Bat Syntax Highlighting Cat Replacement

---
name: "bat Syntax-Highlighting Cat Replacement"
slug: "bat-syntax-highlighting-cat-replacement"
description: "bat is a cat(1) clone written in Rust that adds syntax highlighting for over 200 languages, Git integration showing file modifications, automatic paging, and line numbering. It serves as a drop-in replacement for cat with enhanced readability for code and configuration files."
github_stars: 57909
verification: "security_reviewed"
source: "https://github.com/sharkdp/bat"
category: "Developer Tools"
framework: "Claude Code"
tool_ecosystem:
  github_repo: "sharkdp/bat"
  github_stars: 57909
---

# bat Syntax-Highlighting Cat Replacement

bat is a cat(1) clone written in Rust that adds syntax highlighting for over 200 languages, Git integration showing file modifications, automatic paging, and line numbering. It serves as a drop-in replacement for cat with enhanced readability for code and configuration files.

## Installation

Use the upstream install or setup path that matches your environment:
- make install
- brew install bat
- higher. You can then use cargo to build everything:
- cargo install --path . --locked

Basic usage or getting-started notes:
- ![Syntax highlighting example](https://imgur.com/rGsdnDe.png)
- ![Git integration example](https://i.imgur.com/2lSW4RE.png)
- ![Non-printable character example](https://i.imgur.com/WndGp9H.png)

- Source: https://github.com/sharkdp/bat
- Extracted from upstream docs: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sharkdp/bat/HEAD/README.md

## Source

- [Agent Skill Exchange](https://agentskillexchange.com/skills/bat-syntax-highlighting-cat-replacement/)