# TikZ for Raycast

URL: https://www.raycast.com/Visual-Studio-Coder/tikz

> Convert TikZ code to an image, to be shown in AI chat

- Install: raycast://extensions/Visual-Studio-Coder/tikz
- Author: [Visual Studio Coder](https://www.raycast.com/Visual-Studio-Coder)
- Installs: 47
- Platforms: macOS
- Categories: Design Tools, Data, Media, Fun, Developer Tools, Web, AI Extensions
- Updated: 2026-10-19
- Source: https://github.com/raycast/extensions/tree/6e41546d4072ee1684be8a03feaf4dcd655d5378/extensions/tikz/

## Commands

- **Create TikZ**: Create some TikZ diagram.

## AI tools

- **Generate TikZ Diagram.**: Pass in code for a TikZ diagram and then display it using the markdown format within AI chat! When you receive the file path, the way to present it in markdown is to use the following format: ![Diagram](file://<file_path>) (make sure to encode the file path)

## README

### TikZ Diagram Generator for Raycast

Convert TikZ code to beautiful diagrams that can be shown in AI chat or created manually through a form interface.

#### Features

- 🤖 **AI Tool Integration**: Generate TikZ diagrams directly from Raycast AI chat
- 📝 **Manual Creation**: Create diagrams using a user-friendly form interface
- 🎨 **Full TikZ Support**: Supports all TikZ libraries and features
- 📄 **PDF Output**: Generates high-quality PDF diagrams
- 🚀 **Fast Compilation**: Uses pdflatex for quick diagram generation

#### Prerequisites

You need to have LaTeX installed with the TikZ package. On macOS, you can install either:

**Option 1: MacTeX (Full, ~4GB)**
```bash
brew install --cask mactex
```

**Option 2: BasicTeX (Minimal, ~100MB) - Recommended**
```bash
brew install --cask basictex
```

After installing BasicTeX, add it to your PATH and install required packages:
```bash
# Add to PATH (add this to your ~/.zshrc or ~/.bash_profile)
export PATH="/Library/TeX/texbin:$PATH"

# Reload your shell or run:
source ~/.zshrc

# Install required packages
sudo tlmgr update --self
sudo tlmgr install standalone tikz pgf
```

**Verify Installation:**
```bash
pdflatex --version
kpsewhich standalone.cls  # Should return a path
```

#### Usage

##### How It Works with Raycast AI

When you ask Raycast AI to create a TikZ diagram:

1. **AI generates TikZ code** based on your request
2. **Tool confirmation appears** - Review and confirm the diagram generation
3. **Tool compiles** the TikZ code to PDF using `pdflatex`
4. **Path is returned** - The absolute file path to the generated PDF
5. **Raycast uploads** the file and may display it inline (if supported)

**Important Notes:**
- The tool returns a **file path**, not a URL
- Raycast AI should handle uploading/displaying the file
- If you see Gemini generating its own diagram instead, it means the tool failed (check logs)
- PDFs are saved to: `~/Library/Application Support/com.raycast.macos/extensions/tikz/tikz-diagrams/`

##### AI Tool

The AI can use the `Generate TikZ Diagram` tool to create diagrams during a conversation. Simply describe what you want to draw, and the AI will generate the appropriate TikZ code and compile it.

**Example AI prompts:**
- "Draw a simple circle with a radius of 2cm"
- "Create a flowchart with 3 nodes connected by arrows"
- "Generate a binary tree with depth 3"
- "Draw a coordinate system with a sine wave"

The tool will:
1. Ask for confirmation before generating
2. Compile the TikZ code to PDF
3. Return the file path to the generated diagram

##### Manual Command

Use the `Create TikZ` command to manually create diagrams:

1. Open Raycast and search for "Create TikZ"
2. Enter your TikZ code (without the `\begin{tikzpicture}` wrapper)
3. Optionally provide a file name
4. Choose whether to open the PDF after generation
5. Submit to generate your diagram

**Example TikZ Code:**

```latex
\draw (0,0) circle (1cm);
\draw (0,0) -- (1,1);
\node at (0,-1.5) {My Circle};
```

```latex
\node[circle,draw] (a) at (0,0) {A};
\node[circle,draw] (b) at (2,0) {B};
\node[circle,draw] (c) at (1,-1.5) {C};
\draw[->] (a) -- (b);
\draw[->] (b) -- (c);
\draw[->] (c) -- (a);
```

```latex
\draw[->] (-3,0) -- (3,0) node[right] {$x$};
\draw[->] (0,-2) -- (0,2) node[above] {$y$};
\draw[domain=-3:3,smooth,variable=\x,blue] plot ({\x},{sin(\x r)});
```

#### Output Location

- **AI Tool**: Diagrams are saved to `~/Library/Application Support/com.raycast.macos/extensions/tikz/tikz-diagrams/`
- **Manual Command**: Diagrams are saved to `~/Documents/TikZ-Diagrams/`

#### Tool Configuration

The tool automatically includes commonly used TikZ libraries:
- `arrows` - Arrow tips and styles
- `automata` - State diagrams and automata
- `positioning` - Advanced node positioning
- `shapes` - Various geometric shapes
- `calc` - Coordinate calculations
- `decorations.pathreplacing` - Path decorations
- `decorations.markings` - Path markings
- `patterns` - Fill patterns

#### Troubleshooting

##### LaTeX not found

If you get an error about `pdflatex` not being found:

1. Install MacTeX or BasicTeX (see Prerequisites)
2. Make sure `/Library/TeX/texbin` is in your PATH:
   ```bash
   echo $PATH | grep texbin
   ```
   If not found, add to your `~/.zshrc`:
   ```bash
   export PATH="/Library/TeX/texbin:$PATH"
   ```
3. Restart your terminal and Raycast
4. Verify with: `which pdflatex`

