title: Pandoc performs very slowly when referencing large biblatex file
body: <p>Whenever I have a pandoc markdown file that I am converting to PDF or HTML, and it contains a reference to a large biblatex file (> 100 KB) for citations, the performance is incredibly slow. I end up needing to convert directly to <code>tex</code> first and then running regular latex commands, <em>e.g.</em> <code>latex</code>, <code>bibtex</code>, <code>latex</code>, <code>pdflatex</code>.</p>
  
  <p>For example, if I have two files <code>refs.bib</code> and <code>test.md</code>, this following command takes forever to run;</p>
  
  <p><code>pandoc test.md -o test.pdf --bibliography refs.bib</code></p>
  
  <p>or </p>
  
  <p><code>pandoc test.md -o test.html --bibliography refs.bib</code></p>
  
  <p>My current workaround is to instead to export to <code>latex</code> and then run <code>latex</code> commands directly:</p>
  
  <pre><code>pandoc test.md -o test.tex --bibliography refs.bib
  latex test.tex
  bibtex test.aux
  latex test.tex
  pdflatex test
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>What is going on with the performance of using pandoc? My understanding was that essentially these were the same calls going on in the background.</p>
  
  <p>I have created a <a href="https://gist.github.com/stanley-gu/2017894222d42324bef1" rel="nofollow">Gist</a> that contains the test files.</p>