If you're considering LaTeX for your next book project, you'll quickly discover a wealth of learning resources. But which one is right for you? In this article, we compare three distinct approaches: the classic lshort guide for general LaTeX knowledge, the production-ready LODE Template 2026 for immediate book production, and How to Publish a Book with LaTeX—a hands-on publishing workflow guide that uses its own template to demonstrate the complete process from manuscript to marketplace.
Overview of the Three Resources
The Not So Short Introduction to LaTeX 2e (lshort)
The Not So Short Introduction to LaTeX 2e—affectionately known as "lshort"—is a free, community-maintained guide written by Tobias Oetiker and colleagues. Subtitled "LATEX 2e in 129 minutes," it provides a foundational understanding of LaTeX for general document creation.
The guide covers six chapters:
- Basic document structure and history
- Typesetting documents
- Mathematical formulas
- Bibliographies
- Indexes
- Graphics with TikZ
LODE Template 2026
The LODE Template 2026 is a production-ready LaTeX template specifically designed for professional book publishing. It provides a complete infrastructure for creating print-ready PDFs and EPUB e-books from a single source, with built-in support for major print-on-demand platforms like Amazon KDP, Lulu, and IngramSpark.
How to Publish a Book with LaTeX
How to Publish a Book with LaTeX is a hands-on, niche guide focused specifically on publishing books through Amazon KDP, Lulu, and IngramSpark. Unlike general LaTeX introductions, it's not a reference for creating academic papers or presentation slides—there are better resources for those use cases.
What makes it unique: the book uses the very template it describes. Every page demonstrates the production workflow in action. Assuming your manuscript is ready, it guides you step-by-step through creating a professionally typeset book in a short timeframe—covering margins, cover creation, automatic image compression, EPUB compilation, and hardcover support.
Target Audience
| Resource | Primary Audience | Not For |
|---|---|---|
| lshort | Students, academics, general LaTeX users | Book publishing workflow |
| LODE Template | Authors with LaTeX experience ready to produce books | Learning LaTeX from scratch |
| How to Publish a Book | Authors with a ready manuscript targeting Amazon/Lulu/IngramSpark | Academic papers, slides, general LaTeX reference |
Who Should Choose lshort?
Choose lshort if you:
- Need a quick introduction to LaTeX fundamentals
- Are writing academic papers, theses, or technical documents (not books)
- Want a free resource to evaluate whether LaTeX suits your needs
- Already have LaTeX experience and need a refresher
Who Should Choose the LODE Template?
Choose the LODE Template if you:
- Have basic LaTeX knowledge and want to start producing immediately
- Need platform-specific cover generators for KDP, Lulu, or IngramSpark
- Want print and e-book output from a single source
- Prefer learning by doing rather than reading documentation
Who Should Choose How to Publish a Book?
Choose the book if you:
- Have a manuscript ready and want to publish quickly on Amazon, Lulu, or IngramSpark
- Need practical guidance on pricing strategies, distribution channels, and launch checklists
- Want a complete workflow from manuscript to marketplace (not a LaTeX reference manual)
- Prefer learning by following along with a real example—the book itself
Note: For advanced template customization, custom cover design, or marketing support, LODE Publishing offers professional assistance.
Scope and Depth
Mathematical and Scientific Content
lshort excels here. An entire chapter is dedicated to typesetting mathematical formulas, making it essential for scientific and academic writing. The book and template assume you're writing prose-heavy content and provide only basic coverage of equations.
