# Aldine

> Aldine is an open-source, self-hosted collaborative LaTeX editor and an
> Overleaf alternative: real-time collaborative editing (Yjs CRDT), a real git
> repository with branches per project, push and pull to GitHub, GitLab, Gitea
> and Forgejo, Zotero sync, citation search (OpenAlex), sandboxed TeX Live
> compiles, a built-in MCP server for Claude, and a byte-stable visual editing
> mode. AGPL-3.0.

Status: 1.11.0 (November 2026), AGPL-3.0. There is no paid plan and no
hosted service today; you run it yourself.

Key facts:

- Self-hosting is two Docker containers (app + compiler) via `docker compose up -d`.
  No external services required. The compiler image is about 2.4 GB to
  download, about 5 GB on disk.
- Git: every project is a real git repository. Branches are created, edited
  and merged from the UI. Push and pull to GitHub, GitLab (gitlab.com or
  self-hosted), Gitea and Forgejo (Codeberg included), and open a pull or
  merge request from the editor.
- Sign-in (optional, `AUTH_ENABLED=1`): email and password, Google, GitHub,
  ORCID, or your own OpenID Connect provider (Keycloak, Authentik, Authelia,
  Pocket ID). `ALDINE_SSO_ONLY=1` disables passwords.
- Zotero: link My Library or a group library, whole or a single collection;
  the project's `.bib`
  stays in sync with a version-aware refresh; cite from a search panel or
  `\cite{` autocomplete.
- Migrating from Overleaf: download the project as a ZIP and drop it on the
  home screen; the root file is detected and the first typeset runs
  automatically.
- The compiler runs latexmk in a sandbox: no network egress, dropped capabilities,
  restricted shell-escape.
- Storage is plain files plus per-project git repos; Postgres is optional
  (`DATABASE_URL`). Your data stays greppable on disk.
- MCP server for Claude (the Agent API; optional, `ALDINE_MCP=1`): Aldine is
  a LaTeX editor with an MCP server built in that Claude can use. The instance
  serves plain MCP at `/mcp`; Claude reads and edits the live document,
  typesets, reads the errors back with file and line, fixes them and
  typesets again, and shows the PDF in the chat (inline on claude.ai, Claude
  Desktop and Cowork; a signed link in Claude Code and other MCP clients).
  Every change is a git commit authored "Claude", with review and revert in
  the editor. Connect claude.ai or Claude Desktop with a custom connector
  (`https://<host>/mcp`), and Claude Code with the plugin
  (`/plugin marketplace add trahloff/Aldine`, `/plugin install aldine@aldine`)
  or `claude mcp add --transport http aldine https://<host>/mcp`. Try it on
  the demo: connector URL `https://demo.aldine.dev/mcp`, header
  `X-Aldine-Token: aldine-demo`. Setup, the compile-error loop and other
  LaTeX MCP options: https://aldine.dev/latex-mcp/
- Live demo: https://demo.aldine.dev (world-writable, wiped nightly).
- Source: https://github.com/trahloff/Aldine

## Limits

- Young: first release July 2026, 1.0 in October 2026. Within 1.x an upgrade
  needs no manual step, and stable settings, MCP tools and the plugin API keep
  their names until 2.0 (https://github.com/trahloff/Aldine/blob/main/docs/STABILITY.md).
  That covers upgrades, not a long track record.
- Review is by comments with suggested edits. There are no keystroke-level
  track changes.
- Single-node by design: one app node is the supported topology, scaled vertically.
- CJK scripts need the `-full` compiler image (`ALDINE_TEXLIVE=-full`).

## Compared with Overleaf

Statements about Overleaf are from Overleaf's own pages, checked on 2026-10-12.

- Overleaf is open source under AGPL-3.0; Community Edition is the
  self-hosted build from that repository and Server Pro the officially
  supported version with more features.
  Source: https://github.com/overleaf/overleaf
- Overleaf's comparison lists commenting, real-time track changes, git
  integration, single sign-on (SAML 2 and LDAP) and sandboxed compiles as
  Server Pro features that Community Edition does not include.
  Source: https://docs.overleaf.com/on-premises/welcome/server-pro-vs.-community-edition
- On overleaf.com, git integration and GitHub synchronization are premium
  features, and the Overleaf git system does not support branching.
  Source: https://docs.overleaf.com/integrations-and-add-ons/git-integration-and-github-synchronization/github-synchronization
  Source: https://docs.overleaf.com/integrations-and-add-ons/git-integration-and-github-synchronization/git-integration
- Overleaf's Zotero integration is a premium feature. Its linked .bib
  import takes a whole library or group library, not a single folder; its
  Zotero Sync keeps an account-level Library up to date with collections you
  choose.
  Source: https://docs.overleaf.com/integrations-and-add-ons/reference-manager-integrations/zotero
- Where Overleaf is the better choice: it dates from 2011, hosts a public
  template gallery, and Server Pro has real-time track changes, SAML and
  LDAP, and vendor support.
  Sources: https://www.overleaf.com/about ,
  https://www.overleaf.com/latex/templates ,
  https://docs.overleaf.com/on-premises/welcome/server-pro-vs.-community-edition

