fatal error: spawn latexmk ENOENT

[ponte-vecchio]

Preliminary questions [Required]

Disable all the other extensions except for LaTeX Workshop, restart VS Code, and check that you still see this issue. [Required]

You still see this issue?: Yes

Make sure to visit the wiki FAQ before filling an issue.

You visited the wiki?: Yes

If your issue is with compiling a document (not having to do with finding the root file of a project), check first that you can compile manually.

You can compile a TeX document manually?: Yes

Describe the bug [Required]

A clear and concise description of what the bug is.

To Reproduce

1. Write a minimum working .tex file, such as:

   \documentclass{article}
   \begin{document}
   Hello world
   \end{document}

2. Save command + S or build shift + command + B

Expected behavior

Upon saving (i.e. command + S) or building the project (i.e. shift + command + B), the .tex file should compile successfully and show the preview as desired.

Logs [Required]

Recipe terminated with fatal error: spawn latexmk ENOENT

LaTeX Workshop Output [Required]

[10:28:09] Initializing LaTeX Workshop.
[10:28:09] Extension root: /Users/rdorje/.vscode/extensions/james-yu.latex-workshop-8.16.1
[10:28:09] $PATH: /Users/rdorje/opt/anaconda3/bin:/Users/rdorje/opt/anaconda3/condabin:/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.8/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/Library/TeX/texbin:/usr/local/share/dotnet:~/.dotnet/tools:/Library/Apple/usr/bin:/Library/Frameworks/Mono.framework/Versions/Current/Commands
[10:28:09] $SHELL: /bin/zsh
[10:28:09] Creating PDF file watcher.
[10:28:09] watcherOptions: {"useFsEvents":false,"usePolling":false,"interval":300,"binaryInterval":1000,"awaitWriteFinish":{}}
[10:28:09] Cannot run pdflatex to determine if we are using MiKTeX
[10:28:09] Creating LaTeX Workshop http and websocket server.
[10:28:09] LaTeX Workshop initialized.
[10:28:09] Trigger characters for intellisense of LaTeX documents: ["\\","{",",","(","["]
[10:28:09] Bibtex format config: {"tab":"  ","case":"lowercase","left":"{","right":"}","trailingComma":false,"sort":["key"],"alignOnEqual":true,"sortFields":false,"fieldsOrder":[]}
[10:28:09] Current workspace folders: undefined
[10:28:09] Current workspaceRootDir: 
[10:28:09] Found root file from active editor: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:09] Root file changed: from undefined to /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:09] Start to find all dependencies.
[10:28:09] Root file languageId: latex
[10:28:09] Creating a new file watcher for /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:09] watcherOptions: {"useFsEvents":false,"usePolling":false,"interval":300,"binaryInterval":1000,"awaitWriteFinish":{"stabilityThreshold":250}}
[10:28:09] Creating Bib file watcher.
[10:28:09] watcherOptions: {"useFsEvents":false,"usePolling":false,"interval":300,"binaryInterval":1000,"awaitWriteFinish":{"stabilityThreshold":250}}
[10:28:09] Parsing a file and its subfiles: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:09] Parse fls file.
[10:28:09] Cannot find fls file: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.fls
[10:28:09] Server created on 127.0.0.1:64590
[10:28:09] Added to file watcher: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:09] Snippet data loaded.
[10:28:09] LaTeX Workshop version: 8.16.1
[10:28:09] Checking for duplicate labels: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex.
[10:28:10] BUILD command invoked.
[10:28:10] The document of the active editor: file:///Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:10] The languageId of the document: latex
[10:28:10] Current workspace folders: undefined
[10:28:10] Current workspaceRootDir: 
[10:28:10] Found root file from active editor: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:10] Keep using the same root file: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:10] Building root file: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:10] Build root file /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:10] Recipe step 1: latexmk, -synctex=1,-interaction=nonstopmode,-file-line-error,-pdf,-outdir=/Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc,/Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc
[10:28:10] Recipe step env: {}
[10:28:10] cwd: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc
[10:28:10] LaTeX build process spawned. PID: undefined.
[10:28:10] LaTeX fatal error: spawn latexmk ENOENT, . PID: undefined.
[10:28:10] Does the executable exist? PATH: /Users/rdorje/opt/anaconda3/bin:/Users/rdorje/opt/anaconda3/condabin:/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.8/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/Library/TeX/texbin:/usr/local/share/dotnet:~/.dotnet/tools:/Library/Apple/usr/bin:/Library/Frameworks/Mono.framework/Versions/Current/Commands
[10:28:10] The environment variable $SHELL: /bin/zsh