Book-Specific Features
The LODE Template and accompanying book cover features lshort never addresses:
- Front and back matter: Title pages, dedications, forewords, author biographies, and publisher pages
- Cover design: Platform-specific cover templates with spine width calculations
- ISBN management: Separate ISBNs for print and e-book editions
- Index creation: Professional book indexing with the
imakeidxpackage - E-book conversion: EPUB3 generation via tex4ebook
Publishing Workflow
Only How to Publish a Book with LaTeX covers the complete publishing ecosystem—this is where it differs most from lshort:
- Platform comparison: Amazon KDP vs. Lulu vs. IngramSpark trade-offs
- Pricing strategies: Bookstore economics and royalty structures
- Distribution channels: Expanded distribution and direct sales options
- Launch checklists: Step-by-step guides for each platform
- Production details: Automatic image compression, margin calculations, spine width for covers
- Format support: Paperback, hardcover, and EPUB from a single source
Learning Approach
| Aspect | lshort | LODE Template | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Reference manual | Working template | Publishing workflow guide |
| Examples | Code snippets | Complete book structure | The book itself |
| Prerequisites | None | Basic LaTeX | Manuscript ready |
| Time to first output | N/A (not for books) | Hours | Days to weeks |
| Scope | General LaTeX | Book production | Publishing ecosystem |
lshort's Approach
lshort teaches concepts in isolation. You learn commands, then figure out how to combine them. This works well for experienced programmers or those who prefer bottom-up learning.
LODE Template's Approach
The template provides a working book structure from day one. You learn by modifying existing files rather than building from scratch. Configuration happens through four settings files:
settings/details.tex– Book metadatasettings/content.tex– Physical specificationssettings/publisher.tex– Publisher informationsettings/language.tex– Language selection
The Book's Approach
How to Publish a Book with LaTeX is self-demonstrating: it was created using the exact workflow it teaches. As you read, you're holding proof that the process works.
The book follows a progressive curriculum:
- Getting Started – Tool selection and initial setup
- Developing Your Book – Template architecture and content import
- Finalizing Your Book – Production polish, covers, and platform submission
- Reference – Technical documentation and troubleshooting
The assumption is that your manuscript already exists. The book focuses on production—getting your finished writing into publishable form quickly—rather than teaching you to write LaTeX from scratch.
Technical Comparison
Supported Engines
| Engine | lshort | LODE Template | Book Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| pdfLaTeX | Primary focus | Supported | Documented |
| LuaLaTeX | Mentioned | Recommended | Preferred |
| XeLaTeX | Mentioned | Supported | Documented |
The LODE Template recommends LuaLaTeX for its superior font handling, while lshort focuses primarily on pdfLaTeX.
Output Formats
| Format | lshort | LODE Template | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes (print-ready) | Yes | |
| EPUB | No | Yes (EPUB3) | Yes |
| HTML | No | Via tex4ebook | Yes |
Bibliography Support
lshort covers basic BibTeX. The LODE Template uses BibLaTeX with Biber, which offers more flexibility for humanities and social science citation styles.
Practical Considerations
Cost
| Resource | Price |
|---|---|
| lshort | Free (GNU GPL) |
| LODE Template | Check current pricing |
| How to Publish a Book | Available on Amazon |
Maintenance and Updates
lshort is community-maintained and updated periodically. The LODE Template includes one year of updates with purchase. The book is revised to match template changes.
Support
- lshort: Community forums (tex.stackexchange.com)
- LODE Template: Email support for licensed users
- Book: Combines with template support
Recommendation Summary
Start with lshort if you need general LaTeX knowledge for academic papers, theses, technical documents, or presentation slides. It's the right foundation for general-purpose LaTeX work.
Choose the LODE Template if you have LaTeX experience, a ready manuscript, and want to produce professional books immediately. The template handles platform-specific requirements so you can focus on content.
Choose the book if you want to understand the complete publishing workflow—not just LaTeX commands, but pricing strategies, platform trade-offs, and launch processes. It's designed for authors with a manuscript ready to publish, not as a general LaTeX reference.
Don't use the book for academic papers, slides, or general LaTeX learning. It's specifically optimized for the Amazon/Lulu/IngramSpark publishing workflow.
Using Them Together
These resources serve different purposes and complement each other:
- General LaTeX foundation: If you've never used LaTeX, skim lshort's first two chapters to understand the basics
- Book production: Use the LODE Template with How to Publish a Book with LaTeX as your guide
- Ongoing reference: Keep lshort for mathematical typesetting; the book for publishing decisions
- Advanced needs: For custom cover design, complex template modifications, or marketing support, LODE Publishing provides professional assistance
The most efficient path for authors with a ready manuscript: get the LODE Template, follow How to Publish a Book with LaTeX step by step, and reference lshort only if you need mathematical formulas or want deeper LaTeX knowledge.