on the chosen TeX Live repository and network speed.

tlmgr-check returns 0 if there are no updates available, and a non-zero value if updates are available or an error occurred.

The default TeX Live repository is automatically configured during installation, but you can change it using the tlmgr repository command. This can be useful if you want to use a local mirror or a specific archive.

tlmgr, including the check subcommand, was introduced as part of TeX Live to provide a unified and flexible package management system. It replaced older methods of managing TeX distributions, offering a more robust and user-friendly approach. Over time, tlmgr has evolved with new features and improvements, reflecting the ongoing development of TeX Live.

tlmgr(1), tlmgr update(1)