Overview

Bat is a modern replacement for the classic cat command that adds essential features developers need: syntax highlighting, line numbers, and intelligent formatting. It’s like cat but with wings.

Key Features

• Syntax Highlighting: Supports hundreds of languages and file types
• Line Numbers: Optional line numbering for code reference
• File Integration: Automatically handles git diff output and file changes
• Paging Support: Integrates with less for large files
• Theme Support: Customizable color schemes and themes
• File Type Detection: Automatic language detection based on file extension

Common Use Cases

Quick Code Viewing

# View source code with syntax highlighting
bat app.js

# View with line numbers
bat -n style.css

# View multiple files
bat *.md

Enhanced File Inspection

# Show file headers and metadata
bat --header config.json

# View git diff output
bat --diff

# Show non-printable characters
bat --show-all binary.dat

Development Workflow Integration

# View log files with syntax highlighting
bat -l log application.log

# View configuration files
bat ~/.config/nvim/init.vim

# Quick API documentation viewing
bat --language=python api.py

Why Developers Choose Bat

• Better readability: Syntax highlighting makes code instantly understandable
• Fast performance: Written in Rust, handles large files efficiently
• Git integration: Shows git status and changes in context
• IDE-like experience: Brings familiar code viewing to terminal
• Minimal learning curve: Drop-in replacement for cat with added benefits

Advanced Features

Custom Themes

# List available themes
bat --list-themes

# Use specific theme
bat --theme=GitHub script.js

# Create custom theme
bat --print-theme=Monokai Extended > my-theme.tmTheme

Output Control

# Output without decorations (for scripting)
bat --plain data.json

# Force specific language
bat --language=python script

# Show file information
bat --stat --line-range 50:100 large_file.go

Integration with Other Tools

Bat works seamlessly with other terminal tools:

# Pipe output to bat
ps aux | bat -l ps

# Use with find
find . -name "*.py" -exec bat {} +

# Combine with grep
grep -r "function" src/ | bat -l log

Resources

• Official Documentation
• Installation Guide
• Theme Gallery
• Language Support

Bat transforms the simple act of viewing files into a rich, informative experience that makes terminal development more productive and enjoyable.