Arch linux has a package, aside from any arch directly installed individualized texlive packages, that just installs the texlive network install script, and directs the user to run the script that is located in /opt . This piece of magic is "texlive-installer", available in the Arch Users Repository (AUR), makes it easier to use texlive from upstream sources, by doing the necessary work of handling dependencies. Debian based distros require to install a dummy package to accomplish this, and some kind of tweaking may be necessary on other distros. Once AUR is set up, I have run "yay -S texlive-installer" or one may use other AUR helpers. I think it's not possible to install this with pacman. As far as this problem of the OP, I cannot help. Alan Davis On Mon, Nov 11, 2019 at 12:13 PM Jack Kamm wrote: > John Hendy writes: > > > By "LaTeX" I mean "that which is necessary to have a functioning latex > > system." If by lower-level you mean the ecosystem itself vs. compiling > > errors, completely agree. Clearly some core components are missing. > > For example, the texmf.cnf file is provided by the arch package > > texlive-core (assuming a package was used), so that's potentially not > > even installed. > > - https://www.archlinux.org/packages/extra/any/texlive-core/ > > I would also suggest referring to > https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/TeX_Live#Installation for the > packages to install on Arch. I myself am using Archlinux-packaged TeX > Live without any issues. I believe I installed "texlive-most", > "texlive-lang", and "biber", which are the 3 main packages/groups > recommended by the wiki. > > -- [Fill in the blanks] The use of corrupt manipulations and blatant rhetorical ploys ...--- outright lying, flagwaving, personal attacks, setting up phony alternatives, misdirection, jargon-mongering, evading key issues, feigning disinterested objectivity, willful misunderstanding of other points of view---suggests that ... lacks both credibility and evidence. ---- Edward Tufte (in context of making presentations)