---
name: "fontinst"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "texlive-doc"
version: "2026.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/fontinst"
---

# fontinst(1)

utility to run TeX as fontinst

## NAME

fontinst - utility to run TeX as fontinst

## SYNOPSIS

**fontinst** *package*

## DESCRIPTION

**fontinst** runs [**tex**(1)](/tex/1.md) with the **--progname** flag set to pretend to be the program fontinst (affecting Karl Berry paths).

Typing

`fontinst fontinst.sty`

will start [**tex**(1)](/tex/1.md) and give the user an interactive prompt (`*`) where fontinst commands can be typed (such as `\latinfamily{ptm}{}\bye`).

## SEE ALSO

[**tex**(1)](/tex/1.md)

The fontinst manual, *fontinst.tex*.

Web page: \<https://tug.org/applications/fontinst/\>

## BUGS

Email bug reports to \<https://lists.tug.org/fontinst\> (public mailing list).

## AUTHOR

Thomas Esser

This manual page was written by C.M. Connelly for the Debian GNU/Linux system. It is now maintained as part of TeX Live.