[tex-live] "why is tex live so big"

[Robin Fairbairns]

Herbert Schulz <herbs at wideopenwest.com> wrote:

> On Oct 23, 2012, at 5:41 PM, Karl Berry <karl at freefriends.org> wrote:
> 
> >    There is a BasicTeX distribution for Mac OS X
> > 
> > Indeed.  And, guess what?  Basic(MacOSX)TeX is exactly a TL installation
> > scheme, namely scheme-small.  See my previous reply, rinse and repeat :).
> > 
> > Robin: sorry, I cannot get a grip on what you're asking for wrt cm-super
> > vs. lm, etc.  What I can tell you is that cm-super is in
> > collection-fontsrecommended, and that is included in scheme-medium and
> > larger (eg, not scheme-small).  Whereas it looks lm is included in
> > scheme-small due to dependencies (collection-latexrecommended ->
> > fontspec).
> > 
> > But anyway, FWIW, my recommendation (aside from buying a bigger disk)
> > for someone who doesn't want to install the whole thing is:
> > 1) choose a different installation scheme; and then
> > 2) use tlmgr to install packages as you find you need them.
> > 
> > karl
> > 
> > P.S. I also have no experience with texliveonfly.  As far as I know, its
> > author never contacted us about anything.  The first I heard about it
> > was when it showed up on CTAN.  I have never needed or wanted to install
> > packages "on the fly" myself, so I have never tried it.

i really must get to bed, or i'll fall asleep at work (like i nearly did
today).

but i'll write to you, karl, properly when it's light here again...

> Howdy,
> 
> BasicTeX.pkg is the basic scheme with some added items. To get the
> full story take a look at BasicTeX.pdf at
> <http://www.tug.org/mactex/morepackages.html>.

yes -- found that, and understand it.  looks a well-thought-out
arrangement.

i have mactex full on my laptop -- perhaps i should try -basic as well,
to see what it "provokes".  i don't actually do much texing other than
the faq, except when i'm helping one of our lecturers to sort something out.

robin