[10:28:42] File watcher - file changed: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:42] Parsing a file and its subfiles: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:42] Parse fls file.
[10:28:42] Cannot find fls file: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.fls
[10:28:42] Auto build started detecting the change of a file: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:42] BUILD command invoked.
[10:28:42] The document of the active editor: file:///Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:42] The languageId of the document: latex
[10:28:42] Building root file: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:42] Build root file /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:42] Checking for duplicate labels: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex.
[10:28:42] Recipe step 1: latexmk, -synctex=1,-interaction=nonstopmode,-file-line-error,-pdf,-outdir=/Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc,/Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc
[10:28:42] Recipe step env: {}
[10:28:42] cwd: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc
[10:28:42] LaTeX build process spawned. PID: undefined.
[10:28:42] LaTeX fatal error: spawn latexmk ENOENT, . PID: undefined.
[10:28:42] Does the executable exist? PATH: /Users/rdorje/opt/anaconda3/bin:/Users/rdorje/opt/anaconda3/condabin:/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.8/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/Library/TeX/texbin:/usr/local/share/dotnet:~/.dotnet/tools:/Library/Apple/usr/bin:/Library/Frameworks/Mono.framework/Versions/Current/Commands
[10:28:42] The environment variable $SHELL: /bin/zsh
[10:28:44] File watcher - file changed: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:44] Parsing a file and its subfiles: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:44] Parse fls file.
[10:28:44] Cannot find fls file: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.fls
[10:28:44] Auto build started detecting the change of a file: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:44] BUILD command invoked.
[10:28:44] The document of the active editor: file:///Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:44] The languageId of the document: latex
[10:28:44] Building root file: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:44] Build root file /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:28:44] Checking for duplicate labels: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex.
[10:28:44] Recipe step 1: latexmk, -synctex=1,-interaction=nonstopmode,-file-line-error,-pdf,-outdir=/Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc,/Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc
[10:28:44] Recipe step env: {}
[10:28:44] cwd: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc
[10:28:44] LaTeX build process spawned. PID: undefined.
[10:28:44] LaTeX fatal error: spawn latexmk ENOENT, . PID: undefined.
[10:28:44] Does the executable exist? PATH: /Users/rdorje/opt/anaconda3/bin:/Users/rdorje/opt/anaconda3/condabin:/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.8/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/Library/TeX/texbin:/usr/local/share/dotnet:~/.dotnet/tools:/Library/Apple/usr/bin:/Library/Frameworks/Mono.framework/Versions/Current/Commands
[10:28:44] The environment variable $SHELL: /bin/zsh
[10:29:31] ACTIONS command invoked.
[10:29:35] LOG command invoked: compiler
[10:29:38] BUILD command invoked.
[10:29:38] The document of the active editor: output:extension-output-%233
[10:29:38] The languageId of the document: Log
[10:29:38] Cannot find LaTeX root file.
[10:29:40] Current workspace folders: undefined
[10:29:40] Current workspaceRootDir: 
[10:29:40] Found root file from active editor: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:29:40] Keep using the same root file: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:29:43] VIEW command invoked with mode: file:///Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex.
[10:29:43] Current workspace folders: undefined
[10:29:43] Current workspaceRootDir: 
[10:29:43] Found root file from active editor: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:29:43] Keep using the same root file: /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.tex
[10:29:43] Cannot find PDF file /Users/rdorje/Desktop/proj_desc/proj_desc.pdf
[10:29:47] LOG command invoked: default

Developer Tools Console [Required]

Recipe terminated with fatal error: spawn latexmk ENOENT.

Screenshots

Desktop [Required]

Please write exact version numbers. Please don't write latest instead of exact numbers.

• OS: OS: macOS 11.2.3 20D91 x86_64
• VS Code version:

Version: 1.55.2
Commit: 3c4e3df9e89829dce27b7b5c24508306b151f30d
Date: 2021-04-13T09:36:32.643Z (5 days ago)
Electron: 11.3.0
Chrome: 87.0.4280.141
Node.js: 12.18.3
V8: 8.7.220.31-electron.0
OS: Darwin x64 20.3.0

• Extension version: v8.16.1
• TeX distribution version: TexLive2020

Additional questions

Are you using VSCodium?

