bat - Better cat

cat

with syntax highlighting, line numbers, and Git integration.

Quick Start

Basic usage

# View file with syntax highlighting
bat README.md
Multiple files
bat file1.js file2.py
With line numbers (default)
bat script.sh
Without line numbers

bat -p script.sh

Viewing modes

# Plain mode (like cat)
bat -p file.txt
Show non-printable characters
bat -A file.txt
Squeeze blank lines
bat -s file.txt
Paging (auto for large files)
bat --paging=always file.txt
bat --paging=never file.txt

Syntax Highlighting

Language detection

# Auto-detect from extension
bat script.py
Force specific language
bat -l javascript config.txt
Show all languages

bat --list-languages

Themes

# List available themes
bat --list-themes
Use specific theme
bat --theme="Monokai Extended" file.py
Set default theme in config
~/.config/bat/config: --theme="Dracula"

Line Ranges

# Show specific lines
bat -r 10:20 file.txt
From line to end
bat -r 100: file.txt
Start to specific line
bat -r :50 file.txt
Multiple ranges

bat -r 1:10 -r 50:60 file.txt

Git Integration

# Show Git modifications (added/removed/modified lines)
bat --diff file.txt
Show decorations (Git + file header)
bat --decorations=always file.txt

Output Control

# Output raw (no styling)
bat --style=plain file.txt
Customize style
bat --style=numbers,changes file.txt
Available styles: auto, full, plain, changes, header, grid, numbers, snip

bat --style=header,grid,numbers file.txt

Common Use Cases

Quick file preview:

bat file.json

View logs with syntax highlighting:

bat error.log

Compare files visually:

bat --diff file1.txt
bat file2.txt

Preview before editing:

bat config.yaml && vim config.yaml

Cat replacement in pipes:

bat -p file.txt | grep "pattern"

View specific function:

bat -r 45:67 script.py  # If function is on lines 45-67

Integration with other tools

As pager for man pages:

export MANPAGER="sh -c 'col -bx | bat -l man -p'"
man grep

With ripgrep:

rg "pattern" -l | xargs bat

With fzf:

fzf --preview 'bat --color=always --style=numbers {}'

With diff:

diff -u file1 file2 | bat -l diff

Configuration

Create

~/.config/bat/config

for defaults:

# Set theme
--theme="Dracula"
Show line numbers, Git modifications and file header, but no grid
--style="numbers,changes,header"
Use italic text on terminal
--italic-text=always
Add custom mapping

--map-syntax "*.conf:INI"

Performance Tips

Use
```
-p
```
for plain mode when piping
Use
```
--paging=never
```
when output is used programmatically
```
bat
```
caches parsed files for faster subsequent access

Tips

Alias:
```
alias cat='bat -p'
```
for drop-in cat replacement
Pager: Use as pager with
```
export PAGER="bat"
```
On Debian/Ubuntu: Command may be
```
batcat
```
instead of
```
bat
```
Custom syntaxes: Add to
```
~/.config/bat/syntaxes/
```
Performance: For huge files, use
```
bat --paging=never
```
or plain
```
cat
```

Common flags

```
-p
```
/
```
--plain
```
: Plain mode (no line numbers/decorations)
```
-n
```
/
```
--number
```
: Only show line numbers
```
-A
```
/
```
--show-all
```
: Show non-printable characters
```
-l
```
/
```
--language
```
: Set language for syntax highlighting
```
-r
```
/
```
--line-range
```
: Only show specific line range(s)

Documentation

GitHub: https://github.com/sharkdp/bat Man page:

man bat

Customization: https://github.com/sharkdp/bat#customization

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bat - Better cat

Quick Start

Basic usage

Multiple files

With line numbers (default)

Without line numbers

Viewing modes

Show non-printable characters

Squeeze blank lines

Paging (auto for large files)

Syntax Highlighting

Language detection

Force specific language

Show all languages

Themes

Use specific theme

Set default theme in config

~/.config/bat/config: --theme="Dracula"

Line Ranges

From line to end

Start to specific line

Multiple ranges

Git Integration

Show decorations (Git + file header)

Output Control

Customize style

Available styles: auto, full, plain, changes, header, grid, numbers, snip

Common Use Cases

Integration with other tools

Configuration

Show line numbers, Git modifications and file header, but no grid

Use italic text on terminal

Add custom mapping

Performance Tips

Tips

Common flags

Documentation

Quick Start

Manual Installation

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