After using org-mode for 10 years, I run for the doorway when
I even think about trying to convert an org-mode file to PDF.

*** I quiver when I see errors such as:

warning: kpathsea: configuration file texmf.cnf not found in these
directories:
/usr/bin:/usr/bin/share/texmf-local/web2c:/usr/bin/share/texmf-dist/web2c:/usr/bin/share/texmf/web2c:/usr/bin/texmf-local/web2c:/usr/bin/texmf-dist/web2c:/usr/bin/texmf/web2c:/usr:/usr/share/texmf-local/web2c:/usr/share/texmf-dist/web2c:/usr/share/texmf/web2c:/usr/texmf-local/web2c:/usr/texmf-dist/web2c:/usr/texmf/web2c://texmf-local/web2c:/://share/texmf-local/web2c://share/texmf-dist/web2c://share/texmf/web2c://texmf-local/web2c://texmf-dist/web2c://texmf/web2c.
This is pdfTeX, Version 3.14159265-2.6-1.40.20 (TeX Live 2019/Arch Linux)
(preloaded format=pdflatex)

kpathsea: Running mktexfmt pdflatex.fmt
mktexfmt: No such file or directory
I can't find the format file `pdflatex.fmt'!

*** I run for cover when I read documentation such as:

https://orgmode.org/manual/LaTeX-Export.html#LaTeX-Export

I think people who have been using LaTex and related tools for a long time
have
no issue with this (seemingly) insurmountable feat.  However, I am not
familiar with
such a myriad of tools and I'm simply looking for the "easiest" way to
convert/export an org
mode file to PDF on Linux.

Can anyone point me to some tutorials?  I'm sorry if I miss something
obvious.

Thanks,
--Nate