No

Are you using LaTeX Workshop with VS Code Remote?

No

If the answer is Yes, please write which one you are using. Write the versions of the remote extension.

N/A

Additional context

Examining the log made me suspect a potential PATH issue, but invoking echo $PATH currently shows:

/usr/local/texlive/2020/bin/x86_64-darwin:xxxx other things xxxx

Using the same PATH, TexStudio was able to compile and render properly.

[ponte-vecchio]

Might I add that compiling through CLI does work. Here's a log:

> latexmk proj_desc.tex
Rc files read:
  NONE
Latexmk: This is Latexmk, John Collins, 29 September 2020, version: 4.70b.
Latexmk: applying rule 'latex'...
Rule 'latex': The following rules & subrules became out-of-date:
      'latex'
------------
Run number 1 of rule 'latex'
------------
------------
Running 'latex  -recorder  "proj_desc.tex"'
------------
This is pdfTeX, Version 3.14159265-2.6-1.40.21 (TeX Live 2020) (preloaded format=latex)
 restricted \write18 enabled.
entering extended mode
(./proj_desc.tex
LaTeX2e <2020-10-01> patch level 4
L3 programming layer <2021-02-18>
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/base/article.cls
Document Class: article 2020/04/10 v1.4m Standard LaTeX document class
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/base/size10.clo))
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/psnfss/mathpazo.sty)
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/base/inputenc.sty)
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/base/fontenc.sty
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/psnfss/ot1pplx.fd))
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/l3backend/l3backend-dvips.def)
(./proj_desc.aux)
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/psnfss/omlzplm.fd)
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/psnfss/omszplm.fd)
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/psnfss/omxzplm.fd)
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/psnfss/ot1zplm.fd) [1]
(./proj_desc.aux) )
Output written on proj_desc.dvi (1 page, 528 bytes).
Transcript written on proj_desc.log.
Latexmk: Examining 'proj_desc.log'
=== TeX engine is 'pdfTeX'
Latexmk: Log file says output to 'proj_desc.dvi'
Latexmk: applying rule 'latex'...
Rule 'latex': File changes, etc:
   Changed files, or newly in use since previous run(s):
      'proj_desc.aux'
------------
Run number 2 of rule 'latex'
------------
------------
Running 'latex  -recorder  "proj_desc.tex"'
------------
This is pdfTeX, Version 3.14159265-2.6-1.40.21 (TeX Live 2020) (preloaded format=latex)
 restricted \write18 enabled.
entering extended mode
(./proj_desc.tex
LaTeX2e <2020-10-01> patch level 4
L3 programming layer <2021-02-18>
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/base/article.cls
Document Class: article 2020/04/10 v1.4m Standard LaTeX document class
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/base/size10.clo))
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/psnfss/mathpazo.sty)
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/base/inputenc.sty)
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/base/fontenc.sty
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/psnfss/ot1pplx.fd))
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/l3backend/l3backend-dvips.def)
(./proj_desc.aux)
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/psnfss/omlzplm.fd)
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/psnfss/omszplm.fd)
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/psnfss/omxzplm.fd)
(/usr/local/texlive/2020/texmf-dist/tex/latex/psnfss/ot1zplm.fd) [1]
(./proj_desc.aux) )
Output written on proj_desc.dvi (1 page, 528 bytes).
Transcript written on proj_desc.log.
Latexmk: Examining 'proj_desc.log'
=== TeX engine is 'pdfTeX'
Latexmk: Log file says output to 'proj_desc.dvi'
Latexmk: All targets (proj_desc.dvi) are up-to-date

[shunliang233]

I had the same problem. Maybe you can try to modify the privilege of LaTeX executable files:

[shunliang233]

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/68179318/recipe-terminated-with-fatal-error-spawn-latexmk-enoent

[if-david]

Don't waste any more time—after trying at least 10 different solutions, the only one that works is installing the Full MacTeX

[mcswell]

For those seeing this same problem in Windows using WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux), with TeX installed on the WSL (Linux) file system: The same problem (or at least the same error) shows up when running under WSL in Windows (11, and probably 10). The solution I found was to open the .tex file using the WSL file open ("WSL: Open folder in WSL...") rather than using the native Windows File open dialog. This forces/allows the LaTeX Workshop to use the Linux file system to look for the various TeX executables.