Highlight is a versatile and powerful tool designed to facilitate the creation of beautifully formatted and syntax-highlighted source code across a multitude of programming languages and markup formats. With its extensive language support, customizable output options, and seamless integration capabilities, Highlight empowers developers, writers, and content creators to present and share code in a visually appealing and easily understandable manner. Whether you’re working on a software project, writing technical documentation, or preparing educational materials, Highlight offers a comprehensive solution for enhancing the readability and visual presentation of code snippets. By leveraging its rich feature set and cross-platform compatibility, users can streamline their workflows, improve productivity, and create professional-looking documents with minimal effort.
Here’s a detailed overview of its features and functionality:
- Syntax Highlighting: Highlight excels in syntax highlighting, allowing users to convert source code from a wide range of programming languages and markup formats into visually appealing and readable output. It supports popular languages like Python, Java, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and many others.
- Output Formats: One of the key strengths of Highlight is its ability to produce syntax-highlighted output in multiple formats. Users can generate output in formats such as HTML, RTF (Rich Text Format), LaTeX, ANSI color codes for terminal display, SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics), and more. This flexibility enables developers to integrate highlighted code seamlessly into various documents, presentations, and web pages.
- Customization Options: Highlight offers extensive customization options, allowing users to tailor the output to their specific requirements. Users can choose from a variety of color themes and syntax styles, adjust font sizes and styles, and customize the formatting of code blocks to match the visual style of their projects or documents.
- Integration: Highlight can be seamlessly integrated into existing workflows and toolchains. It supports command-line usage, making it suitable for automated tasks and batch processing. Additionally, Highlight can be integrated into text editors, IDEs (Integrated Development Environments), documentation generators, and content management systems (CMS) to provide syntax highlighting capabilities directly within these environments.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: Highlight is designed to be cross-platform, ensuring compatibility with various operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux. This enables users to leverage its features regardless of their preferred development environment.
- Documentation and Support: The Highlight project provides comprehensive documentation, including user guides, tutorials, and reference materials. Users can find detailed information on installation, configuration, usage, and advanced features on the project’s website. Additionally, the Highlight community offers support through forums, mailing lists, and other online channels.
highlight Command Examples
1. Produce a complete HTML document from a source code file:
# highlight --out-format=[html] --style [theme_name] --syntax [language] [path/to/source_code]
2. Produce an HTML fragment, suitable for inclusion in a larger document:
# highlight --out-format=[html] --fragment --syntax [language] [source_file]
3. Inline the CSS styling in every tag:
# highlight --out-format=[html] --inline-css --syntax [language] [source_file]
4. List all supported languages, themes, or plugins:
# highlight --list-scripts [langs|themes|plugins]
5. Print a CSS stylesheet for a theme:
# highlight --out-format=[html] --print-style --style [theme_name] --syntax [language]] --stdout
Summary
In summary, Highlight is a powerful and flexible tool for generating syntax-highlighted source code in a variety of formats. Its extensive language support, customizable output, and seamless integration capabilities make it a valuable asset for developers, writers, and anyone who needs to present or share code effectively.