.gitlab-ci.yml

image: nixos/nix

build-latex:
  stage: build
  script:
    - nix-build
    - cp -Lr result artifacts
  artifacts:
    paths:
      - artifacts 

stages:
  - build

README.md

The nice thing is, that you can now also build the files locally and be guaranteed to have the same output as the CI server. Simply install the nix package manager (curl https://nixos.org/nix/install | sh) and run nix-build.

Note: To keep the amount of software to download to the CI server small, you have to add all needed TeX packages not included in the TeXLive-basic distribution into the build inputs. (I have included examples.) Alternatively you can upgrade the distribution (scheme) (e. g. to small, medium, or full).

To use this snippet simply place both files (.gitlab-ci.yml and default.nix) at the root of your project.

default.nix

with import <nixpkgs> {};

stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
  name = "project-name";
  src = ./.;

  buildInputs = [
   (texlive.combine {
      inherit (texlive)
        scheme-basic
        xetex
        collection-fontsrecommended
        collection-langgerman
        fontspec
        sectsty
        caption;
    })
  ];

  buildPhase = ''
    xelatex File1.tex
    xelatex folder/File2.tex
  '';

  installPhase = ''
    mkdir -p $out/output-subfolder
    cp File1.pdf $out
    cp File2.pdf $out/output-subfolder
  '';
}