diff --git a/build/build-latex-smart.sh b/build/build-latex-smart.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..aaf9f79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build/build-latex-smart.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Color definitions
+BOLD='\033[1m'
+RED='\033[31m'
+BLUE='\033[34m'
+RESET='\033[0m'
+
+# Ensure a file parameter is passed
+if [[ $# -lt 1 ]]; then
+    echo -e "${BOLD}${RED}Error${RESET}${RED}: No .tex file provided.${RESET}"
+    echo "Usage: $0 <file.tex>"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+FILE="$1"
+
+# append .tex file extension, iff not already passed
+[[ "$FILE" != *.tex ]] && FILE="${FILE}.tex"
+
+# Check that the file exists
+if [[ ! -f "$FILE" ]]; then
+    echo -e "${BOLD}${RED}Error${RESET}${RED}: File '$FILE' not found.${RESET}"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+# Detect active \usepackage{fontspec} (ignore commented lines)
+if grep -Eq '^[^%]*\\usepackage\{fontspec\}' "$FILE"; then
+    echo -e "${BLUE}Detected fontspec → Using XeLaTeX${RESET}"
+    xelatex -synctex=1 -interaction=nonstopmode -file-line-error "$FILE"
+else
+    echo -e "${BLUE}No active fontspec → Using pdfLaTeX${RESET}"
+    pdflatex -synctex=1 -interaction=nonstopmode -file-line-error "$FILE"
+fi