The Two-Minute Wait That Costs Hours
You fix a typo. You hit compile. You wait. And wait. Thirty seconds pass. A minute. On busy conference-deadline days, two minutes or more.
For a single compilation, this seems trivial. But here's what most researchers don't realize: you're not compiling once. You're compiling thousands of times over the life of a document.
When we calculated the actual numbers, the result was shocking. Keep reading—you might want to sit down for this. (Spoiler: fast compilation exists, and it changes everything.)
The Flow State Problem
Research shows that interruptions lasting just 15-20 seconds can break focus. The mental cost of task-switching far exceeds the time of the interruption itself. It takes an average of 23 minutes to fully refocus after a significant distraction.
LaTeX compilation interrupts your writing flow. When compilation takes 30+ seconds, you lose focus. When it takes 2+ minutes, you switch to checking email, social media, or other distractions. By the time the PDF appears, you've lost the thread of your writing.
This is the hidden cost of slow compilation—not just the waiting time, but the productivity lost to context switching.
Why Cloud Editors Are Slow
The Queue Problem
Cloud LaTeX services run compilation on shared servers. When you hit compile, you enter a queue. During peak times—conference deadlines, thesis submission periods—that queue grows long.
Free tier users wait while paid users jump ahead. The same document that compiles in 10 seconds at 2 AM takes 2 minutes at 2 PM.
The Upload Problem
Before compilation even starts, your document must travel to the server. Images, figures, and bibliography files all need uploading. For large projects with many graphics, this overhead adds up.
The Timeout Problem
Complex documents—those with many figures, extensive bibliographies, or computationally intensive packages—may exceed server time limits. You see a timeout error and have to try again later.
Some documents simply can't compile on cloud services at all.
The Numbers
Consider a realistic scenario:
- Average compilation time: 45 seconds
- Compilations per hour during active writing: 10
- Hours spent writing per week: 20
- Weeks on a thesis: 50
That's:
- 7.5 minutes lost per hour
- 2.5 hours lost per week
- 125 hours lost over a thesis—more than three full work weeks.
And this assumes no queues, no timeouts, and no need to recompile after failures.
What Fast Compilation Enables
When compilation takes seconds instead of minutes, your workflow transforms:
Iterative Writing
You can:
- Check a formatting change immediately
- Verify an equation renders correctly
- See how a figure fits in context
- Adjust spacing and try again
This tight feedback loop enables better writing. You catch issues early and refine continuously.
Experimentation
With fast compilation, you're not afraid to try things:
- Test different table layouts
- Experiment with figure positioning
- Try alternative math notation
- Compare bibliography styles
When each experiment costs 5 seconds instead of 5 minutes, you explore more options.
Reduced Frustration
Waiting is frustrating. Frustration leads to bad decisions—you accept "good enough" instead of pursuing "excellent" because you can't face another compile cycle.
Fast compilation removes this psychological barrier.
The Local-First Alternative
Local compilation—running LaTeX on your own device—eliminates network latency and queue delays entirely.
How It Works
Instead of sending your document to a server, compilation happens in your browser using WebAssembly. The same LaTeX engine runs locally, using your device's processing power.
The Benefits
No queues: Your compilation starts immediately, every time.
No timeouts: Complex documents compile without arbitrary limits.
Offline capable: Work without internet access.
Consistent speed: Compilation time depends on your document, not server load.
The Trade-offs
Uses local resources: Your device does the work. Modern computers handle this easily, but very old hardware might struggle with complex documents.
Initial download: The LaTeX engine must download once (typically cached afterward).
For most researchers, these trade-offs are worthwhile.
Measuring Your Compile Time
Before dismissing compile time as unimportant, measure your actual experience:
- Time your next 10 compilations
- Note the variance (best vs. worst)
- Track how many times you compile per writing session
- Calculate total time lost
You might be surprised by the results.
Making the Switch
If you're considering local-first LaTeX editing, here's what to expect:
What Transfers
- All your
.texfiles work the same - BibTeX bibliographies function identically
- Standard packages are supported
- Your LaTeX knowledge remains applicable
What Changes
- Compilation becomes nearly instant
- You can work offline
- No subscription tier determines your compile priority
- Your documents stay on your device
The Transition
Most local-first editors can import Overleaf projects directly. The switch typically takes minutes, not hours. Try Thetapad's editor to experience the difference yourself.
Beyond Compile Time
Compile time is one factor among many. Also consider:
Collaboration needs: Can you still work with co-authors?
Feature requirements: Are the tools you need available?
Learning curve: How much adaptation is required?
Long-term costs: What happens when pricing changes?
For many researchers, local-first editing wins across all these dimensions. For others, cloud editing remains the right choice.
The key is making an informed decision—not defaulting to the obvious option without considering alternatives.
Conclusion
Compile time isn't just a minor inconvenience. It's a friction that compounds across every document you write, every edit you make, every day you spend writing.
Cloud LaTeX editors made LaTeX accessible to millions of researchers. That accessibility came with trade-offs—trade-offs that many users accept without question.
But alternatives exist. Modern browsers can run LaTeX locally, eliminating queues, timeouts, and network dependencies. The same documents compile in seconds instead of minutes.
Time is the one resource you can't get back. Spend yours writing, not waiting.