Changes

Most [[TeX Distributions]] include an installation of ConTeXt already -- try running <tt>texexec --version</tt> to .To see if it's installed on your system. run context --version If it is not installed, there are two important considerations while considering ConTeXt installation.

* Do you want a '''ConTeXt distribution ''' or do you want a '''TeX distribution ''' (plain TeX, LaTeX, ConTeXt, and lots of other goodies). * Do you want a '''stable ''' version of ConTeXt, or do you want the '''bleeding edge ''' version. Remember that ConTeXt gets updated frequently.

* Do you want a '''distribution package''', or do you want your own '''local TeX ''' installation.  = Installation =select your operating system == Unix (linux/bsd/...) ==In decreasing order of simplicity, here are a few options: * (simplest) If you distribution supports [[TeX Live]] packages, use them. Debian, Ubuntu, openSUSE, Gentoo, Fedora, Arch and Mandriva (if not too old) do so. See [[Debian installation]] or [[Ubuntu installation]].* Otherwise, use a fresh [[TeX Live]] installation. The problem with this method is that you'll probably have to redo the installation once a year, when the new TeX Live DVD comes out.If you will use TeX Live, you have to delete the distribution-provided teTeX packages (if they exist). If you are running an rpm-based distribution (RedHat, Fedora, Mandrake, Mandriva etc.), then you can most easily uninstall them like so: rpm --qa | grep tetex rpm --erase <package-names><code>rpm</code>'s dependencies will tell you what other TeX-related packages are installed but don't have 'tetex' in their names! FreeBSD also still contains teTeX in its ports distribution (with many dependencies). These packages can be deleted as follows: pkg_info | grep tetex pkg_delete tetex\*Note, however, that teTeX will again be pulled-in by other packages, for example if options installing formatted documentation are activated.  * Alternatively, if you need '''just ConTeXt and no LaTeX''', you can use the [[ConTeXt Standalone]] installation. The ConTeXt Standalone installation does not require the de-installation of other TeX distributions and can be used in parallel. === Debian / (K)Ubuntu ===Debian_TeXlive_install (Debian/linux and Debian/kfreebsd)* [[Debian installation| install ConTeXt on Debian]]* [[Ubuntu installation| install ConTeXt on Ubuntu]]* [[Debian TeXlive install| install TeXlive on Debian]] === Fedora === Detils for [http://fedoraproject.org Fedora] version 11, 12 and 13 are at [http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Features/TeXLive Fedora Project Wiki TeX Live page] maintained by Jindrich Novy. The repository provides a snapshot of TeX Live 2010 tlpretest, and it includes very new ConTeXt packages and requires absolutely no manual configuration to get working Mk II and Mk IV. Highly recommended. === funtoo === If you are using [http://funtoo.org funtoo] there are ebuilds that will make an installation as easy as installing any other package from portage. Take a look at the [[ConTeXt Standalone Funtoo]] Howto. This might also work for [http://www.gentoo.org gentoo], but is untested right now. === openSUSE === OpenSUSE (starting from 10.3beta3) comes with TeX Live and offers also XeTeX. 10.3b3 contains ConTeXt 2007.01.12. You can [http://software.opensuse.org/search?q=context search for OpenSUSE packages online]In OpenSUSE 11.3 there are two packages available. * texlive-context-2010-33.1.noarch.rpm* texlive-context-2009-26.1.noarch.rpm

{{note | The officially recommened way of installing ConTeXt FreeBSD still relies on all platforms teTeX in the ports collection. Alternately, TeXlive is using now available as a branch extension, see [http://code.google.com/p/freebsd-texlive/wiki/Installing] and [ConTeXt Minimalshttp://romain.blogreen.org/blog/2011/08/texlive-2011-on-freebsd/]]}}, until migration to the main ports branch is completed.

== Distribution based TeX Installation with Stable ConTeXt = OpenBSD ===

The Debian tex packages are based on [[TeX-live]] and are fairly up to date. Debian derivates like Ubuntu are usually close. Usually, you should be able to search for context in your package manager, and install it. For specific instructions see* [[Debian_installation|Debian]]* [[Ubuntu_installation|Ubuntu]]* [[Linux InstallationOpenBSD installation|other distributionsOpenBSD]].

== Distribution based TeX Installation with Bleeding Edge ConTeXt Mac OS X == * [[Mac Installation]]

Distribution based == Windows ==There are two main TeX installations usually update ConTeXt one to four times a year. ConTeXt beta versions are usually released one to four times distributions for Windows wich contain a week. So, ConTeXt is usually somewhat out of date in most distributions. For most uses, the previous stable version is OK, but if you want to use a new feature, you will have to get an up to date context* [[MikTeX]] (currently '''ConTeXt. It support is possible to manually update a distribution based ConTeXt installation, but you really need to know you distributions packaging scheme, and the TeX installation structure to it correctly. So, manually updating a distrbution based ConTeXt installation is not recommended. Instead, you should use broken''')* [[ConTeXt MinimalsTeX Live]]. They can be installed in parallel to the distribution based TeX installation and do not interfere with it. So you can use your distribution's TeX installation for plain TeX and LaTeX, and use the minimals for (provides stable ConTeXt. For details see)

* Use [[ ConTeXt Minimals Standalone|ConTeXt Suite]], if you want up to date ConTeXt.

== Local TeX distribution * [[Windows Installation]] ''(if you are also using LaTeX or have a favourite editor)''* [[Windows Installation: ConTeXt Suite with Stable ConTeXt ==SciTe]] ''(the "for dummies" version for those who haven't done any TeXing before)''

If your distribution does not provide an up to date TeX installation, you can install == Installation from source == * [[TeX-liveLive | TeX Live installation]] which provides comprehensive coverage of : Specific installation instructions using the TeX engines (tex, pdftex, xetex, luatex), TeX macro packages (plain TeX, LaTeX, ConTeXt) and TeX fontsLive source distribution. For more details see* [[Installation hints]]