The Digital Press

Bat is a modern replacement for the classic Unix cat command, offering syntax highlighting, Git integration, and a user-friendly interface. Written in Rust, it enhances file viewing with features like automatic paging and theme customization.

Why it matters: Bat improves code readability and version awareness directly in the terminal, boosting developer productivity.

The big picture: It fits into a growing trend of rewriting core Unix tools in Rust for safety, speed, and better user experience.

Quick takeaway: Bat supports numerous languages, integrates with Git to show file changes, and automatically handles large outputs with paging.

Commenters say: Users appreciate bat’s speed, thoughtful design, and seamless cat replacement, praising its syntax highlighting and Git features while sharing tips for integration with other tools.