AbstractFor a finite quiverQwithout sources, we consider the corresponding radical square zero algebraA. We construct an explicit compact generator for the homotopy category of acyclic complexes of projectiveA-modules. We call such a generator the projective Leavitt complex ofQ. This terminology is justified by the following result: the opposite differential graded endomorphism algebra of the projective Leavitt complex ofQis quasi-isomorphic to the Leavitt path algebra ofQop. Here,Qopis the opposite quiver ofQ, and the Leavitt path algebra ofQopis naturally${\open Z}$-graded and viewed as a differential graded algebra with trivial differential.