Missing pdflatex.fmt file

[mattmahn]

The following error occurs when attempting to compile any LaTeX document:

/ # pdflatex foo.tex 
This is pdfTeX, Version 3.14159265-2.6-1.40.16 (TeX Live 2015/Alpine Linux) (preloaded format=pdflatex)
 restricted \write18 enabled.

kpathsea: Running mktexfmt pdflatex.fmt
Can't locate mktexlsr.pl in @INC (@INC contains: /usr/share/tlpkg /usr/share/texmf-dist/scripts/texlive /usr/local/lib/perl5/site_perl /usr/local/share/perl5/site_perl /usr/lib/perl5/vendor_perl /usr/share/perl5/vendor_perl /usr/lib/perl5/core_perl /usr/share/perl5/core_perl .) at /usr/bin/mktexfmt line 24.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at /usr/bin/mktexfmt line 26.
I can't find the format file `pdflatex.fmt'!

After some Google-fu I found some commands that were supposed to fix the problem but don't:

• texconfig rehash
• fmtutil-sys --all
• fmtutil --missing
• mktexfmt latex
• fmtutil latex

Someone from one of the Google results claims that the .fmt files should be autogenerated when pdflatex/etc runs.

[janbaer]

Is there any update for this problem? Have you found a solution?

[mattmahn]

Unfortunately, there is no change; however, I did find a bug report that was filed with the same issue of a missing pdflatex.fmt.
For now, I suggest you use the Docker container linked in the README — even though it's a large Ubuntu image.

[gdhorne]

I submitted a pull request and am awaiting review by the project maintainer. I make no claim it is lightweight after applying the patch but it works with Alpine Linux. The generated Docker container image weighs in at 4.22 GB; still less than the Ubuntu alternative.