md2pdf-tex 0.1.0

Convert Markdown with LaTeX math to PDF using KaTeX and headless Chrome

md2pdf

A minimalist, high-fidelity Markdown-to-PDF converter written in Python. It parses Markdown files containing LaTeX mathematical formulas, renders them using KaTeX, and outputs a print-perfect PDF using a headless Chrome instance via Selenium.

Features

• High-Fidelity PDF Output: Employs headless Google Chrome to print the rendered HTML layout to PDF, preserving pagination, fonts, margins, and alignments.
• LaTeX Math Support: Seamlessly renders inline math ($...$) and block math ($$...$$) via KaTeX.
• Minimal Dependencies: Requires only Python, Chrome/Chromium, and the Python selenium library.
• Polished Typography: Features premium, print-optimized font pairings (Source Serif 4, Source Sans 3, and Source Code Pro) loaded dynamically from Google Fonts.
• Clean Markdown Parser: A custom regex-based parser that translates standard Markdown elements into clean HTML while protecting LaTeX delimiters from markdown interference.

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Installation

1. Prerequisites

• Python 3.x
• Google Chrome or Chromium browser installed on your system.

2. Install Python Package

Install the Python dependencies via pip. It is recommended to use a virtual environment:

# Create and activate a virtual environment (optional)
python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate

# Install Selenium
pip install selenium

Note: Selenium Manager will automatically locate and download the appropriate driver (chromedriver) for your Chrome version. No manual driver setup is needed.

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Usage

Run the converter from your terminal:

python3 md2pdf.py <input.md> [output.pdf]

• <input.md>: The path to your input Markdown file.
• [output.pdf] (Optional): The path for the output PDF file. If omitted, it defaults to the input file's name with a .pdf extension in the same directory.

Example

Given a file document.md containing:

# Physics Report

Let's discuss the Maxwell's equations. In differential form, Faraday's law of induction is:

$$\nabla \times \mathbf{E} = -\frac{\partial \mathbf{B}}{\partial t}$$

Where:
- $\mathbf{E}$ is the electric field.
- $\mathbf{B}$ is the magnetic field.

Convert it using:

python3 md2pdf.py document.md

This generates document.pdf with properly formatted headers, bulleted lists, and beautiful, high-resolution mathematical equations.

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Supported Markdown Elements

• Headings: # (H1), ## (H2), and ### (H3).
• Inline Math: $ ... $ for inline formulas (e.g. $E = mc^2$).
• Block Math: $$ ... $$ for centered display equations.
• Unordered Lists: - item and indented - subitem.
• Text Styling: **bold**, *italic*, and inline `code` fragments.
• Paragraphs: Contiguous lines are automatically joined into standard justified paragraphs.

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How It Works

1. Preprocessing: The script reads the input Markdown, identifies math blocks, and translates markdown elements (headers, lists, styling) to semantic HTML tags.
2. HTML Generation: It constructs a self-contained HTML document loading KaTeX stylesheets/scripts and applying typography rules.
3. Rendering & Math Processing: Selenium starts a headless Chrome browser, loads the HTML, and waits for KaTeX's auto-render extension to process the mathematical formatting.
4. PDF Printing: Headless Chrome's print-to-PDF functionality (Page.printToPDF via Chrome DevTools Protocol) is triggered with A4 measurements and standard margins to produce a high-fidelity document.