##### Tool returns path but AI doesn't show diagram

If the tool succeeds but Gemini generates its own diagram instead:

1. **Check the returned path** in the AI logs - it should be an absolute path like:
   ```
   /Users/.../Library/Application Support/.../tikz-diagrams/diagram_123456.pdf
   ```

2. **Verify the PDF exists**:
   ```bash
   ls -lh ~/Library/Application\ Support/com.raycast.macos/extensions/tikz/tikz-diagrams/
   ```

3. **Open it manually** to verify it's correct:
   ```bash
   open ~/Library/Application\ Support/com.raycast.macos/extensions/tikz/tikz-diagrams/diagram_*.pdf
   ```

4. **If PDF is correct but not displayed**: This is a Raycast AI limitation. The tool is working correctly, but the AI may choose to generate its own diagram instead of using the file.

##### "Failed to compile TikZ diagram" error

If you get this error even though pdflatex is installed:

**If you passed a complete LaTeX document:**
The tool now automatically handles this! You can pass either:
- Just TikZ commands: `\draw (0,0) circle (2);`
- A complete document with `\documentclass`, `\usepackage`, etc.

The tool will automatically strip the document structure and add its own wrapper.

**If the error persists:**
1. Check the generated `.log` file in the output directory for detailed errors
2. Verify you have the required packages:
   ```bash
   kpsewhich standalone.cls
   kpsewhich tikz.sty
   ```
3. If packages are missing:
   ```bash
   sudo tlmgr install standalone tikz pgf
   ```
4. Try the quick test from `TESTING.md`:
   ```bash
   cd /tmp
   cat > test.tex << 'EOF'
   \documentclass[border=2pt]{standalone}
   \usepackage{tikz}
   \begin{document}
   \begin{tikzpicture}
   \draw (0,0) circle (2);
   \end{tikzpicture}
   \end{document}
   EOF
   pdflatex test.tex
   open test.pdf
   ```

##### Compilation errors

If your TikZ code fails to compile:

1. **Check for missing packages:** If you see "File `standalone.cls' not found":
   ```bash
   sudo tlmgr install standalone
   ```

2. Check your TikZ syntax - make sure commands end with semicolons

3. The tool accepts both:
   - Just TikZ commands: `\draw (0,0) circle (1cm);`
   - Complete LaTeX documents (it will extract the TikZ code automatically)

4. Verify packages are installed:
   ```bash
   kpsewhich standalone.cls
   kpsewhich tikz.sty
   ```

5. Try compiling manually to see detailed errors:
   ```bash
   cd ~/Documents/TikZ-Diagrams
   pdflatex your-file.tex
   cat your-file.log
   ```

##### PDF not opening

If the PDF is generated but doesn't open:

1. Check the output directory for the PDF file
2. Manually navigate to the output location
3. Ensure you have a PDF viewer installed

#### Examples

##### Simple Shapes

```latex
\draw[fill=blue!20] (0,0) rectangle (2,2);
\draw[fill=red!20] (3,0) circle (1);
\draw[fill=green!20] (6,0) -- (7,0) -- (6.5,1.5) -- cycle;
```

##### Flowchart

```latex
\node[rectangle,draw] (start) at (0,0) {Start};
\node[rectangle,draw] (process) at (0,-2) {Process};
\node[diamond,draw,aspect=2] (decision) at (0,-4) {Decision?};
\node[rectangle,draw] (end) at (0,-6) {End};
\draw[->] (start) -- (process);
\draw[->] (process) -- (decision);
\draw[->] (decision) -- node[right] {Yes} (end);
\draw[->] (decision) -| node[above] {No} (2,-4) |- (process);
```

##### Graph

```latex
\draw[->] (0,0) -- (5,0) node[right] {$x$};
\draw[->] (0,0) -- (0,4) node[above] {$y$};
\draw[domain=0:4.5,smooth,variable=\x,blue,thick] plot ({\x},{0.5*\x*\x});
\node[blue] at (2.5,3.5) {$y = \frac{1}{2}x^2$};
```

#### Debugging

##### PATH Issues with Raycast Extensions

If you get "Failed to compile TikZ diagram" errors even though `pdflatex` works in your terminal, it's likely a PATH issue.

**The Problem:**
Raycast extensions run in a restricted environment where the PATH doesn't automatically include `/Library/TeX/texbin`. Even though you can run `pdflatex` in your terminal, the extension can't find it.

**The Solution:**
The extension now automatically searches for `pdflatex` in these locations (in order):
1. `/Library/TeX/texbin/pdflatex` (standard MacTeX/BasicTeX location)
2. `/usr/local/texlive/2025basic/bin/universal-darwin/pdflatex`
3. `/usr/local/texlive/2024/bin/universal-darwin/pdflatex`
4. `/usr/local/bin/pdflatex`
5. `/opt/homebrew/bin/pdflatex`
6. Falls back to `which pdflatex` using the system PATH

**To verify pdflatex is found:**
```bash
# Check if pdflatex is executable
test -x /Library/TeX/texbin/pdflatex && echo "Found!"

# Or check with which
which pdflatex
```

**Manual test to verify compilation works:**
```bash
cd ~/Library/Application\ Support/com.raycast.macos/extensions/tikz/tikz-diagrams/
# Find a .tex file that was created
ls -lt *.tex | head -1
# Compile it manually
pdflatex -interaction=nonstopmode <filename>.tex
# Check if PDF was created
ls -lt *.pdf | head -1
```

If manual compilation works but the extension still fails, check the Raycast console logs (Cmd+Shift+D in development mode) for detailed error messages.

#### License

MIT

#### Author

Visual-Studio-Coder