.vscode/settings.json

@@ -1,3 +1,20 @@
 {
-  "latex-workshop.latex.recipe.default": "latexmk (xelatex)"
+  "latex-workshop.latex.recipes": [
+    {
+      "name": "Smart LaTeX Build",
+      "tools": ["smart-build"]
+    }
+  ],
+  "latex-workshop.latex.tools": [
+    {
+      "name": "smart-build",
+      "command": "bash",
+      "args": [
+        "%WORKSPACE_FOLDER%/build/build-latex-smart.sh",
+        "%DOC%"
+      ]
+    }
+  ],
+  "latex-workshop.latex.recipe.default": "Smart LaTeX Build",
+  "latex-workshop.formatting.latex": "latexindent"
 }

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