## Common questions

- Is there an open-source alternative to Overleaf I can host myself? Yes.
  Aldine is an open-source (AGPL-3.0) collaborative LaTeX editor that runs on
  your own server as two Docker containers. Overleaf also publishes its own
  Community Edition.
- Does it work with git and GitHub or GitLab? Every Aldine project is a real
  git repository with branches you create and merge from the UI. It pushes
  and pulls to GitHub, GitLab, Gitea or Forgejo, and a co-author can clone the
  repository and keep using VS Code.
- Is it free, and how many collaborators can a project have? It is free to
  self-host under AGPL-3.0 and the number of collaborators is not limited.
  There is no paid plan and no hosted service today.
- Can I import my Overleaf projects? Yes, from the ZIP that Overleaf lets you
  download.
- Does it have track changes? Not at keystroke level. It has review comments
  with suggested edits that the author accepts with one click.
- Does it support single sign-on? Yes: Google, GitHub, ORCID or your own
  OpenID Connect provider, with `AUTH_ENABLED=1`.
- Is there an MCP server for Overleaf or another LaTeX editor that Claude can
  use? Aldine has one built in. We found no official Overleaf MCP server
  (checked 12 October 2026); community bridges are listed with sources at
  https://aldine.dev/latex-mcp/#overleaf
- Which LaTeX editors let an AI assistant like Claude edit and compile my
  paper? Aldine, through its MCP server: Claude edits the live document,
  typesets with latexmk and shows the PDF. https://aldine.dev/latex-mcp/
- How can I connect Claude to my LaTeX project so it can fix compile errors?
  Add the Aldine instance's `/mcp` URL as a connector (or install the Claude
  Code plugin) and ask Claude to typeset and fix the errors: it compiles,
  reads the first error with file and line, edits it and typesets again,
  each fix a git commit. Steps: https://aldine.dev/latex-mcp/#fix-errors

## Pages

- [Overleaf alternatives you can self-host, compared](https://aldine.dev/overleaf-alternatives/): Overleaf Community Edition, Server Pro, Aldine, TeXlyre, CoCalc and git with VS Code, sourced and dated
- [Self-hosting Overleaf: what Community Edition includes, and an alternative](https://aldine.dev/self-hosted-overleaf/): Community Edition vs Server Pro vs Aldine, single sign-on, moving a project across
- [Using git and GitHub with Overleaf, and what a git-native LaTeX editor looks like](https://aldine.dev/overleaf-git/): Overleaf's git integration and GitHub sync, and git in Aldine
- [Connect Claude to a LaTeX project over MCP](https://aldine.dev/latex-mcp/): Aldine's built-in MCP server, setup in three steps, how Claude fixes compile errors, the tools, the demo connector, other LaTeX MCP servers
- [Self-hosting Aldine with Docker Compose](https://aldine.dev/self-hosting/): install, upgrade, TeX packages, logins and SSO, reverse proxy, backups, limits
- [Using Zotero with LaTeX: three ways to keep references in sync](https://aldine.dev/zotero-latex/): Overleaf's integration, Better BibTeX auto-export, Zotero in Aldine
- [Overleaf compile timeout: plan limits and how to fix it](https://aldine.dev/overleaf-compile-timeout/): the limit on each Overleaf plan, the fixes from Overleaf's documentation, and how a self-hosted editor sets the limit
- [Is Overleaf free? Free plan limits and pricing](https://aldine.dev/overleaf-free-plan/): what Overleaf's free plan includes and what is paid, as of 12 October 2026, and when a self-hosted editor fits
- [Single sign-on for a self-hosted LaTeX editor](https://aldine.dev/sso/): sign-in methods, OpenID Connect settings, provider notes
- [Documentation](https://aldine.dev/docs/): every guide on aldine.dev and the reference documents on GitHub

## Documentation

- [README](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/trahloff/Aldine/main/README.md): features, quick start, single-VPS runbook, backup and upgrade recipes
- [Changelog](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/trahloff/Aldine/main/CHANGELOG.md): release history (Keep a Changelog format)
- [Scaling notes](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/trahloff/Aldine/main/docs/SCALING.md): architecture, what scales and what is single-node by design
- [Security policy](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/trahloff/Aldine/main/SECURITY.md): threat model, sandbox details, reporting
- [Contributing](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/trahloff/Aldine/main/CONTRIBUTING.md): dev setup, workspace layout, test commands
- [MCP server / Agent API](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/trahloff/Aldine/main/docs/AGENT_API.md): connecting Claude over MCP, the tools, reachability, attribution and review, security model
- [OIDC sign-in](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/trahloff/Aldine/main/docs/OIDC.md): OpenID Connect setup with Keycloak, Authentik, Authelia, Dex; settings, access control, troubleshooting
- [Agent guide](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/trahloff/Aldine/main/AGENTS.md): repo conventions for AI coding agents

## Optional

- [Landing page](https://aldine.dev/): screenshots, demo video, feature overview
- [Demo deployment](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/trahloff/Aldine/main/deploy/demo/README.md): how the public demo box is run